"240 Light years."
"And if you decide to continue at that speed for five or six days, that
means we'll be approximately three days behind schedule in touching
Almazin III?"
"About that."
"And that means we won't break the record. Now consider the reason for
this very unhappy situation. Think about it with an open mind. You have
one Pile heating--but has that never happened to a ship before, even in
normal space? You and I both know it happens, and that ships have been
lost because of a defective Pile. Logically, why shouldn't this be just
another such case? You say it is caused by the Ripples, but as man to
man, what objective evidence can you bring forward to prove their
existence? I'm not trying to browbeat you, you understand, but just to
ask you to look at the matter carefully. You said yourself, this
morning, that you hadn't expected to be meeting the Ripples at this
point--you had thought they occurred in a rather different area of
hyperspace. Couldn't that mean that they don't really exist, anywhere?"
Captain Evans wiped his glistening forehead with his handkerchief.
"Yes," he said. "I was surprised. I'll admit I didn't expect them here.
But there's so much we don't know about hyperspace!"
"No, there's so much we _do_ know! Are you a child, to fancy there are
goblins outside just because it's dark? There is a perfectly rational,
alternative explanation for the things that worry you. Why can't you
accept them?"
Evans got up and began to pace the floor. "I guess I'm following a
hunch."
"But would you make us lose the Blue Ribbon for a mere hunch? Don't you
trust your own objective judgment?"
Sweating heavily, the Captain tried to stub out his cigar, but his hands
were moist and his fingers trembled.
"I don't know!" he shouted. Then he went on, his voice low and tired.
"You may be right. Burl. You may be right. We may not have hit the
Ripples. The Ripples may not even exist, although some very competent
spacemen and some very brilliant physicists are convinced they do. But
how can I judge? How can I be sure?"
Jasperson leaned forward, intent as a cat on a bird.
"None of the other Piles have started to heat? There's nothing else to
make you suspicious?"
"Nothing except the space record tape, and that makes no sense."
"Exactly. Then why don't you look at this situation as a hardheaded
spaceman should, and order full speed ahead?"
"Burl, there are fifteen hundred lives dependent on me. How can I take
such a chance?"
"It wouldn't be a chance. And if by the one unlucky chance in ten
million there should be trouble, you have ample lifeboat space for
everyone. Isn't it worth the gamble?"
"I don't like gambling lives against a piece of blue silk ribbon."
* * * * *
Jasperson sighed. "Come, Josiah, be reasonable. I wouldn't think of
giving you an order, or trying to interfere with your decision in any
way, but surely I may be allowed to help you to reach the correct
decision? How will you feel when the _Star Lord_ limps into port four or
five days late, and you have to explain to the Board that she was
delayed because you were trying to dodge some non-existent Ripples. You
are afraid! Change your frightened point of view, and that will make you
change your orders and get us on the way once more, full speed!"
Muttering to himself, wiping his brow, Captain Evans walked around the
little room, while Jasperson sat back and watched him with cold, intent
eyes. Evans glanced once at the little red book, half covered with
papers, and pain contorted his face.
Suddenly he stepped to his desk and called Engineer Wyman.
"What about that space tape, Wyman? Has Smith been able to detect any
pattern in the impulses?"
"No, sir. No pattern of any sort we can recognize, anyway."
"And what report on Pile Ten?"
"Pile Ten is doing nicely, sir. Lost half a degree in the last hour. By
tomorrow she ought to be back to normal limits."
Clicking the phone, Evans resumed his pacing in the heavy silence. At
last he faced Jasperson and spread out his palms, his face gray as
parchment.
"All right, Burl. You're probably right. I won't argue any longer."
"Good man! The Star Line will know how to appreciate your decision." He
hesitated, and asked, "You'll agree, now, I didn't push you into this?
It's your own free decision?"