On Off by Colleen McCullough Read Free Book Online Page B

their own until a full cylinder was accidentally knocked over and the pressurized contents escaped. No harm was done, but if the gas had not been an inert one —” She looked rueful. “There are also times when one of the researchers works with substances giving off gamma radiation. That requires the erection of barriers consisting of lead bricks — very heavy.”
    “I’m surprised that in this Hilton of a place everything is not piped in or laid on.”
    She rose to her feet to tower. “Have you anything more to ask me, sir?”
    “No. Thanks for your time.”
    How do I get on the right side of her? he wondered as he walked up the hall to Tamara Vilich’s office. She’s a fount of information that I need badly.
    The Prof’s secretary’s office had a door that directly communicated with his own office, Carmine noted as he entered.
    “Do you realize,” Tamara Vilich said with a touch of acid in her voice, “that leaving us until last has created considerable inconvenience? I am late for an appointment.”
    “The penalties of power,” Carmine said, not sitting. “You know, I’ve heard more stilted language and technical jargon today than I usually hear in months? I’m inconvenienced too, Miss Vilich. No breakfast, no lunch, and so far no dinner.”
    “Then get on with it! I have to go!”
    Desperation in her voice? Interesting. “Do you ever see the dead animal bags, ma’am?”
    “No, I don’t.” She looked fretfully at her watch. “Damn!”
    “Ever?”
    “No, never!”
    “Then you can keep your appointment, Miss Vilich. Thanks.”
    “I’m too late!” she cried in despair. “Too late!”
    But she was gone, running, before Carmine could knock on the communicating door.
    The Prof was looking more worried than he had that morning, maybe, thought Carmine, because nothing’s happened since then to soothe his anxieties or satisfy his curiosity.
    “I will have to inform the Board of Governors,” Smith said before Carmine had a chance to speak.
    “Board of Governors?”
    “This is a privately endowed institution, Lieutenant, that is supervised from on high by a board. You might say that we all have to sing for our suppers. The generosity of the Board of Governors is in direct proportion to the amount of genuinely original and significant work the Hug produces. Our reputation is second to none, the Hug has indeed made a difference. Now this — this — this singularity happens! A random event that has the power to affect the quality of our work drastically.”
    “A random event, Professor? I don’t call murder random. But let’s leave that aside for a moment. Who’s on this board?”
    “William Parson himself died in 1952. He left two nephews, Roger Junior and Henry Parson, in control of his empire. Roger Junior is Governor-in-Chief of the Board. Henry is his deputy. Their sons Roger III and Henry Junior are also Board members. The fifth Parson member is Richard Spaight, director of the Parson Bank and the son of William Parson’s sister. President Mawson MacIntosh of Chubb is a Governor, as is the Dean of Medicine, Dr. Wilbur Dowling. I, as Chair Professor, am the last,” said Smith.
    “That gives the Parson contingent a strong majority. They must crack the whip hard.”
    Smith looked astonished. “No, indeed! Anything but! As long as we produce the kind of brilliant work we have done for fifteen years, we have a virtual carte blanche. William Parson’s will was very specific. ‘Pay peanuts and you get monkeys’ was one of his favorite maxims. Therefore we do not pay peanuts at the Hug, and our researchers are infinitely brighter than the macaques downstairs. Hence my concern over this singularity, Lieutenant. Half of me insists it is a dream.”
    “Professor, the body is real and the situation is real. But I want to digress for a moment.” Carmine’s face assumed a look that most who saw it found disarming. “What’s going on between Miss Dupre and Miss Vilich?”
    Smith’s long