make one more try,” he explained, “to see if I can’t throw a scare into Dixon’s
thick head. Steinke,” he said to the communicator, “get me Mr. Dixon on the screen.”
“Yes, sir.”
In about two minutes the visiphone screen came to life and showed the
features of Chairman Dixon. He was transmitting, not from his office, but from the
boardroom of the power syndicate in Jersey City. “Yes?” he said.
“What is it, Superintendent?” His manner was somehow both querulous and
affable.
“Mr. Dixon,” King began, “I’ve called to try to impress on you the
seriousness of the Company’s action. I stake my scientific reputation that
Harrington has proved completely-”
“Oh, that? Mr. King, I thought you understood that that was a closed
matter.”
“But Mr. Dixon-”
“Superintendent, please! If there was any possible legitimate cause to fear
do you think I would hesitate? I have children you know, and grandchildren.”
“That is just why-”
“We try to conduct the affairs of the Company with reasonable wisdom, and in
the public interest. But we have other responsibilities, too. There are hundreds of
thousands of little stockholders who expect us to show a reasonable return on their
investment. You must not expect us to jettison a billion-dollar corporation just
because you’ve taken up astrology. Moon theory!” He sniffed.
“Very well, Mister Chairman.” King’s tone was stiff.
“Don’t, take it that way, Mr. King. I’m glad you called, the Board has just
adjourned a special meeting. They have decided to accept you for retirement-with
full pay, of course.”
“I did not apply for retirement!”
“I know, Mr. King, but the Board feels that-”
“I understand. Goodbye!”
“Mr. King-”
“Goodbye!” He switched him off, and turned to Lentz. “‘-with full pay,'” he
quoted, “which I can enjoy in any way that I like for the rest of my life just as
happy as a man in the death house!”
“Exactly,” Lentz agreed. “Well, we’ve tried our way. I suppose we should
call up Harrington now and let him try the political and publicity method.”
“I suppose so,” King seconded absent-mindedly. “Will you be leaving for
Chicago now?”
“No . . .” said Lentz. “No…. I think I will catch the shuttle for Los
Angeles and take the evening rocket for the Antipodes.”
King looked surprised, but said nothing. Lentz answered the unspoken
comment. “Perhaps some of us on the other side of the earth will survive. I’ve done
all that I can here. I would rather be a live sheepherder in Australia than a dead
psychiatrist in Chicago.”
King nodded vigorously. “That shows horse sense. For two cents, I’d dump the
pile now, and go with you.”
“Not horse sense, my friend-a horse will run back into a burning barn, which
is exactly what I plan not to do. Why don’t you do it and come along. If you did, it
would help Harrington to scare ’em to death.”
“I believe I will!”
Steinke’s face appeared again on the screen. “Harper and Erickson are here,
Chief.”
“I’m busy.”
Page 33
“They are pretty urgent about seeing you.”
“Oh-all right,” King said in a tired voice, “show them in. It doesn’t
matter.”
They breezed in, Harper in the van. He commenced talking at once, oblivious
to the superintendent’s morose preoccupation. “We’ve got it, Chief, we’ve got it!
And it all checks out to the umpteenth decimal!”
“You’ve got what? Speak English.”
Harper grinned. He was enjoying his moment of triumph, and was stretching it
out to savor it. “Chief, do you remember a few weeks back when I asked for an
additional allotment-a special one without specifying how I was going to spend it?”
“Yes. Come on-get to the point.”
“You kicked at first, but finally granted it. Remember?
Well, we’ve got something to show for it, all tied up in pink ribbon. It’s
the greatest advance in radioactivity since Hahn split the nucleus. Atomic fuel,
Chief, atomic fuel, safe, concentrated, and controllable. Suitable for rockets, for
power plants, for any damn thing you care to use it for.”
King showed alert interest for the first time. “You mean a power source that
doesn’t require a pile?”
“Oh, no, I didn’t say that. You use the breeder pile to make the fuel, then
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