Whiteford kneaded his knuckles and stared morosely out the window. From time to time his hand strayed to the intercom and then he'd snap it back.
He'd been sitting that way for two hours. For two hours the gigantic cogs of Personnel Incorporated had been stopped by a grain of sand. Or at least, so it seemed.
Suddenly his hand lashed out and he flipped the intercom switch.
"Would you please come here a minute, Miss Hancock?"
"Y-yes, Mr. Whiteford?"
"Do you think you could run Personnel Incorporated while I'm away?"
"Well—I don't—I hardly think I'm capable...."
"You're not," Whiteford said drily. "But you're more capable than anyone else that's here. You'll assume my duties until I return."
He paused at the door.
"In case anyone asks, I'll be gone for a month."