Джон Макдональд - Wine of the Dreamers [= Planet of the Dreamers]

Leedry let the seconds mount up. Sharan concealed the thud of her pulse, the sick nervousness that gave her mouth a metallic taste.

“Dr. Inly, you have previously testified as to your duties and the operating regulations which have covered those duties. As I understand your regulations, once you have committed any project employee for detailed observation, the minimum length of time in hospital is seven days. Yet, according to your records, we find that Dr. Lane was sent in for observation and released after only three days. I trust you have some explanation of this deviation from your stated regulations.”

There was a buzz of conversation in the room. The chairman of the investigating committee rapped for order.

Sharan bit her lip.

“Come, Dr. Inly. Surely you know why you ordered Dr. Lane’s release!”

“I discovered that... the evidence on which I had committed Dr. Lane was not what... I had first thought.”

“Is it true that you have been very friendly with Dr. Lane? Is it not true that you have often been alone together? Is it not true that there was a very strong rumor among the project employees that your relationship was — shall we say — a bit closer than a normal professional relationship would indicate?” Leedry leaned forward in his chair, as intent as a questing hawk.

“I resent your implication, Senator.”

“Merely answer the questions, Dr. Inly.”

“Dr. Lane is my very good friend. Nothing more. We were often together and we often discussed what courses of action would be best for the project.”

“Indeed?” Leedry asked.

Bard stood up. “Senator, I consider this line of investigation as wholesome as scribbling on a lavatory wall.”

“You’re out of order!” the chairman snapped. “Sit down, please.”

“Take the stand again, Dr. Lane,” Leedry said. “We will need you again in a few moments, Dr. Inly.”

Bard took the stand. Leedry again waited for his fellow committee members to stop their whispers. “Dr. Inly is quite attractive, don’t you think?” he asked Bard in a jovial manner.

“She is a competent psycholgist,” Bard said.

“Ah, undoubtedly. Now then, Dr. Lane. Yesterday we took testimony from one of the hospital supervisors. Can you explain how it was that you were seen in the hospital making love to a young nurse named Anderson?”

“May I ask what you are trying to prove?” Bard asked. His voice was low.

“I’ll be glad to tell you, Dr. Lane. I can best tell you by asking you one more question. Dr. Lane, you are quite a famous man, you know. You are quite young for the enormous responsibilities which were given you. You have spent a trifle more than one billion dollars of the taxpayers’ money. Money that came from a great number of little people who work hard for a living. Surely you felt the weight of that responsibility. Now answer me this question, Dr. Lane. During the period of time since you permitted one William Kornal to return to his duties after having smashed key control equipment, have you at any time sincerely felt that you are and have been unsuited for the responsibilities which were given you?”

Bard Lane doubled his big brown fists. He glanced at Sharan Inly and saw that her eyes were misty. “Yes, I have.”

“And yet you did not ask to be relieved?”

“No, sir.”

“Dismissed. Wait in the anteroom. Please take the stand, Major Leeber. I understand that you have been in the position of an observer ever since the Kornal incident.”

“That is correct.” Major Leeber sat very straight in his chair. Each bit of brass on his uniform was a tiny golden mirror. His voice had lost the lazy tone. It was crisp. His mouth was a firm line.

“Will you give us your opinion of the quality of Dr. Lane’s management?”

“I can best do that by giving the committee a verbatim quote from a report I sent to General Sachson, my commanding officer, three days before the ‘accident’ occurred. I am quoting paragraph three of my report. ‘It appears that Dr. Lane is best suited to perform supervised technical work in the research field and that he has neither the temperament nor the training for administrative work that is required of the head of a project such as this one. The informality here is indicative of a lack of discipline. Dr. Lane goes to ridiculous lengths in his new security regulations, detailed above, yet permits fraternization between high-level personnel and CAF-two typists on the clerical staff. The undersigned officer strongly recommends that every attempt be made to bring this situation to the attention of those persons in Washington who are in a position to direct a full scale investigation of the project.’ ”

Leedry turned to Sachson. “General, don’t bother taking the stand. Just tell us what you did with the major’s report.”

“I endorsed it, stating my approval of Leeber’s conclusions and sent it by courier officer through the Chief of Ordnance to the Commanding General, Armed Forces. I assumed that it would be taken up with the Secretary of Defense.”

The Secretary of Defense rumbled, “It was on my desk for my personal attention when the flash came that the Beatty One had taken off prematurely. I compliment the General and Major Leeber on their handling of this matter. I shall see that it is made a matter of record for their two-oh-one files.”

Sharan Inly laughed. The sound was out of place in the room. The laugh was as chill as the tinkling of crystal. “Gentlemen, you amuse me. The Army has resented Project Tempo from the beginning. The Army feels that space travel attempts are absurd unless carried on in an atmosphere of company formations, service ribbons and seventh endorsements. Dr. Lane is caught in the middle and he’ll be disgraced. The sad truth is that he has more integrity in his little finger than Major Leeber is even capable of visualizing.” She turned to Leeber and said mildly, “You really are a rather despicable little man, you know. Gentlemen, this whole affair makes me sick at heart and rather close to being ill in quite another manner. I am leaving and you can cite me for contempt or restrain me physically. I imagine the latter will be more your style. So nice to have known you.”

She brushed by the sergeant at arms at the door. It closed gently behind her.

“Let her go,” Leedry said. “I rather imagine that she’ll have a long, long wait before Civil Service is able to place her in another government position. And she just told us all we need to know. Her infatuation with Lane, and the effect of that infatuation on her judgment is now a matter of record. I suggest that we consider arriving at a conclusion. My personal opinion is that Project Tempo failed due to the gross negligence and mental instability of Dr. Bard Lane. We should clear out the witnesses and poll the committee.”

General Sachson, as he stood up, said, “If I could have the privilege of making one comment, Senator.”

“Of course, General,” Leedry said warmly.

“You will find in my record that two years ago when Project Tempo was being considered, I read the survey reports and filed a negative opinion. That girl — I should say Dr. Inly — inferred that the military has attempted to block Project Tempo. I wish to deny that allegation. I am a soldier. I follow orders. Once Project Tempo was approved, I gave it my wholehearted cooperation. The minutes of my staff meetings in connection with Tempo are available as proof of this cooperation.

“However, in all honesty, I must confess that from the beginning I considered Tempo to be a wild scheme. I believe that with persistence, with the application of discipline and effort, we will succeed in conquering space in accordance with the plan outlined by General Roamer sixteen years ago. First we must beef up our moon base. The moon is the stepping stone to Mars and Venus. Gentlemen, it is sound military thought to consolidate your own area before advancing further. Project Tempo put the cart several miles ahead of the horse. The old ways are the best. The known methods are tried, and they will be true.