I was as glad as not that I didn’t have to watch my companion while we chatted, for his red honest face, forever dripping sweat, annoyed me more than was reasonable.
“And he’ll be pleased to know I’ve got us a Center. Not much of one but good enough for a start.”
I paused before a formidable rock which lay directly in my path. It would take some doing to step over it, I thought, as I remarked, “I’m sure the Pasha doesn’t know about this.”
“Not really.” Butler laughed happily. “He thinks we’re just taking a house for ourselves to study the local culture. Later, after we get going, he can find out.”
“I should be very careful,” I said and, very careful myself, I stepped over the rock: my legs detested the extra exertion; one nearly buckled as it touched the ground. I threw my weight on my cane and was saved a fall. Butler had not noticed.
“Jessup is going to bring in the literature. We’ll say it’s our library. All printed in Arabic, too. The Dallas Center thinks of everything.”
“Are they ... equipped for such things?”
“Oh yes. That’s where the main university is now. Biggest one in the world. I didn’t go there myself. Marks weren’t good enough, but Jessup did. He’ll tell you all about it. Quite a crew they turn out: best in the business but then they get the cream of the crop to begin with.”
“Tell me, are the Residents still in charge of the Centers or do they share the administration with the therapists?”
“Therapists?” Butler seemed bewildered.