“I had intended to write up the results of my current research for my thesis.”.Brinckley’s brows raised in polite surprise. “Really? But that is out of the question, my boy, as you know. You do need a vacation. Good-bye then; if I do not see you again before commencement, let me wish you a pleasant holiday now.”
When a stout door separated him from the president, Huxley dropped his pretense of good manners and hurried across the campus, ignoring students and professors alike. He found Ben and Joan waiting for him at their favorite bench, looking across the La Brea Tar Pits toward Wilshire Boulevard.
He flopped down on the seat beside them. Neither of the men spoke, but Joan was unable to control her impatience. “Well, Phil? What did the old fossil have to say?”
“Gimme a cigaret.” Ben handed him a pack and waited. “He didn’t say much—just threatened me with the loss of my job and the ruination of my academic reputation if I didn’t knuckle under and be his tame dog—all in the politest of terms of course.”
“But Phil, didn’t you offer to bring me in and show him the progress you had already made?”
“I didn’t bring your name into it; it was useless. He knew who you were well enough—he made a sidelong reference to the inadvisability of young instructors seeing female students socially except under formal, fully chaperoned conditions—talked about the high moral tone of the university, and our obligation to the public!”
“Why, the dirty minded old so-and-so! I’ll tear him apart for that!”
“Take it easy, Joan.” Ben Coburn’s voice was mild and thoughtful. “Just how did he threaten you, Phil?”
“He refused to renew my contract at this time. He intends to keep me on tenterhooks all summer, then if I come back in the fall and make a noise like a rabbit, he might renew—if he feels like it. Damn him! The thing that got me the sorest was a suggestion that I was slipping and needed a rest.”
“What are you going to do?”
“Look for a job, I guess. I’ve got to eat.”
“Teaching job?”
“I suppose so, Ben.”
“Your chances aren’t very good, are they, without a formal release from Western? They can blacklist you pretty effectively. You’ve actually got about as much freedom in the matter as a professional ballplayer.”
Phil looked glum and said nothing. Joan sighed and looked out across the marshy depression surrounding the tar pits. Then she smiled and said, “We could lure old Picklepuss down here and push him in.”
Both men smiled but did not answer. Joan muttered to herself something about sissies. Ben addressed Phil. “You know, Phil, the old boy’s idea about a vacation wasn’t too stupid; I could do with one myself.”
“Anything in particular in mind?”
“Why, yes, more or less. I’ve been out here seven years and never really seen the state. I’d like to start out and drive, with no particular destination in mind.
Then we could go on up past Sacramento and into northern California. They say it’s magnificent country up there. We could take in the High Sierras and the Big Trees on the way back.”
“That certainly sounds inviting.”
“You could take along your research notes and we could talk about your ideas as we drove. If you decided you wanted to write up some phase, we could just lay over while you did it.”.Phil stuck out his hand. “It’s a deal, Ben. When do we start?”
“As soon as the term closes.”
“Let’s see—we ought to be able to get underway late Friday afternoon then. Which car will we use, yours or mine?”
“My coupe ought to be about right. It has lots of baggage space.”
Joan, who had followed the conversation with interest, broke in on them. “Why use your car, Ben? Three people can’t be comfortable in a coupe.”
“Three people? Wha’ d’yu mean, three people? You aren’t going, bright eyes.”
“So? That’s what you think. You can’t get rid of me at this point; I’m the laboratory case. Oh no, you can’t leave me behind.”
“But Joan, this is a stag affair.”
“Oh, so you want to get rid of me?”