an envelope. For a moment, he
compared it with the notebook. Then, he turned, holding out the
envelope.

[Illustration]

"And you don't even keep your information current," he accused. "This
man was transferred yesterday afternoon, to another sector. You still
show him at his old quarters, with his old communicator code."

"We haven't that information from Files yet, sir," protested Kirk. "They
send us a consolidated list of changes daily, but it generally doesn't
come in till thirteen hundred."

Morely dropped the envelope on one of the desks.

"Quarters Files can handle this entire operation," he declared, "with a
little help from Fiscal. And they can handle it far better than your
people here." He stopped for a moment, thinking, then continued.
"Certainly," he decided, "Fiscal can take care of your billing. They
handle the funds anyway, in the final analysis. And you can coordinate
your directory work with the chief clerk at Files. You've got excess
people here, Kirk. We don't need any of them."

He looked at the desks and felt a wave of consternation. Kirk spread his
hands.

"But we have the information we need close at hand, sir. Our directory
has been coming out on time, and in accurate condition. And our billing
is well organized. The directory and billing are my respons--"

Morely waved a hand, then tapped himself on the chest with a long
forefinger. "The entire operation of this headquarters is my
responsibility, Kirk," he said positively, "and mine alone. And I mean
to take care of it. You're responsible to me that Fixed Communications
are kept in order, and I don't mean to relieve you of a bit of that
responsibility. But I won't have you making jobs and wasting funds on
excess personnel." He snorted. "Convenience files are all right. But
they're meant to save work, not make it."

Kirk shook his head. "A decentralization will make it difficult," he
began.

Again, Morely cut him off. "Don't start telling me why you can't do
something," he snapped. "Work out a way you _can_ do it. Make up plans
for transferring this filing function to Quarters Files, and work up a
plan for transferring your billing to Fiscal. That's their business, and
they know how to handle it. Submit your study to me this afternoon." He
looked around the office again.

"The people in Files and Fiscal can handle this workload without adding
a single person. And they will. You're using four clerks to swing it.
Kirk, I want this