* * * * *
"Very well. First, I'll agree that all this may seem a bit high-handed.
But time was--and is--getting short." He glanced at Olcott, and the
glance was not all friendliness. "The Government was notified about this
almost too late; we have had to act fast. Almost _too_ fast."
"I notified the Government as soon as I was sure of my facts," Olcott
said, completely unflustered.
"That's as may be," Condley said. "The point is that we now have the
problem on our hands, and we must find an equitable solution." He took a
gold fountain pen from his pocket, and his strong, thick fingers began
toying with it while his eyes remained on Sam Bending. "The fact that
you have applied for a patent makes it imperative that we get the
situation under control immediately."
Before Sam could answer, there was a knock on the outer door that came
clearly into the rear room. Secretary Condley rose without saying a word
and went out.
Dr. Larchmont, the Power Utilities physicist, decided to make small talk
to bridge the hiatus. "That's a really beautiful piece of machinery
you've built, Mr. Bending. Really remarkable." He was a small,
flat-faced man with a fringe of dark hair around his otherwise naked
scalp.