“Never mind what you meant to say. It’s what you have already said that’s important. You’ve cheated these men of their money!”
“That is not true, sir. They were given time later. The reason for my refusal to grant them admission when they asked for it was that the time had been previously reserved for the Armed Forces. There are important research questions that come up, and there is, as you know, a difference of opinion as to priority. When confronted with requisitions for time from a commercial investor and a representative of the Government, I never took it upon myself to settle the question. I always consulted with the Government’s legal adviser.”
“So you refused to make an independent decision, did you?”
“My duty, Senator, is to look after the welfare of the Sack. I do not concern myself with political questions. We had a moment of free time the day before I left the asteroid, when an investor who had already paid his money was delayed by a space accident, so instead of letting the moment go to waste, I utilized it to ask the Sack a question.”
“How you might advance your own fortunes, no doubt?”
“No, sir. I merely asked it how it might function most efficiently. I took the precaution of making a recording, knowing that my word might be doubted. If you wish, Senator, I can introduce the recording in evidence.”
Senator Horrigan grunted, and waved his hand. “Go on with your answer.”
“The Sack replied that it would require two hours of complete rest out of every twenty, plus an additional hour of what it called `recreation.’ That is, it wanted to converse with some human being who would ask what it called sensible questions, and not press for a quick answer.”
“So you suggest that the Government waste three hours of every twenty—one hundred and eighty million credits?”
“Eighteen million,” whispered the secretary.