er been in any kind of a party for fifteen minutes
without taking it over. When you snap the whip everybody jumps--or
else--and you swing a wicked knife. For your information I don't jump, I
am familiar with knives, and you will never run this project or any part
of it."

* * *

Belle's face set; her eyes hardened. "While we're putting out
information, take note that I'm just as good with actual knives as with
figurative ones. If you're still thinking of blistering my fanny, don't
try it. You'll find a rawhide haft sticking up out of one of those
muscles you're so proud of--clear enough Mr. Garlock."

"Why don't you talk sense, instead of such yak-yak?"

"Huh?"

"I know you're a Prime, too, but don't let it go to your head. I've got
more stuff than you have, so you can't Gunther me. You weigh one
thirty-five to my two seventeen. I'm harder, stronger, and faster than
you are. You're probably a bit limberer--not too much--but I've
forgotten more judo than you ever will know. So what's the answer?"

Belle was breathing hard. "Then why don't you do it right now?"

"Several reasons. I couldn't brag much about licking anybody I outweigh
by eighty-two pounds. I can't figure out your logic--if any--but I'm
pretty sure now it wouldn't do either of us any good. Just the
opposite."

"From your standpoint, would that be bad?"

"What a _hell_ of a logic! You have got the finest brain of any woman
living. You're stronger than Jim is by a lot more than the
Prime-to-Operator ratio--you've got more initiative, more drive, more
guts. You know as well as I do what your brain may mean before we get
back. Why in all hell don't you start _using_ it?"

"_You_ are complimenting _me_?"

"No. It's the truth, isn't it?"

"What difference does that make? Clee Garlock, I simply can't understand
you at all."

"That makes it mutual. I can't understand a geometry in which the
crookedest line between any two given points is the best line. Let's get
to work, shall we?"

"Uh-huh, let's. One more bit of information, though, first. Any such
idea as taking the Project away from you simply _never_ entered my
mind!" She gave him a warm and friendly smile as she walked over to the
file-cabinets.

For hours, then, they worked; each scanning tape after tape. At mid-day
they ate a light lunch. Shortly thereafter, Garlock put away his reader
and all his loose tapes. "Are you getting anywhere, Belle? I'm not
making a