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Toad's teacher was a prematurely bald extrovert from New England named Jenks； who began talking about the A…6E's electronic weapons system…radar； puters； inertial nav； forward…looking infrared and laser ranger…designator…in the car on the three…block trip to the building that housed the simulators。 Toad listened silently with growing dread。
Jenks continued his monologue as he led Toad across the parking lot； lectured on at the security desk while Toad filled out a form to obtain a temporary visitor's pass； and didn't pause for breath as they climbed the stairs and went through a control room and across a catwalk inside a huge room to the simulator； a cockpit mounted on hydraulic rams。 〃So just make yourself fortable here in the hot seat；〃 Jenks said in summary； 〃and well move right on into the hardware。〃
Toad looked slowly around the cavernous room at the three other simulators。 Then he looked into the cockpit。 Like every military cockpit in the electronic age； it was filled with display screens； puter controls and information readouts in addition to all the usual gauges； dials； knobs； switches and warning tights。 〃I have a question。〃
〃Shoot。〃
〃How long is the normal syllabus to train a bombardier…navigator？〃
〃Eight months。〃
〃And you're going to cram all that info into me in one week？'
〃You look like a bright guy。 That captain in Washington said you were motivated as hell。〃
〃Grafton？〃
〃I didn't talk to him。 The skipper did。 Sit down and let's get at it。〃 Jenks turned and shouted to the technician in the control room； 〃Okay； Art； fire it up。〃
People were streaming out of Jefferson Plaza at 4：30 when Jake passed through the main entrance on the way in。 He was still in civilian clothes。 He waited impatiently for the tardy elevator。
The secretary was still in the office along with several officers。 What was her name？ 〃Hi。 What's happening？〃
〃Hello； Captain。 Didn't expect to see you today。〃
〃Yeah。 Didn't think I'd make it back。 Seen mander Judy？〃
〃Oh； he was in for a little while this morning； then he said he had a meeting。 Said he'd probably be gone the rest of the day。〃
Jake paused near the woman's desk。 〃Did he say where the meeting was？〃
〃No； sir。〃
〃Was he here when you arrived tins morning？〃
She tried to remember。 〃Yessir； I think so。 Oh； by the way； the puter wizard stopped by this afternoon to give you your brief on the office system。 He said he was going to be working late； so if you're going to be around a while。 I'll call him now and see if he can e over and do the brief。〃
〃Sure。 Call him。〃
Jake greeted the other officers and walked across the room to his office door。 Two of his new subordinates stuck their heads in for a few pleasantries； then shoved off。
A pile of documents flat in the in basket Jake flipped through the stuff listlessly。 There was enough work here to keep him chained to this desk for a week； or maybe a month since he didn't know anything about most of the matters the letters and memos referred to。 He would have to use the staff heavily。
The secretary appeared in his door。 〃The puter man will be here in a little while。 His name is Kleinberg。 Good night； Captain。〃
〃Did you lock up everything？〃
〃No； sir。 I thought you might want to took through some files。〃
〃Sure。 Good night〃
Jake waited for the door to click shut； then went out into the room。 He found Judy's desk and sat down。 He stirred through a small pile of phone messages。 Just names and numbers。 A thin appointment book with a black cover。 He flipped through it slowly。
The days up until now were heavily annotated。 Today's page was blank。 He held the book at arm's length over the desk and dropped it。 It fell with a splat。
Damn！ He felt so frustrated…
Well； at least he knew most of Henry's once…upon…a…time story was true； though where that got him he had no idea。 And he knew that Judy made a trip to West Virginia today。 Why？ To see Trooper Keadle or the prosecutor？ To search Strong's cabin？ Well； Judy was certainly going to be surprised to hear that Jake knew he was there。 Or was he？ Maybe he would tell Jake himself in the morning。
Jake turned on the office copy machine and while it was warming up stood and read the entries in Judy's calendar again carefully。 Smoke seemed to have made a lot of notes about Karen。 Karen who？ Karen 472…3656； that's who。 Why did he write her phone number down so often？ Aha； because she had different phone numbers…at least four of them。 And this guy Bob…lunch； tennis on Saturday； reminders that he called； to call Bob。 Call DE。 Call from RM。 Drop car at garage。 mode broke。 Smoke Judy seemed to jot down everything out of the ordinary。 He was a detail man in a detail business。
When he had his copies Jake put the appointment book back on Judy's desk and went back to his little office。 In a few moments he heard a knock on the door； so he heaved himself up and walked across the room to admit the visitor…
The man in civilian clothes who came in was slightly below medium height； built like a fireplug and just as bald。 〃Hi。 Name's Kleinberg。 From NSA。 puters。〃 His voice boomed。 Here was a man who could never whisper。 In his left hand he carried a leather valise。
〃I'm Grafton。〃
〃Beg pardon；〃 the man said as he reached out and tilted the bottom of Jake's security tag。 He stared at it a few seconds； then glanced again at Jake's face。 〃Yep； you're Grafton； all right。 Can't be too careful； y'know。〃
〃Uh…huh。〃
〃Let's look at the patient。〃
Jake led the way to his desk。 〃I don't know much about puters。〃
〃No sweat。 I know enough for both of us。 When we're through； you're going to be able to make this thing sing and dance。〃 Kleinberg turned on the puter。 〃See this prompt here？ That's the sign…on prompt and you have to type in your secret password。 This is a code that identifies you to the machine； which allows you access to certain files and only certain files。 Security； y'know。 Here's your password。〃 He used a pencil on a sheet of paper and wrote； 〃Reverberation。〃
〃How e I can't pick my own word？〃
〃We tried that on the second go…around。 Everyone wanted to e up with something cute； except for the aviators； who all wanted to use their nicknames。 You'd have thought they were ordering vanity license plates。 So。。。 Now type in your password。〃
Jake did so。 The puter prompt moved from left to right； but the letters failed to appear。
〃Now hit 'enter。' Uh…oh； the puter won't take it。 So type it again and spell it right。〃 This time the puter blinked to the next screen。 〃You only get two tries；〃 Kleinberg advised。 〃If you are wrong both times； the puter will lock you out and you'll have to see me about getting back in。〃
〃How can it lock me out if I haven't told it exactly who I am？〃
〃It locks out everyone who has access from the bank of monitors in this office。〃 Kleinberg wrote another password on the paper：
〃Fallacy。〃
〃This is the password that allows you access to files relating to the ATA； which is what I understand you are working on here in this shop。 Type it in and hit 'enter。'〃 Jake obeyed。 〃Now； to call up the directory of the files you have access to due to your security clearance and job title； you have to t