"And?" Reich muttered. "The occasion has arisen, Mr. Reich, and I believe Blonn may be
available. Briefly..." "It says here." "Briefly, Mr. Reich, Monarch is hiring so many Espers that I have
suggested we set up a special Esper Personnel Department, headed by a 1st
like Blonn, to devote itself exclusively to interviewing telepaths." "He's wondering why you can't handle it." "I have given you the background to explain why I cannot handle the
job, Mr. Reich. I am a 2nd Class Esper. I can telepath normal applicants rapidly and efficiently, but I cannot handle other Espers with the same speed and economy. All Espers are accustomed to using mind-blocks of varying effectiveness depending on their rating. It would take me one hour per 3rd for an efficient screening interview. It would take me three hours per 2nd. I could not possibly peep through the mind-block of a 1st. We must hire a 1st like Blonn for this work. The cost will be enormous, of course, but the necessity is urgent."
"What's so urgent?" Reich said. "For heaven's sake! Don't give him that picture! That isn't diversion. It's waving a red flag. He's sore enough now."
"I have my job to do, Madam." To Reich, the Chief said: "The fact is, sir, we are not hiring the best Espers. The D'Courtney Cartel has been taking the cream of the Espers away from us. Over and over again, through lack of proper facilities, we have been mouse-trapped by D'Courtney into bidding for inferior people while D'Courtney has quietly appropriated the best."
"Damn you!" Reich shouted. "Damn D'Courtney. All right. Set it up. And tell this Blonn to start mouse-trapping D'Courtney. You'd better start, too."
Reich tore out of Personnel and over to Sales-city. The same unpleasant information was waiting for him.