The Lani People, Jesse F. Bone [best reads TXT] 📗

that the transplant won’t take, with all the money you’re sinking into this project.”

“You have a point there. Have you any suggestions about how to accomplish this?” Alexander’s voice was interested.

“I have. Hire a psychologist. And reopen Olympus.”

“It’ll be the same story,” Jordan said.

“Not if you apply experimental procedure,” Kennon said. “Divide the place into a number of separate units in which groups of—say ten—Lani of various ages are kept. Let every group know where they are, but don’t let them come in contact with one another. Observe them constantly. Put spy cells in the units. Couple them to recorders. Prepare a set of test situations and observe how each group performs. Question individuals under narcosynthesis. Observe and record any changes in physical condition—give them the works. Maybe we can collect some basic data that will indicate the answer.”

“Not a bad idea,” Alexander said.

“I don’t like it,” Jordan said. “It sounds cumbersome.”

“It is,” Kennon agreed. “But it may save a great deal of trouble later.”

“I think you’re right, Kennon,” Blalok said. “We should know everything we can.”

“What would you do first if you were heading this program?” Alexander asked. He eyed Kennon critically.

“Nothing,” Kennon said promptly. “I’m not qualified to run an investigation like this. You need a specialist. I am a practitioner.”

“Hmm—but you know experimental procedure.”

“Naturally—but I do not have the training to prepare a program or evaluate its results. The only thing I could do would be to check the physical condition of the experimental groups.”

“Could you set up the physical facilities?” Alexander asked.

“Possibly—I’d need a set of plans of the station, and I couldn’t guarantee that the specialist wouldn’t want to make changes. But the physical arrangements should be simple enough to construct.”

“How long would it take you to prepare a plan?”

“I could have it by tomorrow, or perhaps a day later.”

“If you can do it by then I’ll stay over. I’d like to examine this proposal more closely. It has merit. That’s the second constructive suggestion you’ve made tonight. Despite your peculiar desire for privacy, I’m glad you came back.” Alexander smiled.

Kennon smiled back. Apparently the entrepreneur had taken the bait. But it was too early to tell whether he had swallowed it without reservation. It all depended upon how much had been given away before he had discovered that Alexander was a telepath. Perhaps Alexander was merely leading him on. There were too many intangibles, and there was no way of predicting how it would turn out. But he felt mildly optimistic.

Alexander closed the meeting, and Kennon left promptly. He had a good excuse. There was plenty of work to do if he was going to prepare an adequate plan for utilizing Olympus Station. Jordan went with him, but Blalok stayed behind. It was natural enough. Blalok was the administrator, but Kennon felt uneasy. Nor would he have felt any better if he could have heard what went on after he left.

Alexander looked quizzically at Blalok after the door closed behind the two men.

“Well, Evald, what do you think? Does it strike you that Kennon’s sincere—or does it sound as though he has something up his sleeve?”

“If he does,” Blalok said, “I don’t know what it could be. I wouldn’t take a job on Olympus if you gave it to me.”

“If he doesn’t know about the place,” Alexander said thoughtfully, “it’s probable that his suggestion was honest. I think it is but I’m not sure. He worries me now that I can’t read him. I think I’ll send Douglas back here to watch him.”

“Why? In my book that’d be a poor choice. After all, you said Kennon saved his life. He should be grateful.”

“You don’t know Douglas,” Alexander said. “He hates Kennon’s guts for what he did.”

“What did he do?”

“He made Douglas feel inferior. And there’s no surer way to gain my cousin’s undying enmity.” Alexander laughed. “I know,” he said. “He’d like to kill me, too.”

Blalok shrugged.

“But in the meantime I want you to keep an eye on Kennon. If his outline is all right, I’m going to authorize him to set up this experiment. I want to give him every possible chance. I like him—and he’s done good work. I wouldn’t want him to feel that I distrust him.”

“Which you do, of course,” Blalok said dryly.

Alexander smiled. “Actually,” he said with equal dryness, “I distrust everyone.”