f
difference between us about the basic goals of this project. But once we
start I don't want to have to fire you again."

"Just what is the nature of this project," said Paul, "its goals? Fill
me in on the details."

"There are no details--beyond what you've read and heard--you're going
to provide them. The objective is to find a kind of man that will keep
the Frank Wests of the future from dying, as those men aboard the Wheel
did."

"What kind of man do you expect that to be?" Paul asked.

"One who will eliminate, for all time, the damning verdict that has been
handed down in tens of thousands of investigations of accident and
disaster: _human error_.

"We're going to find a kind of man who can be depended on to function
without error. One who can undertake a complicated task of known
procedure and perform it an infinite number of times, if necessary,
without a single deviation from standard."

Paul Medick regarded the General through narrowed eyes. In spite of his
almost agonizing desire to possess the appointment to head up this
Project he had to have a clear understanding with Oglethorpe now. He had
to risk his chances, if necessary, to make himself absolutely clear.

He said, "For untold thousands of years the human race has spent its
best efforts to reach the goal of perfection without achieving it. Now
you propose to assemble all the money in the world, and all the brains
and say: give us a perfect man! The United States Space Command demands
him!"

"Exactly." General Oglethorpe's face hardened as he returned Paul's
steady gaze. "No other technical problem has been able to stand before
such an attack. There is no reason why this one should. And the problem
_must_ be solved, or we're going to have to abandon space just as we
stand on the frontier, getting our first real glimpse of it."

"Your world is such a simple, uncomplicated place, General," said Paul
slowly. "You want a man with two heads, four arms, and a tail? Order it!
Coming up!

"That's the way you operated when I set up your basic personnel program
five years ago. It didn't work then; it won't work now."

The General's face darkened. "It _will_ work. Because it has to. Men are
going to the stars--because they have to. And they're going to change
themselves to whatever form or shape or ability is required by that
goal. They've done everything else they've ever set themselves to
do--life came up out of the sea because it had courage. Men l