use your failure to
perfect the eventual system we must devise for future teams. Even your
failure would be of infinite use to us." He lifted and dropped a
shoulder. "I have no desire to undermine your belief in yourselves
but--how are we to know?--perhaps there will be a score of failures
before we find the ideal method of quickly bringing these primitive
colonies into our Galactic Commonwealth."

The Co-ordinator came to his feet and sighed. He still hated to see them
go. "If there is no other discussion ..."

II.

Specialist Joseph Chessman stood stolidly before a viewing screen.
Theoretically he was on watch. Actually his eyes were unseeing, there
was nothing to see. The star pattern changed so slowly as to be all but
permanent.

Not that every other task on board was not similar. One man could have
taken the _Pedagogue_ from the Solar System to Rigel, just as easily as
its sixteen-hand crew was doing. Automation at its ultimate, not even
the steward department had tasks adequately to fill the hours.

He had got beyond the point of yawning, his mind was a blank during
these hours of duty. He was a stolid, bear of a man, short and massive
of build.

A voice behind him said, "Second watch reporting. Request permission to
take over the bridge."

Chessman turned and it took a brief moment for the blankness in his eyes
to fade into life. "Hello Kennedy, you on already? Seems like I just got
here." He muttered in self-contradiction, "Or that I've been here a
month."

Technician Jerome Kennedy grinned. "Of course, if you want to stay ..."

Chessman said glumly, "What difference does it make where you are? What
are they doing in the lounge?"

Kennedy looked at the screen, not expecting to see anything and
accomplishing just that. "Still on their marathon argument."

Joe Chessman grunted.

Just to be saying something, Kennedy said, "How do you stand in the big
debate?"

"I don't know. I suppose I favor Plekhanov. How we're going to take a
bunch of savages and teach them modern agriculture and industrial
methods in fifty years under democratic institutions, I don't know. I
can see them putting it to a vote when we suggest fertilizer might be a
good idea." He didn't feel like continuing the conversation. "See you
later, Kennedy," and then, as an afterthought, formally, "Relinquishing
the watch to Third Officer."

As he left the compartment, Jerry Kennedy called after him, "Hey, what's
the course!"