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.htmlsearch his room, they were going to—that's all.Then what? He hadn't the faintest idea.Back on the upper level, Gunner tapped at a door and pushed it open when a man's voice within called out something."See you later," said Gunner cheerfully, standing aside for Mike to enter.The big room—office or study—struck Mike at once as military, probably because of the maps that dominated its walls.And there was a vaguely military look about the sturdy, middle-sized man with the clipped dark moustache, who came forward saying heartily, "Welcome aboard!" and holding out his hand.He was wearing the same issue of gray pullover and knit trousers, and three people in that garb made it undoubtedly some kind of uniform.Mike clasped a firm and energetic hand."Thank you— Boss?That's what I'm supposed to call you? Glad to be here." And he was, since the main alternatives perhaps were to be found shot dead by mysterious weaponry in Key West, or spattered all over one of these mountains during the trip on Automated Airways."Yes, 'Boss' is right.You'll get used to the cover names quickly.Come, have a chair.How would you like 'Rocky' as your own name? Unless you have some strenuous objections—? Good, then I think we'll use it." He made a notation inside a folder on his desk."And now, with your arrival, we "re up to full strength here—eight people—and we can get on with the job of serious training."On the verge of beaming, Boss had seated himself behind his vast and ultramodern desk, after waving Mike/Rocky to one of the visitors' chairs in front of it.This room, too, was windowless, though on the flight deck's level.Besides humdrum cabinets and tables it contained other devices that did not look like standard office machinery.And that vast map that spread across the widest wall…"Well, then, Rocky, there are a few simple rules we must insist on here, beyond the normal military or quasi-military rules of discipline.Violation of any of these extra rules must be considered extremely serious and will mean automatic termination of your employment here, and also revocation of the benefits you hope to derive from it, with respect to those you left at home."Boss was suddenly almost embarrassed."Don't like to have to threaten such a thing, but it's life or death for all of us, and for uncounted others, too.""Urn."Boss brightened."I'm glad you understand.These extra rules really boil down to one, and it can be put very simply: we never under any circumstances talk to one another about our backgrounds in the States.Of course the Directors in Cuzco have all our personal information on file, and I as field commander know a good part of the background of everyone who's here.Clear?"Mike cleared his throat."I'm not to tell anyone where I come from.Or my real name.""Right.But it goes a little further than that.We're all eight of us twentieth-century Americans—in the jargon, people from US-20.The Directors recruited that way believing we'd work better together if we shared a common cultural background.The temptation may sometimes be strong to reminisce about the sidewalks of New York, or growing up on the prairies of Nebraska, or whatever.Forget it.Don't mention anything from your home life, don't mention any twentieth-century events at all.Strictly forbidden.The reason is this: Suppose you come from the 1990s and Lola, say, is from 1910.You mention that home electronic computers , for example, are quite prevalent in your time, and she takes that knowledge with her when she goes home.The disruptive results could be incalculable.A gross example, of course, but it Page 29ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlgives you the idea." Boss paused expectantly."Good to know we're all Americans," Mike finally got out, baring his teeth.He was getting the idea, all right.The only question was, how had the inmates here managed to lock up the keepers?Unless there was more to the fraternity-initiation theory than seemed reasonable."Actually the things we must especially watch for are much more subtle.None of us are really as far apart as 1910 and 1990.""Oh." That sounded like good news, though why it should…Mike tried to draw some comfort from the fact that Gunner had seemed quite happy and healthy enough to be pumping gas somewhere on the prairies of Nebraska."… you may detect a British flavor in my own speech now and then, but I'm an American for all that.Also, Americans of our period are reputedly good at improvising, overcoming unexpected obstacles, getting things done.On this job there'll be plenty that's new and unexpected.Look over here."Boss had got up from behind his desk and was now standing beside the largest map, which showed the northern two-thirds of South America.The continent's shape was unmistakable [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]