Horse sighed, and the silence grew again.
I was dozing the next time he opened his mouth. "It's not necessary to stick it to Van, too, is it, Chief?"
"I record," I said. "I don't judge."
"It wasn't necessary to record my request. Don't give me that, Chief."
"In my opinion, it was necessary."
"Okay. Would you check my co-ordinates?"
He'd caught me in a nap, and I didn't think of the time. It was a routine request in a routine voice and I rose without thinking and went over to the scanner.
I put my eye to the eye-piece and saw her. A dark girl, without clothes, more beautifully shaped than any picture I'd ever carried as an adolescent. And she was waving!
A trembling possessed me, but I fought it. I looked up instantly at Horse, and I said, "You've increased the magnification about three million times beyond the requirements of the co-ordinate check. How do you expect me to substantiate your findings?"
Horse was smiling. "I know, I know. What'd you see, Chief?"