“I still seem to miss the connection between all this and the ability of an engineer to build a better airplane — which was the initial incentive that brought most of us here.”
“That won’t remain a mystery very long,” said Wolfe. “You will examine the ten thousand agreements you have made with your professors and with other engineers that This is the Right Way to Proceed. You’ll examine the ten thousand agreements you’ve made that your ability is not sufficient to do the job before you. One by one you’ll examine each of these tiny homeostats which control your thinking now — and decide whether it’s worth keeping. Every derogation of yourself, every acceptance of someone else’s solution to a problem without working it through for yourself, is such a homeostat. Some of them you will keep. Most you will throw away, and wonder why you ever saddled yourself with them in the first place!”
It was becoming the most incredible mass of hokum he had ever heard, Montgomery thought. If it were not for the Norcross demonstrations, which still had to be explained, he would have given up now and called for Dodge to come in and take over. He regarded the panels of the Mirror with a degree of fear as Wolfe rose and began manipulating controls there — it was not the kind of fear Wolfe had been talking about, however, it was fear of how far he could go with this mechanical hypnotic-psychoanalytic gadget without risking harm to his own brain. He wished now that he had pushed Dodge’s suggestion that Spindem be sent out. As much as he disliked the psychiatrist, he felt his advice would be valuable — and protective! — now.
Wolfe was holding out a small head-piece similar to those Montgomery' had already seen. “You can try it out if you like, work with it as long as you care to — or walk out now and forget everything we’ve told you.”
Montgomery’s face felt moist. He wished he were free to take the last alternative. He thought of Dodge, and the possible promotion that might come out of his investigation.
“I’ll try it,” he said. “What do I do?”
“Just put this on and take it easy. You can lie down or sit in the easy-chair. When you are through take off the headpiece and the circuits of the Mirror will shut themselves off automatically.”
He helped Montgomery adjust the metal tabs on either side of his skull. The major took the easy-chair and leaned back. “Nothing’s happening,” he said. “Something must be wrong.”
Wolfe smiled. “It’s working, all right. Come in to the office if you care to when you’re through.”
He left the room, closing the door softly. Montgomery sat in the chair, swearing to himself — not quite so softly.