Cub

           Harlanhadbeeninthe575thforweeksbeforehemetBrinsleySheridanCooper.Hehadtimetogrowusedtohisnewquartersandtotheantisepsisofglassandporcelain.HelearnedtoweartheTechnician’smarkwithonlymoderateshrinkingandtorefrainfrommakingthingsworsebystandingsothattheinsignewashiddenagainstawallorwascoveredbytheinterpositionofsomeobjecthewascarrying.

           Otherssmileddisdainfullywhenthatwasdoneandturnedcolderasthoughtheysuspectedanattempttoinvadetheirfriendshiponfalsepretenses.

           SeniorComputerTwissellbroughthimproblemsdaily.Harlanstudiedthemandwrotehisanalysesindraftsthatwerefourtimesrewritten,thelastversionbeinghandedinreluctantlyevenso.

           Twissellwouldappraisethemandnodandsay,"Good,good."ThenhisoldblueeyeswoulddartquicklyatHarlanandhissmilewouldnarrowabitashesaid,"I’lltestthisguessontheComputaplex."

           Healwayscalledtheanalysisa"guess."HenevertoldHarlantheresultoftheComputaplexcheck,andHarlandarednotask.Hewasdespondentoverthefactthathewasneveraskedtoputanyofhisownanalysesintoaction.DidthatmeanthattheComputaplexwasnotcheckinghim,thathehadbeenchoosingthewrongitemfortheinductionofaRealityChange,thathedidnothavetheknackofseeingtheMinimumNecessaryChangeinanindicatedrange?(ItwasnotuntillaterthathegrewsufficientlysophisticatedtohavethephrasecomerollingoffhistongueasM.N.C.)