“Hmm—but you know experimental procedure.”
“Naturally—but I do not have the training to prepare a program or evaluate its results. The only thing I could do would be to check the physical condition of the experimental groups.”
“Could you set up the physical facilities?” Alexander asked.
“Possibly—I’d need a set of plans of the station, and I couldn’t guarantee that the specialist wouldn’t want to make changes. But the physical arrangements should be simple enough to construct.”
“How long would it take you to prepare a plan?”
“I could have it by tomorrow, or perhaps a day later.”
“If you can do it by then I’ll stay over. I’d like to examine this proposal more closely. It has merit. That’s the second constructive suggestion you’ve made tonight. Despite your peculiar desire for privacy, I’m glad you came back.” Alexander smiled.
Kennon smiled back. Apparently the entrepreneur had taken the bait. But it was too early to tell whether he had swallowed it without reservation. It all depended upon how much had been given away before he had discovered that Alexander was a telepath. Perhaps Alexander was merely leading him on. There were too many intangibles, and there was no way of predicting how it would turn out. But he felt mildly optimistic.
Alexander closed the meeting, and Kennon left promptly. He had a good excuse. There was plenty of work to do if he was going to prepare an adequate plan for utilizing Olympus Station. Jordan went with him, but Blalok stayed behind. It was natural enough. Blalok was the administrator, but Kennon felt uneasy. Nor would he have felt any better if he could have heard what went on after he left.
Alexander looked quizzically at Blalok after the door closed behind the two men.