"You what!"
"W-went upstairs."
This time lightning really did flash from the C-S's eyes.
I said: "If I've made trouble for anyone, I'm sorry. I've been wanting
to get up there for years and ... and when I got the chance today, I
couldn't resist it--" Then I told them how I sneaked up and what I did.
* * * * *
The controller made a terrible fuss about the whole affair, and I
knew--don't ask me how, I simply knew--that something drastic was going
to be done about it unless I talked plenty fast. By this time, though,
the clues in my head were beginning to fall into place. I turned
directly to the C-S and I said: "Sir, Prog stands for Prognostication,
doesn't it?"
There was silence. Finally Groating nodded slowly.
I said: "You've got some kind of fortuneteller up there. You go up
every afternoon and get your fortune told. Then you come out and tell
the press about it as though you all thought it up by yourselves.
Right?"
The controller sputtered, but Groating nodded again.