human
The men are restless, he said, bitterly.
gpt
One day they're going to walk out in a mob.
human
Can't you satisfy them?
gpt
That's a thing that doesn't enter into it, father. They're frightened. They have cause. I'm frightened myself.
human
Well?
gpt
We've been delayed. We should have been delivering in quantities by this date, but what have we done? Not even a miserable dribble of motors has gone out. Not enough to experiment with, enough to play with in a few aviation camps.... But we've got to equip an army. Small things have happened, but every one of them is threatening, and the men see and worry about them.
human
Bosh!
gpt
It's not bosh, father! These men aren't soldiers, trained to risk their lives. They are ordinary working-men, trying to support their families. I'm afraid for them. We're getting along now, in spite of all delays. We're getting in shape to produce. It's the moment we _are_ ready that I'm afraid of, the moment when these sabotage tactics have to be thrown in the discard. The man who is organizing this thing knows we will get ready in spite of all he can do.... He's planning for that day. I'd bet my life on it. When we are ready he'll be ready--and he'll strike if we don't prevent him. The moment it will pay him best to try to destroy this plant is when the plant is completed. That would be the hardest blow he could deliver, and he's the man to deliver it. Whoever he is, he's too much for Downs and his men.
human
Get him,
gpt
We've tried to get him for months, but we're no nearer than we were. Downs has rounded up spies--subordinates, strong-arm men, and that sort. But they knew nothing. To break up this thing we've got to get the man at the top.
human
Well, get him. There's a way. Nobody is so smart that he can hide all the roads that lead to him.
gpt
Downs says--
human
The devil with Downs! Go after him yourself. The way for any man to do business is to tackle the big jobs himself and leave the details to hired men. It looks like this was the big job.
gpt
If a trained Secret Service man falls down on it, how could I hope to do anything?
human
Because you're not a trained Secret Service man, said Fabius, grimly.
gpt
And because you've _got_ to. And when you get him, get him _good_.
human
Mr. Waite, said the spokesman, an oldish man with hard hands and intelligent eyes,
gpt
What things, Lakin?
human
It isn't what you may be thinking, Mr. Waite. We're satisfied. Wages and conditions are all right--but we don't like to work here.
gpt
Why? What do you want?
human
The men are afraid, Lakin said,
gpt
Where did you get this sky-high notion?
human
The shop is full of it. The men _know_ it. I don't know how they know it, or who told them, but every man is as sure of it as he is of his own name. Ain't that so, Jim?
gpt
It's a-comin',
human
Who says so?
gpt
Everybody. The men know the things that have happened, and they say something worse is on the way.... They say it'll come when the plant's done.
human
Didn't set any date, did they?
gpt
Pretty close said Lakin, somberly.
human
And you can't expect 'em to hang around, waiting for it. I'm not goin' to.
gpt
Lakin, he said,
human
All right, Mr. Waite, but I don't b'lieve it'll do any good.