"Not infallible?" suggested Beardsley.
"Exactly. You hear me, Arnold? Not a word of this must get out!"
"I'm sure it won't," Arnold glared venomously at Beardsley, "if you'll just keep him away from the tele-stats."
The Minister of Justice walked away, still muttering something about public confidence and political repercussions. Beardsley kept pace beside him until they were across the room. Then he spoke, timidly at first.
"Pardon me, sir, but—I'd like to ask you something." His voice was low and confidential. "If you'll just look around you...."
"Eh?" Mandleco followed Beardsley's gesture, and for the first time he seemed to see the room in total. Shards of glass lay everywhere. A great tangle of wire was strewn half the length of ECAIAC, and a bank of transistors reposed against the far wall in pitiful ruin. The techs had already started a strip-down, their tools and units across the floor adding to the general confusion.
Mandleco said, "Well? What is it you—" His words stopped as if sliced in two by his teeth. "Yes. Yes, by God, I see what you mean!"
"Can you really conceive of operation in two hours? Two hours," Arnold said. "Two days, maybe. More likely in two weeks!"
Mandleco groaned as if in pain, staring around.