"No, no. Listen! He should have told you. I don't blame you for being sore, or McPhail or Harvey and the rest of your bunch. But this is once you've got to forgive him. You know the strain he's been under and it's too important for the country—"
He glanced at Doris, not wishing to shock her, wondering how much she had guessed.
"He's going to announce," Justin said slowly, "that the Space Program has failed."
For an utterly disbelieving moment, Boss Hackett sat very still. Only his hands moved, to clench and unclench.
"The blasted fool!"
Justin waited.
"And I'm supposed to forgive that? Why, he'll lose the election for sure now—not that he had much chance!"
Justin said quietly:
"Isn't it about time we quit kidding ourselves?"
Hackett glared.