General Morganson was the newest product of the Atomic Age, half soldier, half scientist—shrewd and perceptive, an intellectual giant.
He listened carefully, without comment or change of expression, as Forster doggedly went through his story in chronological order.
Half way through, he held up his hand and started pushing buttons on the console built into his desk. Within a few moments men began filing into the room, and sat down around Forster.
Then the general motioned to the clerk seated in the corner by a tape recorder.
"Gentlemen, listen to this playback and then I'll have Dr. Forster here go on from there."
What was left of Forster's confidence leaked away as he heard his own diffident voice filling the room again. It was like being awake in the middle of a weird dream.
But when the tape recorder hissed into silence, he went on, staring straight ahead of him in quiet desperation.
When he ended his story, there was silence for a moment. Everyone sat motionless.
Then Morganson looked up and around.
"Well gentlemen? Mr. Bates, C.I.A. first."