"But there was a hesitation there, El. You worried for just a second if I could have some reason for not telling you the truth."
"I suppose so," Macklin said humbly.
"You've found yourself worrying—thinking—about a lot of other problems since we left you, haven't you? Maybe not the same kind of scientific problem. But more personal ones, ones you didn't used to have time to think about."
"If you say so."
"Now, you know it's so. But how would you like to get rid of those worries just as you got rid of the others?" Mitchell asked.
"I guess I'd like that," the mathematician replied.
"Then come on over to my laboratory. You remember where it's at, don't you?"
"No, I—yes, I guess I do. But how do I know you won't try to put me back where I was instead of helping me more?"
"I couldn't do that against your wishes. That would be illegal!"
"If you say so. But I don't guess I can come anyway. The Army is watching me pretty close."