"Approval would have had to await your signature, of course."
"O.K., how many are awaiting my signature?"
"It has been impossible to find a single one which had a high enough
Index to warrant your consideration."
"I see," said Baker. "So you've taken care of the usual routine without
any help from me?"
"Yes," said Pehrson.
"There's one grant left over from before I was absent. We must get that
out of the way as quickly as possible."
"I don't recall any that were pending--" said Pehrson in apology.
"Clearwater College. Get me the file, will you?"
Pehrson didn't know for sure whether the chief was joking or not. He
looked completely serious. Pehrson felt sick at the sudden thought that
the accident may have so injured the chief's mind that he was actually
serious.