There was enough right on both sides to make it hard for Blade to choose between them. If both men hadn't lost their tempers, they'd probably have already seen this for themselves. The damage was done, however. Now it was up to Blade to repair it.

For a moment he was tempted to tell Leighton about the Prime Minister's order to J. If the scientist knew J wasn't entirely his own master in this affair, he might calm down. Unfortunately, this wasn't Blade's secret to reveal. J wouldn't have even told Blade if they hadn't been so close for so long.

«How long before the KALI capsule is fixed?» Blade asked Leighton. «The last time I heard, it would be about another month.»

The scientist's face twisted as if he'd bitten into a rotten fruit. «Now it's about six weeks. We've found a few more parts which need replacing. We've already cannibalized everything we can from the spare capsule. So now everything new has to be hand-built…. «

«I see.» Blade looked at the sketches of the field-generator booth spread across Leighton's desk. «How long would it take to build and test one of these?»

Blade wished Leighton wouldn't grin so triumphantly. «About three weeks. The beauty of this is that we can use of-the-shelf components for most of it.»

«Provided that they give an adequate margin of safety, yes,» put in J.

Leighton's mood was so much improved that he ignored the remark and went on. «With this system we don't have to be nearly as precise outside the computer itself. The field strength can vary up to twenty-five percent and still be effective-and safe,» he added, as J opened his mouth.

«Then it seems to me Lord Leighton ought to go ahead with the field-generator booth,» said Blade. «He can have it ready in half the time it will take to repair the KALI capsule. It'll certainly be safer than using the KALI capsule in its present condition»-Leighton nodded-«and we can be careful this time around.»