Alexander chuckled. "I like you," he said. suddenly. "Here read
this and see if you'd care to work for me." He picked a contract
form from one of the piles of paper on his desk and handed it to
Kennon. "This is one of our standard work contracts. Take it back
to your hotel and check it over. I'll expect to see you at this
time tomorrow."

"Why waste time?" Kennon said. "The rapid-reading technique
originated on Beta. I can tell you in fifteen minutes."

"Hmm. Certainly. Read it here if you wish. I like to get things
settled - the sooner the better. Sit down, young man and read.
You can rouse me when you're finished." He turned his attention
to the papers on his desk and within seconds was completely
oblivious of Kennon, his face set in the rapt trancelike
expression of a trained rapid reader.

Kennon watched for a moment as sheets of paper passed through
Alexander's hands to be added to the pile at the opposite end of
the desk. The man would do better, he thought, if he would have
his staff transcribe the papers to microfilm that could be read
through an interval-timed scanner. He might suggest that later.
As for now, he shrugged and seated himself in the chair beside
the desk. The quiet was broken only by the rustle of paper as the
two rapt-faced men turned page after page with mechanical
regularity.

Finally Kennon turned the last page, paused, blinked, and
performed the necessary mental gymnastics to orient his time