ust
everyone."

CHAPTER XVI

"If you think this job is easy, you have another think coming," Kennon
said bitterly. "I hired out as a veterinarian, not as a nursemaid for
a bunch of psychoneurotic humans and superstitious Lani. The place is
jinxed, they tell me.--Ha! Jinxed! Sure it's jinxed! What job wouldn't
be with a bunch of goofballs like these I've got working on it.

"I can't keep a Lani here for two weeks without having her throw a
catfit, and the superstitious idiots are affecting the men--who ought to
know better! I wish I'd never have opened my big mouth to Alexander! As
far as I'm concerned he can take this job and--"

"Hey--take it easy, man!" Blalok said. "You're heading straight for a
nervous breakdown."

"And why shouldn't I?" Kennon asked. "Nothing goes right. There's always
trouble. I order materials--they don't arrive. There's worker trouble,
equipment trouble, installation trouble. Everybody's cutting corners,
trying to get done faster and away sooner--and all they do is mess up
work that should have been done right the first time. We should have
been finished last week, but we have another week to go, at least unless
some bumble-fingered beanbrain gets another bright idea that sets us
back again. I'm sick to death of it!"

"I know, I know," Blalok said soothingly, "and I'm sorry."

"Sorry? What good is that? You and Jordan come up here in relays. Just
what do you think you'll find? Or has Alexander dragged you into keeping
an eye on me because I don't like someone snooping inside my skull?"

"It's not that," Blalok said. "It's just--"

"Oh, don't make excuses. You know and I know the Boss-man is
suspicious." Kennon shrugged. "Normally I wouldn't blame him but it's
a damned nuisance with things the way they are. All we have is one more
bay and a hall to finish--but if--"

"Now wait a minute," Blalok said. "Get the kink out of your neck and
simmer down. Sure--the Boss-man told us to keep an eye on you--but
that's not why I'm here this time."

"Well?"

"Douglas came back this morning."

"What for?"

"I don't know." Blalok's face wore the noncommittal look it always wore
when he was taking liberties with the truth.

"You're probably the worst liar in the galaxy," Kennon chuckled. "He's
here to breathe down my neck, isn't he?"

Blalok nodded.

"Keep him off my back for another week and he can breathe all he wants
to. I'll be done then."

"I can't promise a thing."

Kennon sh