expect you back for another hour or so.”
“Just now. I hired a cab instead of waiting for the shuttle.”
“Any luck?”
“None. The same answer they gave you: “The Company is assured by
independent experts that Destry’s mechanics is valid, and sees no reason to
encourage an hysterical attitude among its employees.’ ”
King tapped on his desk top, his eyes unfocused. Then, hitching himself
around to face Lentz directly, he said, “Do you suppose the Chairman is
right?”
“How?”
“Could the three of us — you, me and Harrington — have gone off the deep
end — slipped mentally?”
“No.”
“You’re sure?”
“Certain. I looked up some independent experts of my own, not retained by
the Company, and had them check Harrington’s work. It checks.” Lentz
purposely neglected to mention that he had done so partly because he was
none too sure of King’s present mental stability.
King sat up briskly, reached out and stabbed a push button. “I am going to
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 board room of the Company 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 that — ”
“Oh, that? Mr. King, I thought you understood that that was a closed
matter.”
“But, Mr. Dixon — ”
“Superintendent, please! If there were 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, Mr. 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. Good-by!”
“Mr. King — ”
“Good-by!” 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 absentmindedly. “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 bomb now and go with you.”
“Not horse sense, my friend — a horse will run back into a burning barn,
which is exactly not what I plan 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.”
“They are pretty urgent about seeing you.”
“Oh . . . all right,” King said in a tired voice, “show them in. It doesn’t