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what we intend to do. So, you see, our
intent is really irrelevant.”
    “Of course.”
    “And, of course, as scientists, you must observe a sort of
code of nonintervention.”
    That was more order than commentary and Oslovski bristled.
If one more person cited the Scientific Code of NonIntervention, or preached
objectivity at her, she vowed she’d send them back to the eruption of Krakatoa.
    “So, we’ve seen that you can send a robot back to the target
time and place. What else have you got for us?”
    She showed them the bio-data on Q-Bert and Louis which included
Louis’s recorded account of his experience. She took them to the O.R. next,
explaining the function of each station.
    “How soon?” asked Caldwell when they’d concluded the short
tour and examined Toto and the Field Generator. “How soon can our operatives
begin making time jumps?”
    “We can make them part of a demonstration right now, if you’d
like.”
    The Chiefs were more than eager to see a Temporal Shift in
action. They watched as each operative was sent to places and times that were
easily verifiable. Both men handled the experience as if they were veteran time
travelers and consumed healthy amounts of lunch immediately after.
    oOo
    “They’re ice men,” said Shiro.
    Oslovski’s Team was reconnoitering in the O.R. after their
own hasty lunch, while their clients privately debriefed.
    “You’d think they were just taking a drive around the block.”
    “Conditioning,” said Trevor. “Mental conditioning.”
    “Mm-hm. And we have to get around it somehow.”
    Oslovski blew steam from her coffee cup and grimaced. “This
is where we try a little psychology. They’ve been wondering all morning why the
Team shrink’s been included in. They’re about to find out.”
    oOo
    They rejoined the Joint Chiefs in the Level 3 conference
room for a final meeting to discuss any questions generated during the day and
to set a timetable for the next Phase of the Project. Could delicate equipment
go through the Spectrum, the Chiefs wanted to know. Could weapons?
    Toto was delicate
equipment, Trevor told them, the video rig and medical array, likewise. “For that
matter,” he added, “a human being is delicate equipment. As for weapons . . .”
He wanted to claim some magical Omniscient Guardian of the Time Spectrum caused
all weapons to disintegrate on transit, but couldn’t. “There’s no reason why
they shouldn’t be fine.”
    “I’m satisfied,” said General Caldwell when the
question-and-answer session had wound down into nodding and note taking.
    Oslovski raised her eyebrows. “General, you’re overlooking a
very important factor in all of this.”
    “Oh? And what might that be, doctor?”
    “I think Dr. Keller is more qualified than I am to speak to
that subject. Doctor, would you answer the General’s question?”
    Vance nodded, tapping a pen lightly on the tabletop. “The
psychological ramifications of time travel are quite complex.”
    “For example?”
    “Well, General, you’re undertaking to change history. Have
you considered how many events might hinge on the one you propose to change?”
    “It has been considered.”
    “Then you are all prepared to face the changes in your
personal lives that may result from your . . .” He’d been going
to say “meddling,” but smiled and finished, “editing of history?”
    “We’re counting on it,” said Caldwell, and the others
nodded.
    Dr. Keller spread his hands, palms up, on the table. “I just
wanted to be sure you were properly prepared. It could be quite a shock for
your operatives to return and discover they’ve edited a loved one out of
existence.”
    “What?”
    They were all staring at him as if he’d just said “there’s a
bomb under this table.” Oslovski fought the urge to grin.
    “Gentlemen,” she said, “you must be prepared for any
eventuality. You yourselves could be ‘edited’
out of existence by a change in history.”
    “My God, how