But he had to admit he was glad that he had been invited into the project-it interested him. He had realized quite early that the enlarged project had not been taken up just to circumvent his balkiness-the transcript of authorization had shown him that. But he did not feel cheated-Mordan had delivered everything that he had promised, and Felix had become interested in the project for its own sake-both projects. Both the great public project of the Great Research and the private matter of himself, Phyllis, and their child to come.
He wondered what the little tyke would be like.
Mordan seemed confident that he knew. He had shown them the diploid chromosome chart resulting from their carefully chosen gametes, expounding on how the characteristics of the two parents would be combined in the child. Felix was not so sure; in spite of his own reasonably thorough knowledge of genetic theory and technique he was not convinced that all of a human being’s multifold complexity could be wrapped up in a little blob of protoplasm smaller than a pin point. It was not reasonable. There had to be more to a man than that.
Mordan had seemed to find it highly desirable that he and Phyllis possessed so many Mendelian characteristics in common. It not only, he pointed out, made the task of selection of gametes much simpler and shorter, but also insured reinforcement of those characteristics, genetically. Paired genes would be similar, instead of opposed.
On the other hand, Hamilton found that Mordan favored the alliance of Monroe-Alpha and Hartnett Marion, although they were as dissimilar as two persons could be. Hamilton pointed out the inconsistency in reasoning. Mordan had been unperturbed. “Each genetic case is a discrete individual. No rule in genetics is invariable. They complement each other.”
It was certainly obvious that Marion had made Cliff happy, happier than Felix had ever seen him.
The big dope.
He had long been of the opinion that what Cliff needed was a keeper, to lead him around on a string, fetch him indoors when it rained, and tickle him when he pouted. (Not that the opinion subtracted from his very real devotion to his friend.)
Marion seemed to qualify on all counts. She hardly let him out of her sight. She worked with him, under the euphemistic title of “special secretary.”
“‘Special secretary’?” Hamilton said, when Monroe-Alpha told him about it. “What does she do? Is she a mathematician?”
“Not at all. She doesn’t know a thing about mathematics-but she thinks I’m wonderful!” He grinned boyishly-Hamilton was startled to see how it changed his face. “Who am I to contradict her?”
“Cliff, if you keep that up, you’ll have a sense of humor yet.”
“She thinks I have one now.”
“Perhaps you have. I knew a man who raised warthogs once. He said they made the flowers more beautiful.”
“Why did he think that?” Monroe-Alpha was puzzled and interested.
“Never mind. Just what is it that Marion does?”
“Oh, a lot of little things. Keeps track of things I forget, brings me a cup of tea in the afternoon. Mostly she’s just here when I want her. When a concept won’t come straight and my head feels tired, I look up and there’s Molly, just sitting there, looking at me. Maybe she’s been reading, but when I look up I don’t have to say anything-she’s looking back at me. I tell you it helps, I never get tired anymore.” He smiled again.
Hamilton realized with sudden insight that there never had been anything wrong with Monroe-Alpha except that the poor boob had never been happy. He had no defenses against the world-until now. Marion had enough for both of them.
He had wanted to ask Cliff what Hazel thought of the new arrangements, but hesitated to do so. despite their close friendship. Monroe-Alpha brought it up himself. “You know, Felix, I was a little worried about Hazel.”
“So?”
“Yes. I know she had said she wanted to enter a divorce, but I hadn’t quite believed her.”
“Why not?” Felix had inquired blandly.
Monroe-Alpha had colored. “Now, Felix, you’re just trying to get me mixed up. Anyhow, she seemed positively relieved when I told her about Marion and me. She wants to take up dancing again.”