"The work is difficult, of course, but if you mean, have I run into any social difficulties, the answer is no. At least not any more than one would expect in any large and complex project, I imagine."
"And by that you mean?"
"Occasional spats and quarrels. We're all human."
"But nothing serious?"
Monay shook her head. "Nothing serious."
"My understanding, Dr. Monay," said Dors, "is that you have been responsible for the development of a device important to the use of the Prime Radiant. It makes it possible to cram much more information into the Prime Radiant."
Monay broke into a radiant smile. "Do you know about that? Yes, the Electro-Clarifier. After that was developed, Professor Seldon established this small laboratory and put me in charge of other work in that direction."
"I'm amazed that such an important advance did not bring you up into the higher echelons of the Project."
"Oh well," said Monay, looking a trifle embarrassed. "I don't want to take all the credit. Actually my work was only that of a technician-a very skilled and creative technician, I like to think-but there you are."
"And who worked with you?"
"Didn't you know? It was Tamwile Elar. He worked out the theory that made the device possible and I designed and built the actual instrument."
"Does that mean he took the credit, Dr. Monay?"
"No no. You mustn't think that. Dr. Elar is not that kind of man. He gave me full credit for my share of the work. In fact, it was his idea to call the device by our names-both our names-but he couldn't."
"Why not?"
"Well, that's Professor Seldon's rule, you know. All devices and equations are to be given functional names and not personal ones-to avoid resentment. So the device is just the Electro-Clarifier. When we're working together, however, he gives the device our names and, I tell you, Dr. Venabili, it sounds grand. Perhaps someday, all of the Project personnel will use the personal name. I hope so."
"I hope so, too," said Dors politely. "You make Elar sound like a very decent individual."
"He is. He is," said Monay earnestly. "He is a delight to work for. Right now, I'm working on a new version of the device, which is more powerful and which I don't quite understand. I mean, what it's to be used for. However, he's directing me there."
"And are you making progress?"
"Indeed. In fact, I've given Dr. Elar a prototype, which he plans to test. If it works out, we can proceed further."
"It sounds good," agreed Dors. "What do you think would happen if Professor Seldon were to resign as director of the Project? If he were to retire?"
Monay looked surprised. "Is the professor planning to retire?"
"Not that I know of. I'm presenting you with a hypothetical case. Suppose he retires. Who do you think would be a natural successor? I think from what you have said that you would favor Professor Elar as the new director."
"Yes, I would," responded Monay after a trifling hesitation. "He's far and away the most brilliant of the new people and I think he could run the Project in the best possible way. Still, he's rather young. There are a considerable number of old fossils-well, you know what I mean-who would resent being passed over by a young squirt."
"Is there any old fossil you're thinking of in particular? Remember, this is confidential."
"Quite a few of them, but there's Dr. Amaryl. He's the heir apparent."
"Yes, I see what you mean." Dors rose. "Well, thank you so much for your help. I'll let you return to your work now."
She left, thinking about the Electro-Clarifier. And about Amaryl.
22
Yugo Amaryl said, "Here you are again, Dors."
"Sorry, Yugo. I'm bothering you twice this week. Actually you don't see anyone very often, do you?"
Amaryl said, "I don't encourage people to visit me, no. They tend to interrupt me and break my line of thought. Not you, Dors. You're altogether special, you and Hari. There's never a day I don't remember what you two have done for me."
Dors waved her hand. "Forget it, Yugo. You've worked hard for Hari and any trifling kindness we did for you has long been overpaid. How is the Project going? Hari never talks about it-not to me, anyway."
Amaryl's face lightened and his whole body seemed to take on an infusion of life. "Very well. Very well. It's difficult to talk about it without mathematics, but the progress we've made in the last two years is amazing-more than in all the time before that. It's as though, after we've been hammering away and hammering away, things have finally begun to break loose."
"I've been hearing that the new equations worked out by Dr. Elar have helped the situation."
"The achaotic equations? Yes. Enormously."
"And the Electro-Clarifier has been helpful, too. I spoke to the woman who designed it."
"Cinda Monay?"
"Yes. That's the one."
"A very clever woman. We're fortunate to have her."
"Tell me, Yugo-You work at the Prime Radiant virtually all the time, don't you?"
"I'm more or less constantly studying it. Yes."
"And you study it with the Electro-Clarifier."
"Certainly."
"Don't you ever think of taking a vacation, Yugo?"
Amaryl looked at her owlishly, blinking slowly. "A vacation?"
"Yes. Surely you've heard the word. You know what a vacation is."
"Why should I take a vacation?"
"Because you seem dreadfully tired to me."