Read it here if you wish. I like to get things
settled--the sooner the better. Sit down, young man and read. You can
rouse me when you're finished." He turned his attention to the papers on
his desk and within seconds was completely oblivious of Kennon, his face
set in the rapt trancelike expression of a trained rapid reader.

Kennon watched for a moment as sheets of paper passed through
Alexander's hands to be added to the pile at the opposite end of the
desk. The man would do better, he thought, if he would have his staff
transcribe the papers to microfilm that could be read through an
interval-timed scanner. He might suggest that later. As for now, he
shrugged and seated himself in the chair beside the desk. The quiet was
broken only by the rustle of paper as the two rapt-faced men turned page
after page with mechanical regularity.

Finally Kennon turned the last page, paused, blinked, and performed
the necessary mental gymnastics to orient his time sense. Alexander, he
noticed, was still engrossed, sunk in his autohypnotic trance. Kennon
waited until he had finished the legal folder which he was reading and
then gently intruded upon Alexander's concentration.

Alexander looked up blankly and then went through the same mental
gyrations Kennon had performed a few minutes before. His eyes focused
and became hard and alert.

"Well?" he asked. "What do you think of it?"

"I think it's the damnedest, trickiest, most unilateral piece of
legalistics I've ever seen," Kennon said bluntly. "If that's the best
you can offer, I wouldn't touch the job with a pair of forceps."

Alexander smiled. "I see you read the fine print," he said. There was
quiet amusement in his voice. "So you don't like the contract?"

"No sensible man would. I'm damned if I'll sign commitment papers just
to get a job. No wonder you're having trouble getting professional help.
If your contracts are all like that it's' a wonder anyone works for
you."

"We have no complaints from our employees," Alexander said stiffly.

"How could you? If they signed that contract you'd have a perfect right
to muzzle them."

"There are other applicants for this post," Alexander said.

"Then get one of them. I wouldn't be interested."

"A spaceman's ticket is a good thing to have," Alexander said idly.
"It's a useful ace in the hole. Besides, you have had three other job
offers--all of which are good even though they don't pay fifteen Ems a
year."

Kennon did