Planet in Peril by John Christopher Read Free Book Online

respect. I hope the flip I showed you won’t put off the work, just because it hints at the possibility of things being changed. Actually, they will probably carry on under their inertia; you would be surprised if you knew some of the lines of research that have been automatically O.K.’d, year after year.”
    Charles said: “You want me to go back to the lab?” Ledbetter said: ‘I’m pretty sure I can swing you under my jurisdiction. Mettrill is not the kind to stand on a question of prestige if he sees a chance of less work or less trouble. You will be O.K.”
    “ Stenner’s advice,” Charles said, “was to visit Psycho and Med. He went so far as to suggest the prescription, too—a high- mesc course and a holiday trip.”
    “You can disregard Stenner . You are as sane as he is, and considerably more intelligent.”
    “As a matter of fact, I don’t find the suggestion altogether repulsive. I could do without the mesc , but there is something about the holiday trip that appeals.” Ledbetter said emphatically: “Take my advice—work is the best remedy. A holiday trip is no good except to a mind already contented. You’ve got to learn to live with things. Work provides the best way of doing that.” There was an emphasis behind his words which it was difficult to believe stemmed entirely from his concern for Charles. Ledbetter wanted him back at the lab.
    Charles said: “I guess it takes different people different ways. I’m not sure that it takes me that way. I have an idea a holiday trip would be quite attractive.” He glanced across at Ledbetter. “The change of scene, for one thing. The lab has acquired a few memories even in so short a time.”
    “Face them,” Ledbetter said. ‘It's the only way to get on top of them; they would hit you with much more force when you finally got back.”
    “But then,” Charles said, “I would be better able to cope with them. Or so I think. I take it there wouldn’t be any actual objection to my consulting P and M and asking for the break?”
    Ledbetter said, with obvious reluctance: “No. Of course you can. How long had you thought of asking for?”
    “I hadn’t thought. But with my grade and record, and with Stenner’s report, I think I could probably get six months if I asked, don’t you? And it happens that I have another six months’ holiday furlough to my credit. I could take a year off.”
    Ledbetter was startled. “A year? What about the work?”
    Charles shrugged. “It doesn’t seem to have any urgency, as you and Nikko- Tsi have both pointed out.” Ledbetter looked as though he were going to say something, and then thought better of it. Charles let a pause rest between them, to encourage him, but without effect. Then he relented. “I don’t imagine I should want anything like that time, though. I’ve never had much pleasure out of furloughs in the past, and I don’t suppose this will be any exception.”
    Ledbetter looked as though he had just thought of something. He said brightly: “I hope you won’t take too long, for personal reasons. I’m looking forward to your hospitality to let me get those yachting trips in.”
    The KF studio had at one time been a brewery; long low-ceilinged rooms were broken at intervals by peculiar vertical shafts. Charles found Dinkuhl watching the interior of Room 17 through the glass partition.
    He touched his arm; Dinkuhl looked round.
    “Charlie! I heard you’d joined a procession to the morgue”
    Charles said: "I’ve come for some more of your excellent advice, Hiram. And for permission to listen in on your grapevine.”
    Dinkuhl performed his characteristic mocking grin. "Advice is something we always have available. As for the grapevine, I’m not so sure. Come on upstairs, anyway, and I’ll get you a drink.”
    There were two comfortable chairs in the upstairs room. Dinkuhl directed him to one, and went across to a spindly top-heavy Welsh dresser that just about covered one wall. He opened up a