Stepping off onto the platform in front of Eddie's door, he hit the intercom button in the doorframe and got an immediate response.

"That you, Pete?"

"Right."

"C'mon in."

The door slid open and he entered Eddie's office.

Eddie's office was not noticeably larger than Pete's, but much more lavishly furnished. Instead of a panoramic scene, Eddie had a moving opti-print on his viewscreen. The print had always given Pete an uneasy feeling of vertigo, but he didn't say anything.

"Make yourself comfortable, Pete. It's two sugars, no cream, right?"

"Right." In spite of himself, Pete was always pleased when Eddie remembered small details like that.

Eddie punched the appropriate buttons on the Servo-Matic and in a few seconds, the coffee hummed into view.

"That reminds me, Eddie. My Servo-Matic is down. Can you lean on someone to get it fixed?"

"Have you called maintenance?"

"Daily for two weeks. All I get is double-talk and forms to fill out."

"I'll see what I can do. What are you working on right now?"

"Nothing special. Pushing around a few ideas, but nothing that couldn't be delegated or put on hold. Why? What's up?"

"We've had a live one tossed in our laps, and I need that detail brain of yours working on it. I just got back from headquarters-talked with Becker himself.

"Who?"

"Becker, one of the international vps. Check your conspectus-you'll see his name. Anyway, it seems we've been picked as one of several teams assigned to submit recommendations on this. It's a chance for some nice exposure at the top levels."