"The measurements take time."
"I know. But--well, go ahead."
Newton nodded and put the sample on the scales. His hands fumbled a bit
and he started over--
"Please hurry."
"I guess that's close enough," said Newton. He set the mass dial,
looked at it, looked back at the balance, then shrugged. He dunked the
sample in the volumetric graduate, flashed it through the electrical
bridges, and made the appropriate settings on the dials of the control
box.
"You're being rather sloppy," said Mangler pointedly.
"I fear he has been too sloppy," said Velikof. "But we have too little
time to repeat."
"You set the radioactive constants," said Newton to Mangler. Mangler
thought for a moment and then set them; and his setting was precise.
"Now!" said Newton. He thrust the switch home.
* * * * *
Again came the brief sizzle of corona, the urge of magnetic attraction,
and then the blinding flare of light.
Newton reached for the sample.
"No!" said Velikof quickly.
"Why?"
Mangler grunted. "You've been as sloppy as a kid," he sneered. "That
sample is probably as hot as it was."
"But you have the right process," said Velikof. "And now I must get
going."
Shrugging, Newton took up the tongs, lifted the sample from its place,
and thrust it in front of the counter.
The counter was silent.
"Dead!" glowed Newton.
"Hmmmm."