by Ray C. Noll
Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the OnlineDistributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
A FINE FIX
BY R. C. NOLL
_Generally speaking, human beings are fine buck-passers--but there's one circumstance under which they refuse to pass on responsibility. If the other fellow says "Your method won't solve the problem!"--then they get mad!_
Illustrated by van Dongen
The leader climbed sharply in a bank to the left, and the two othersfollowed close behind. Their jet streams cut off at very near the sametime. Before their speed slowed to stalling, the rotors unfolded fromthe canopy hump and beat the air viciously, the steam wisping back inbrief fingers.
Under power again, they dipped playfully in tightening circles towardthe plot-mottled earth. The fields expanded beneath them, and the leaderbrought up and hovered over a farm road whose dust already stirred inthe disturbed air.
They settled as one in the rolling dust clouds from which emerged acoveralled figure who had driven the battered pickup truck to meet them.
"Y'sure got back in a rush," he addressed the major, who was justjumping from the plastiglas cabin.
The major nodded and put his attention on seeing that the generaldescended safely. He then indicated the farmer.
"He's the one," the major said.
The general grunted socially.
Taking the opening, the farmer said, "Out there in the wheat, general."His tone carried eager importance. "My kid saw the light come down thismorning feedin' the chickens. I felt the ground jump, too. Called thesheriff, first off."
"All right, you were a hero," said the general shortly. "Now, Grant,will you take me to it? I can't mess around here all day."
The party of six men, two of them technicians, waded into the field fromthe road. The farmer remained to watch, frowning.
When they had progressed well into the wheat, he shouted after themruefully, "And watch where you're steppin', too!"
The group paused on the rim of newly gouged earth, clods and dirt thathad splashed from the center of the crater. It was nearly four feetdeep. The man the major had left on guard had uncovered more of theblackened object, which lay three-quarters exposed and showed a warpedbut cylindrical shape.
"Let's have a counter on it," the general ordered.
A technician slid into the crater and swept the metal with hisinstrument. The needle swung far over and stuck.
To the other technician the general said, "Get a chunk for verificationof the alloy." He kicked a small avalanche of dirt down the crater sideand turned back to the road, adding, "Although I don't know why theformality. Even a cadet could see that's an atomjet reactor, beat up asit is."
The major absorbed the jibe without comeback. An hour ago he hadinformed the general of his indecision over the object's identity,though he had suspected it to be the reactor.
"We may find more when we get it examined in the shop," the generalmused, swishing by the wheat. "But at least we know they do come downsome place, and it wasn't flash fusion. On this one, anyway."
"What do you think about instituting a search of this vicinity for otherparts, general?"
The officer growled negatively. "Obviously, the reactor was the onlypart not vaporized in the fall--because of its construction."
"That's assuming the ship entered the atmosphere at operational velocityand not less than free fall," the major qualified.
"How can anyone assume free fall? Way outside probability."
"Yes, sir, but there are degrees of velocity involved. He could haveused reverse thrust and entered at a relatively slow speed."
"All right, all right--let's say possible, then. Pull off your search ifyou want to. I'm in this thing so deep now, I'll try anything to getgoing. I've got Congress ready to investigate, and some senatoryesterday put pressure on to cancel the United Nuclear contract. I'lltry anything at this point, Grant!"
The big man's voice had risen to anger, but Major Grant Reis had notmissed the vocal breaking in the last syllables.
* * * * *
"I'm First Lieutenant Ashley and I've an appointment to see GeneralMorrison."
The adjutant said, "Sorry, but you'll have to wait a little longer. Thegeneral's unexpectedly busy."
"My appointment was over an hour ago."
"Another half-hour and you can go in."
"Another half-hour and I'll go."
"It's your bar."
The lieutenant plopped back into a chair just as Grant strode swiftlypast the adjutant's desk from the private office.
"Major," the adjutant asked, "how long is the general going to be tiedup? He won't let me in the conference and the lieutenant here issupposed to see him."
Grant paused at the opposite door and pointing two thumb-and-forefingerguns at his head exploded them. The adjutant groaned understandingly.Even the first lieutenant caught on.
"Major, it's pretty important," the waiting officer said, standingagain. Grant shifted his attention.
"Look, lieutenant--" Grant bottled the sarcasm behind his suddenly laxmouth. He saw a first lieutenant's uniform, but it bulged aesthetically;and he saw a first lieutenant's cap and bar, but it sat rakishly onpuffed-up brown curls.
"If you'll just look at these papers, major, you'll understand. Istratoed in from the Pentagon this morning," she said crisply.
Though it was Grant's turn to say something, he found too much of hisconcentration on her challenging brown eyes and the efficient down-sweepof her half-pouting mouth, plus a nub of a nose that pointed proudlyupwards with the tilt of her head. In a temporary defensive maneuver,Grant took the papers handed him.
* * * * *
The borders were marked CONFIDENTIAL and the attached signatures wouldhave impressed even the general. The subject--he might haveexpected--ATOMJET PATROL LOSSES.
"Er ... look, lieutenant-- What was it?" Grant glanced down at thepapers.
"First Lieutenant Bridget Ashley."
"Look, Lieutenant Ashley, the general's been getting nothing buttroubles all day. For your sake and his sake, I suggest you come backtomorrow, huh?" Grant handed back the papers and put a hand on herelbow, but she jerked back.
"Major, I've been given a great deal of responsibility in thisassignment," she flared, "and it's important for me to get work startedat once. I was led to understand these patrol losses constituted afairly urgent matter."
Grant glanced ominously toward the general's door. "Lieutenant, I'mtrying to explain to you that it's in your best interests to take thisup with him tomorrow. I'm one of his aides and I know him. I realizeyou're authorized to see him today, but--"
"Then I'll wait." She reseated herself and emphatically crossed herlegs--a motion not escaping Grant's notice.
The adjutant and Grant mutually shrugged at each other, and Grant headedoutside, saying over his shoulder, "I'll be back in a minute."
* * * * *
As it developed, it was far more than a minute; but whatever it was,when Grant returned she was gone. The major looked at the adjutant, andthe adjutant indicated the general's door with an apprehensive nod.Grant bit his lip and entered the private office.
He had expected to hear the general's bass raging, but through the innerdoor came the strident tones of the lieutenant's modulating contralto.He had expected to see the general towering over the girl's shrinkingfigure, but as he entered she was bent earnestly in the middle, and thetop of her torso inclined toward General Morrison, who had tilted as farback as his swivel chair would permit.
"... So, if you haven't isolated any mechanical causation, how can yoube sure it's mechanical?" she was laying it on. "And if you're not sureit's mechanical, how can you s
uggest there's no possibility ofpsychological causation? The authorities that sent me here have not onlyconsidered the possibility, they feel it's quite probable. All I amrequesting, sir, is immediate implementation of my authority so yourinvestigation can be broadened. It's really to your benefit that--"
Grant said, "Lieutenant Ashley."
"... My work be started at once so as to catch up on what findings youhave obtained in the--"
Grant shouted, "Lieutenant Ashley!"
"... Investigation so far in the mechanical aspects. It's not unlikelythat a combining factor,