"Mister Biggs!" raged the efficiency expert. "May I ask why you wound a dozen coils of uninsulated wire about the Saturn's hull and connected the electrical helix so formed to the power generators? Don't deny it, sir! I've been outside and seen your handiwork!"
Biggs said faintly, "Why, I—I—er—"
"You needn't lie to me, Mr. Biggs! I understand too well. You deliberately established a hysteresis field around this ship in order to create a rise in temperature—was that it? You wished to make us believe the Sun's rays responsible for the heat—isn't that so?"
It's a long worm that has no turning. Biggs finally asserted himself. He raised his quiet but determined eyes to those of the Corporation official.
"Yes, sir!" he said. "That is exactly what I did."
"And why, sir?" demanded Gilchrist venomously.
"Because, sir, a close study of the course-chart has convinced me that we are in grave peril if we continue on our present trajectory."
"What! You question my astrogation, Lieutenant?"
"Excuse me, sir, but—I do!"
Major Gilchrist's gimlet beak quivered like a saucer of gelatin; his sallow cheeks flooded with color.