Paths to Otherwhere by James P. Hogan

Author:James P. Hogan [Hogan, James P.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Science Fiction
ISBN: 9780671877675
Publisher: Baen
Published: 1996-01-01T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-five

Jantowitz and Ursell came up with a solution to the repeatability problem less than a week later. Subjects could be sent back to the same reality time after time. The results were duly reported to Washington, and Willard received a personal message of congratulations from the President. The way was now clear for Polygon to become operational as planned. Willard judged this to be the opportune time to level with Sarvin. Willard's nature was not to play at intrigues, and he had been uncomfortable for some time about the unauthorized work that he had been allowing to continue.

They met in the first-class passengers' courtesy lounge at Los Angeles International Airport. Sarvin was en route for Washington, returning after a three-day getaway in Hawaii, and in good spirits; Willard had come out to the West Coast to meet with some of the contractors involved with projects at Los Alamos.

"Leonard, today we have a happy President because of the news from the Lab," Willard said over his bourbon. "And that's good news for both of us, right?"

"It's given me the first break that I've managed to enjoy for a long time, and that's not something that happens every day," Sarvin agreed.

Willard nodded in a way that said it confirmed what he had been hoping to hear. He lowered his voice. "Then there's something that you ought to know about."

"Don't tell me you're going to spoil it now?"

Willard shook his head. "It's just that you should know the full story of how it came about…" He looked around and leaned closer over the arm of his chair. Sarvin waited, puzzled now. Willard sipped his drink and paused to choose his words. "You remember that proposition that those two people we brought in from Berkeley came up with— Brenner and the Polish professor?"

"They wanted to try for longer hops." Sarvin said. "The word from on-high was no-go. Our problems are closer to home."

"Right." Willard nodded. "Well, after they were turned down, they came up with a scheme to do it themselves on the side, in their own time. We were aware of it, naturally—from our surveillance. Anyway, Ed Kintner figured that letting them go ahead would be the best way to get them motivated into producing what Washington wanted—and avoid internal hassles at the same time. It sounded good to me. So I said what the hell and agreed."

Sarvin was frowning. "You mean you overrode policy? You let them do it?"

"Well, we didn't actually override anything. The official work went ahead as directed. It was more a case of exercising discretion where judgment of internal affairs was concerned." Willard saw that Sarvin might come around, and pressed his point. "Scientists can be notoriously temperamental to handle. I didn't want to go creating complications that would go bouncing up and down the line… And it paid off, Leonard. We wouldn't be celebrating right now if we'd gone the official route."

Sarvin considered the situation. Starting a fight now would only risk appearing petty. He had always thought of himself as a practical land of man.

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