K-Factor-Harry Harrison

"'Wouldn't that be a little unethical, sir? After all, Hengly, who is operator there now, is a friend of mine, going behind his back, you know.' "'I know nothing of the sort,' Abravanel snorted.

"'We are not playing for poker chips or seeing who can get a paper published first.

Have you forgotten what Societics is?' Neel answered by rote.

the applied study of the interaction of individuals in a culture the interaction of the group generated by these individuals the equations derived therefrom and the application of these equations to control one or more factors of this same culture and what is the one factor that we have tried to control in order to make all the other factors possible of existence war," Neel said in a very small voice.

Very good, then.

There is no doubt what it is we are talking about.

You are going to land quietly on Himmel, do a survey as quickly as possible, and transmit the data back here.

There is no cause to think of it as sneaking behind Hengly's back, but as doing something to help him set the matter right.

Is that understood?" yes sir neel said firmly this time straightening his back and letting his right hand rest reassuringly on the computer slung from his belt excellent then it is now time to meet your assistant abravanel touched a button on his desk it was an unexpected development and neel waited with interest as the door opened but he turned away abruptly his eyes slitted and his face white with anger abravanel introduced him neil sidorak this is costa i know him he was in my class for six months There wasn't the slightest touch of friendliness in Neel's voice now.

Abravanel either ignored it or didn't hear it.

He went on as if the two cold, distant young men were the best of friends.

Classmates.

Very good.

Then there is no need to make introductions, though it might be best to make clear your separate areas of control.

This is your project, Neel.

And Adao Costa will be your assistant, following your orders and doing whatever he can to help.

you know he isn't a graduate societist but he has done a lot of field work for us and can help you greatly in that and of course he will be acting as an observer for the un and making his own reports in this connection neel's anger was hot and apparent so he's a un observer now i wonder if he still holds his old job at the same time I think it only fair, sir, that you know.

He works for Interpol." Abravanel's ancient and weary eyes looked at both men, and he sighed.

"'Wait outside, Costa,' he said.

"'Neel will be with you in a minute.' Costa left without a word, and Abravanel waved Neil back to his chair.

listen to me now he said and stop playing tunes on that infernal buzzer neel snapped his hand away from the belt computer as if it had suddenly grown hot a resistant finger reached out to clear the figures he had nervously been setting up then thought better of it abravanel sucked life into his ancient pipe and squinted at the younger man listen he said you have led a very sheltered life here at the university and that is probably my fault no don't look angry i don't mean about girls In that matter undergraduates have been the same for centuries.

I'm talking about people in groups, individuals, politics, and all the complicated mess that makes up human life.

This has been your area of study, and the program is carefully planned so you can study it second-hand.

The important thing is to develop the abstract viewpoint.

since any attempt to prejudice results can only mean disaster, and it has been proved many times that a man with a certain interest will make many unwitting errors to shape an observation or experiment in favor of his interest.