Herndon stirred again. His eyes ceased to be dull and lifeless.
"I'll give the orders for turning off the sidewalks. And I'll send what you just said back home. They ... should like it."
He looked very respectfully at Massy.
"I guess you know what I'm thinking right now," he said awkwardly.
Massy flushed. It was not dignified for a Colonial Survey officer to show off. He felt that Herndon was unduly impressed. But Herndon didn't see that the device wouldn't solve anything. It would merely postpone the effects of a disaster. It could not possibly prevent them.
"It ought to be done," he said curtly. "There'll be other things to be done, too."
"When you tell them to me," said Herndon warmly, "they'll get done! I'll have Riki put this into that pulse-code you explained to us and she'll get it off right away!"
He stood up.
"I didn't explain the code to her!" insisted Massy. "She was already translating it when you gave her my suggestion!"
"All right," said Herndon. "I'll get this sent back at once!"