"Very well, sir. I'll stand guard outside."
The medicouncilor was silent until the door closed behind General Judd. "Sit down, Docchi," he said with unexpected kindness. He paused to note the effect. "I can sympathize with you. You had everything you wanted nearly within your reach. And, after that, to return to Handicap Haven—well, I can understand how you feel. But since you did return, I think we can arrange to do something for you."
Docchi stared at the man on the screen. A spot of light pulsed on his cheek and then flared rapidly over his face.
"Sure," he said casually. "But there are criminal charges against me."
"A formality," said the medicouncilor. "With a thing like the discovery—or rediscovery—of the gravital drive to think about, no one is going to worry much about your unauthorized departure from the asteroid."
Medicouncilor Thorton sounded pleased. "I don't want to mislead you. We can't do any more for you medically than has already been done. However, you will find yourself the center of a more adequate social life. Friends, work, whatever you want. Naturally, in return for this, we will expect your full cooperation."
"Naturally." Docchi blinked at him and got to his feet. "Sounds interesting. I'd like to think about it for a minute."
Cameron planted himself squarely in front of the screen. "Maybe I don't understand. I think you've got the wrong person."
"Dr. Cameron!" Thorton glowered. "Please explain."
"It was an easy mistake to make," said Cameron. "Cut off from communication, the gravital drive began to work. How? Why? Mostly, who did it? You knew it wasn't I. I'm a doctor, not a physicist. Nor Jordan, he's at best a mechanic. Therefore it had to be Docchi, because he's an engineer. He could make it work. But it wasn't Docchi. He had nothing to do with—"