uld also be put on the carpet. There was always
Someone higher up.

"I'm sorry," Brent Taber said. "I was put in charge of this project and
I used my judgment--"

"We are not questioning your over-all judgment," Authority assured him.

_Then what in the hell are you gabbling about?_ This question was also
asked inwardly as Brent said, "I felt the gravity of the situation
merited extreme care."

"It does. But life must go on. The government must still function."

_That's right, play it from both ends_, Brent Taber thought bitterly.
_Ride the fence. Stay in a position to jump either way._

"What do you wish me to do about Senator Crane?"

"I'd stay out of his way if I were you."

"Whatever damage you say I have done can be corrected with a ten-minute
briefing."

"That's up to you," Authority answered nimbly. "As you say, you've been
put in charge of the project."

"Then I'll leave things as they are."

"Very well. I just wanted to go on record."

"Thank you," Brent Taber said. "Thank you very much."

* * * * *

Frank Corson and Les King walked north together after their interview
with Brent Taber.

"I guess we got off lucky," King said. "Those Washington appointees can
be tough."

"He seems to have a pretty tough job."

"They all think they've got tough jobs."

"It's still a murder as far as the New York police are concerned. What
do you think will happen?"

"They turned us over to Taber, didn't they?" King asked. "That shows how
they're playing it. The New York cops have enough murders to worry
about. They like to pass them on to somebody else."

"Then they won't question us any further?"

King shrugged. "Who knows? You've got nothing to worry about, though.
Just sit tight. In fact, you're damned lucky."

"How so?"

"This killing is under wraps. Nobody's talking. That means you won't get
in trouble at the hospital." King grinned. "Your _ethics_ won't come
under scrutiny."

Frank Corson flushed and said nothing. King, after a moment's silence,
said, "I've been thinking about that tenth android."

"Do you think there's as much danger in this thing as Taber says?"

King shrugged. "Those guys always think that way. Remember what they
said about the atom bomb? The world was doomed. We were going to blow
each other up. But nobody's been heaving them around. The
view-with-alarm boys always talk that way."

"I hope you're right."

"But about that android that's