human
Cummins was like that. He fought himself every waking hour, knowing that he had a weakness of becoming confused in a tight spot. Oh, it was nothing that even showed up on the tests, and he was the best man of any of us on the Base. But he knew it was there, just as we all know our closets bulge with skeletons that we try to keep from breaking out.
gpt
Do you fight yourself the way Cummins did?
human
Sure.
gpt
What would happen if you pulled a blunder that wrecked that ship out there on the stand.
human
I'd have had it, that's all. I'd never get within ten miles of a rocket base again as long as I lived. And there wouldn't be much worth living for--
gpt
It would be pretty wonderful to feel you weren't constantly on the verge of some disastrous blunder, wouldn't it?
human
It would be a rocket man's idea of heaven to handle these ships with that kind of a feeling inside him.
gpt
We're about ready to begin running tests on Superman, and I'd like you to be the first to help us out. Can you arrange it?
human
We're tied up like a ball of string on getting the nucleus ship in orbit. I know Oglethorpe gave orders we were to jump when you called, but I'll have to check on replacements for those of us you take. What kind of test are you going to run on me?
gpt
I want to find out how long it takes you to make a serious error, and what happens to you when you do!