I went back to my cabin and mixed myself a drink, as
I was then officially off duty.
After a time, there came a knocking on my door.
"Turn the handle and push," I said.
It opened and a young man named Rawlings entered.
"Mister Schweitzer," he said, "Carol Deith would like
to speak with you."
"Tell her I'm on my way," I said.
"All right," and he departed.
I combed my sort of blond hair and changed my
shirt, because she was pretty and young. She was the
ship's Security Officer, though, so I had a good idea as
to what she was really after.
I walked to her office and knocked twice on the door.
As I entered, I bore in mind the fact that it probably
involved the J-9 and my doings of a half hour before.
This would tend to indicate that she was right on top of
everything.
"Hello," I said. "I believe you sent for me?"
"Schweitzer? Yes, I did. Have a seat, huh?" and she
gestured at one on the other side of her expensive desk.
I took it.
"What do you want?"
"You repaired the J-9 this afternoon."
I shrugged. "Are you asking me or telling me?"
"You are not authorized to touch the thing."
"If you want, I can go back and screw it up and leave
it the way I found it."
"Then you admit you worked on it?"
"Yes."
