"Is he short and thick-set?"
"No. Tall and thin." As Kirk merely looked at him in a puzzled way, he continued: "I suppose we're all suspicious down here, there's so much of that sort of thing. If he has anything on you—"
"He's got nothing on me."
"I'm glad of that. You're the best man I have, and that shake-up I told you about is coming off sooner than I expected. I'd hate to have anything happen to you. Do you think you could hold down my job?"
"WHAT? Do you really mean it?"
"I do."
"I think I could, if you would help me."
Runnels laughed. "That remark shows you haven't developed Isthmitis, anyhow."
"What is that?"
"Well, it's a sort of mental disorder most of us have. We believe everybody above us is incompetent, and everybody below us is after our jobs. You'll get it in time—even some of the Commissioners have it."