fully, “Eva was upset, I suppose. On the subject of Jupiter
we’re all of us cracked by now, in our different ways. The
way she was dealing with the catalysis didn’t look to me
to be suitablea difference of opinion, resolved in my favour
because I had the authority, Eva didn’t. That’s all.”
“Kind of an expensive difference, Bob. I’m not niggling
by nature, you know that. But an incident like that while
the commission is here”
“The point is,” Helmuth said, “are we to spend an extra
ten thousand, or whatever it costs to replace a truss and
reinforce a caisson, or are we to lose the whole caisson
and as much as a third of the whole Bridge along with it?”
“Yes, you’re right there, of course. That could be ex-
plained, even to a pack of senators. Butit would be diffi-
cult to have to explain it very often. Well, the board’s yours,
Bob. You could continue my spot-check, if you’ve time.”
Dillon got up. Then he added suddenly, as if it were
forced out of him:
“Bob, I’m trying to understand your state of mind. From
what Eva said, I gather that you’ve made it fairly public.
I. . . I don’t think it’s a good idea to infect your fellow work-
ers with your own pessimism. It leads to sloppy work. I know
that regardless of your own feelings you won’t countenance
sloppy work, but one foreman can do only so much. And
you’re making extra work for yourselfnot for me, but for
yourselfby being openly gloomy about the Bridge.
“You’re the best man on the Bridge, Bob, for all your grous-
ing about the job, and your assorted misgivings. I’d hate to