But not, apparently, here in Glover's private domain. Rephrase the question, Britten thought. What was there about this work which had suddenly made it desirable for Professor Glover to take Britten off the project? Was there more to this experiment than Britten had seen up to the present?
Sitting through the night, Britten thought and calculated, filling his desk top with paper, feeling the frustration of a scientist who spends day after day with the details of an experiment, pushing buttons, reading meters, soldering wires, until he begins to lose sight of the ultimate aim of the project.
As he fell asleep, long towards morning, his anger was still at a furious temperature, filling his mind with dreams of a tormented, violent nature, which he forgot promptly upon awakening.
Professor Glover stopped by to see him as he ate a late breakfast.
"We have a job to do today," Glover said, his voice tinged with an impersonal annoyance that was not directed at Britten.
Britten stared up at Glover with a hostility that made no impression upon the scientist.
"The ion source has gone bad and has to be replaced," Glover continued. "The spacesuits are being readied in the airlock."
"Why us?" Britten complained. "What's the matter with the maintenance crew?"
Glover's frown deepened. "They're busy with other things. You're free for the moment, and so am I."