"Then us ole Rebels," Julie said, "we all'd be proud to help y'all Nawthners."
"Fine." The officer stepped aside to let Julie pass first through the door.
"Let's have a couple of beers with the Major, Ed. Is there time?"
Hall frowned at his watch. "I suppose. And we can settle a couple of the whens and wherefores of the project."
They left the Science building together, walked down the worn stone steps and out onto the rather neglected-looking June campus.
"There's a student beer hall about a block from here," said Julie. "Will that do, Major?"
"Umm?" Hall was eyeing the rolling black sky. "Oh, yes—fine. Hope it's not going to storm. My flight'll be scratched and I've got to be in Washington by five at the latest." The first big drops came spattering down. "Damn! Left my raincoat in the staff car."
The three hurried past a blighted, moss-grown statue of a wounded Confederate soldier saluting General Lee in full uniform.
When the first tug of intelligence registered, the Irritant was sleeping restlessly. The second brought him out of troubled dreams. At the third he hauled in. Nothing—nothing but a jumbled scattering of low-order babble and memories and impressions. Not enough for a meal.