Joshua Lake retraced his steps. He sat down in a chair next to Gorman's
desk. He laid his hat on the desk and snapped open the case.
"No," Gorman said. "Stand here by my elbow. The chair is for people I
meet on even terms."
Joshua got obediently to his feet and placed himself as directed.
"And your hat," Gorman added. "You'd better hold that. You might forget
it when you leave."
"Of course, Lee."
It was a ludicrous, pitiful sight but, withal, a grim note ran through
the scene. Joshua supporting the case against his thigh, got out a sheaf
of papers. "These are the progress reports to date. These, the projected
plans."
"And when these plans are carried out you expect success?"
"Yes. Great foresight has been used. They will carry us through."
"And you expect me to loan you money on the strength of this--this
day-dreaming on paper?"
"It's far more than that, Lee. You'll find the plans sound."
Lee Gorman didn't give a tinker's hoot for the plans. He was only
enjoying an interview--a vengeance--he was loath to terminate. "You
haven't even begun to show me what I'd need before I even considered
loaning you a dime."
"I'll bring you anything you want."
"Even if I promise to turn you down after I've gone over it."
"You're calling the dance, Lee."
"All right--I'll call it. Bring me your payroll records; your cost
sheets; the background reports on the key men in your organization."
"As soon as I can get them. I need some money immediately to meet my
payroll."
"Then what are you waiting for?"
"I'll be back this afternoon." Joshua was halfway out the door when Lee
Gorman called. "And bring the deeds to your plant--the bills of sale to
your machinery and equipment."
"Certainly."
Joshua left and Lee Gorman sat motionless staring at the surface of his
desk. There was a Mona Lisa smile on his rugged face.
* * * * *
"It's not worth it, Joshua," Myra said, hotly. "You won't be able to
take his brow-beating and badgering day after day. And that's his
intention. That's what he's giving you the money for--for the pleasure
of humiliating you day after day."
"Of course, my dear. I'm fortunate that Lee is that kind of a man. He
wants his revenge and he's willing to pay for it. I was hoping it would
be that way--praying for it. It was my last weapon. The last weapon I
had with which to beat the Moon."
A man and his dream....
"I want you to sign these papers, Joshua." Lee Gorman held out a pen and
pushed the papers across the desk.
"Certainly, Lee."
"Four copies."
Joshua pushed the papers back, looked at them and smiled.
"Do you know what you signed?"
"A power of attorney, I believe. And I've signed the plant over to you.
There is a large mortgage against it, however."
Lee Gorman sat back, narrowed his eyes as he looked at the wizened
little man with the giant obsession. "Joshua, I think you've worked
beyond your time. You've slipped your gears completely. Do you realize
that with these papers I can put you in the street? That all I have to
do is raise my hand and you're done?"
"I realize that, Lee."
"Then why on earth did you sign them?"
"I had no alternative."
"But what kind of an alternative is this? Giving away everything you've
got?"
Joshua sighed. "You haven't raised your hand yet, Lee. I can surmount my
difficulties only as I come to them. I'll think about that one when it
gets here."
"Well--I've got news for you. The time to think about it is--" Gorman
stopped in mid-sentence. He studied Joshua Lake for a long minute. Then
he took a checkbook from his desk and wrote rapidly. "There's money to
meet your payroll. The exact amount. Take it to the bank. Then, I want
you in this office every day at four-thirty with a complete report of
what's gone on. Don't overlook a thing. And bring any bills with you
that want paying, together with material orders and projected costs. Is
that clear?"
"I understand, Lee." At the door, Joshua Lake turned for a moment.
"And--thank you--thank you very much."
After Joshua had left, Lee Gorman pondered one of those last words. If
they contained any bitterness, it was well hidden. "A strange man,"
Gorman muttered. "A very strange man."
If that constituted a weak moment on the part of Lee Gorman, his dikes
were repaired well in time to present a hostile front....
"This twelve thousand to American Chemical--what are you doing--running
an experimental laboratory on the side. I won't pay it."
"I've never questioned Coving's judgment in these matters, Lee. He's
done brilliant work for us. The man has to have materials to work
with."
"Well, you certainly should have questioned him. He's been satisfying
every whim of curiosity that pops into his mind. Send the stuff back."
"But that would be fatal to the project. The fuel _must_ be
power-charged to safely handle the weight and time quotients. Coving
can't work with salt and baking soda."
"I don't care what he works with. Cut three thousand off that bill."
"Very well, Lee."
A man and his dream....
"This payroll's out of all reason. Cut fifteen men off immediately."
"I'll see what I can do."
"Cut fifteen men off immediately."
"Of course."
"Here's a check for the interest on the last note. Take it over to the
bank."
"Yes, Lee."
Joshua Lake came and went as directed. He stood with his hat in his
hand, took orders, carried them out. His shoulders drooped a little
more; his face became more pinched; he retreated deeper and deeper into
himself.
But as the days went on, his eyes brightened and there was a
breathlessness in his expression when he turned his face to the sky.
Some three months after the day Joshua walked into Lee's office, the
latter said, "The four men who are going with the rocket. You've
selected them?"
"Yes. They're waiting for the day. It was a long slow process, selecting
the best equipped men."
"Bring them here tomorrow afternoon."
"I'll check with them. If they all can't make it, would a later date--?"
"I said tomorrow. See to it they _can_ make it."
"Yes, Lee."
Joshua brought the four young men to Lee Gorman's office the following
day. Lee had a buffet table set up. He was the smiling, genial,
expansive host. "Sit down gentlemen. I'm glad of this opportunity to
meet you."
There were five chairs in the room. Gorman had already seated himself.
The young men hesitated.
"Sit down, sit down."
They dropped into the chairs, glancing uneasily at Joshua Lake. Joshua
turned and started toward the door.
"Don't go, Lake. I'm sure the boys would like a drink. You'll find the
fixings on the buffet. Why don't you take their orders?"
The crowning insult, Joshua wondered. The last, crude insult? Lee
Gorman's wounds must have been deep indeed. Joshua served drinks,
brought sandwiches. Lee Gorman's geniality kept the awkwardness of the
situation from bringing it to a complete standstill. "Well, Thursday is
the day, I understand. How do you feel about it? Rocketing off into
space. Becoming a part of the big tomorrow." Gorman's eyes caught those
of Joshua Lake as he spoke the last sentence. There was laughter behind
them.
The crew of the Moon rocket left shortly afterward. Joshua was the last
to walk from the room. Just as he was going through the door, Lee Gorman
whispered into his ear. "You can't be sure there'll be a rocket flight.
I might stop it the last minute. I haven't made up my mind yet."
Joshua turned and looked at his tormentor in silence. The others had
gone on down the hall. Gorman laughed and said, "I suppose that's a
problem you'll face when you come to it?"
"Yes--when I come to it."
Alone in his office, Lee Gorman strode angrily to the buffet. With a
sweep of his arm, he knocked a liquor bottle across the room. The
motivation of the act was hard to determine, however, from Gorman's
outward appearance. It could have been bitter disappointment or a
fierce joy.
* * * * *
Joshua Lake walked into Lee Gorman's office, removed his hat and said,
"With your permission, this is the day."
"What time?"
"It translates into 4:07 and 30 seconds, Greenwich time."