Not that every other task on board was not similar. One man could have taken the Pedagogue from the Solar System to Rigel, just as easily as its sixteen-hand crew was doing. Automation at its ultimate, not even the steward department had tasks adequately to fill the hours.
He had got beyond the point of yawning, his mind was a blank during these hours of duty. He was a stolid, bear of a man, short and massive of build.
A voice behind him said, "Second watch reporting. Request permission to take over the bridge."
Chessman turned and it took a brief moment for the blankness in his eyes to fade into life. "Hello Kennedy, you on already? Seems like I just got here." He muttered in self-contradiction, "Or that I've been here a month."
Technician Jerome Kennedy grinned. "Of course, if you want to stay ..."
Chessman said glumly, "What difference does it make where you are? What are they doing in the lounge?"
Kennedy looked at the screen, not expecting to see anything and accomplishing just that. "Still on their marathon argument."
Joe Chessman grunted.
Just to be saying something, Kennedy said, "How do you stand in the big debate?"
"I don't know. I suppose I favor Plekhanov. How we're going to take a bunch of savages and teach them modern agriculture and industrial methods in fifty years under democratic institutions, I don't know. I can see them putting it to a vote when we suggest fertilizer might be a good idea." He didn't feel like continuing the conversation. "See you later, Kennedy," and then, as an afterthought, formally, "Relinquishing the watch to Third Officer."