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.And anything that worries my crew worries me—and it ought to worry you.An unhappy crew is an inefficient one, maybe a dangerous one.Anyway, fourth and finally, you came along this morning and dropped another surprise on Tom Toole: You want to take along these gentlemen"—Shaker's smile to James Swift and Walter Hamilton somehow said that he at least had nothing personal against them—"without giving Tom or me one word of explanation as to who they are.That's a good way to start any crew muttering and grumbling.""I didn't talk about this, because I didn't think you or the crew would care or understand.But I'll stop the muttering, right now." Doctor Eileen swung around in her chair."Dr.Swift, will you please tell Captain Shaker exactly who you are, and what you do."I have known Eileen Xavier's habits all my life, so what she had just done came as no surprise to me.But it certainly startled James Swift when he was suddenly called onstage.As he was facing Danny Shaker he had his profile to me, and I saw a pink flush creep all the way out to the tip of his ear."I'm—er—I'm James Swift." He glared accusingly at Doctor Eileen, and ducked his chin."I am a professor—a full professor—in the Physics Department at Belfast University.""And what do you do?" prompted Doctor Eileen.James Swift seemed reluctant to continue."Do you teach?""Not usually.I do research.Into massive free fields.And the breaking of conformal invariance."The prompting this time came from Danny Shaker, as a laugh and a rueful shake of his head."Run that by me one more time, professor.In simpler words, if you can find them.""I specialize in field theory.Some classical fields, but mostly quantum fields." James Swift raised his head, so he could look down his nose at Danny Shaker."Actually, I'm particularly interested in certain formulations of quantum gravity.The theories lead to a group of bubble models, and some of those offer a number of different possible structures for space-time.All of them are fully covariant, even with third-order quantization.But none of them has ever actually been tested, because the energies are extremely high, while the distances involved are very short.That's why everything so far has been pure theory—but it is very promising theory."He didn't sound as though he had finished, but he did pause for breath.That was space enough for Doctor Eileen to raise her hand and say, "Stop it right there for the moment.Captain?"James Swift's words had all been gibberish to me, and I could very well see how Danny Shaker might think they had been designed to confuse him deliberately.But all he said was, "Quite right, Doctor Xavier.I won't be passing any of that on to the crew.If they want it, which I doubt, they can get it from Dr.Swift directly.But two scientists—"Eileen Xavier nodded."You'll see.Dr.Hamilton, if you would be so kind—"The other man had had time to prepare himself.He nodded and began smoothly, in a loud, lecturing voice."My name is Walter Hamilton.I also am on the faculty of Belfast University.My original degrees were in physics, biology, and communications, but for the past seven years I have specialized in the history of science.In particular, I have specialized in the period immediately after the Isolation."He paused for effect, long enough for me to decide that he sounded pompous and probably was."It may sound like a purely academic activity," he continued, "but it is actually highly practical.Following the Isolation, the near-collapse of Erin civilization was so severe that an enormous amount of scientific and technical knowledge was lost.It has never been regained.I seek to define that loss as completely as possible, with the final objective of re-creating what was once known."In the past few days I had heard more talk of the Isolation and its effects than ever before.But little of what Walter Hamilton had to say seemed to be any surprise to Danny Shaker.He was nodding."Some spacers explore the Forty Worlds, professor, with similar objectives.Though I must be honest, and admit that most of us are after things that bring a quicker profit.Technology is interesting, but light metals are sure." Danny Shaker turned to Doctor Eileen."I accept that these scientists are really scientists—something that Tom Toole was inclined to doubt.But I have not the slightest idea why you would want to bring them with you on board the Cuchulain.""I don't believe that, you know." Doctor Eileen stared right back at Danny Shaker."Unless I misjudge you, Captain, you have a good idea what I'm about.But I'll say no more on the subject—until we're all in the Cuchulain and on our way."Shaker's response was very strange.He didn't give a real reply at all.He simply shook his head, sighed, and said, "Thank God you're not one of my crew, doctor.""Thank God I'm not," Doctor Eileen agreed.She and Danny Shaker were suddenly grinning at each other like lunatics."So that's it," said Shaker.Then he looked at me, winked, and added, "Three more hours, Jay.Just three more hours, and you'll be in the ferry ship, and off to space
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