"You may have to consent to my resignation, then," Harker said angrily. "Dammit, Mart, if I knew this outfit was run by--" "Watch yourself, Mr. Harker," Barchet warned. "Calm down, Jim." Raymond disengaged himself from his desk and, glowering down at Barchet, said, "Simeon, you know damned well Harker was approved by a majority of the shareholders. You have no business raising a squabble like this now. He was hired and given free rein--and if he wants to fire Mitchison, it's within his province." "I insist on bringing the matter before the Board--and if Mitchison is dismissed without full vote, I'll cause trouble. Good day, Dr. Raymond." The little man sailed past Harker without a word and slammed the door. Harker grinned and said, "What was _he_ so upset about?" Raymond slumped wearily behind his desk. "Barchet's the official voice of old Beller in this outfit--and Beller was as conservative as they come. Barchet thinks you're an arch-radical because you held office for the Nat-Libs. And the little bugger carries a lot of weight on the Board, so we have to humor him." Harker nodded. He understood now what Raymond had meant when he said he had been "outvoted" in the matter of hiring Harker as first choice. It did not increase his opinion of Beller Research Laboratories. "I wouldn't blame you if you quit today," Raymond said suddenly. "With Mitchison on pins and needles to give the word to the public, and that idiot Klaus battling for my job because he's tired of enzyme work--" "Klaus? But he's just a kid!" "He's twenty-nine, and for an ex-prodigy that's ancient. Degree from Harvard at fifteen, that sort of thing. I have to keep close watch on him or he'll put a scalpel in my back." "Why not fire him?" Harker suggested. "Two reasons. He's got a contract, for one--and for another I'd rather have him with us than agin us, if you know what I mean. Lesser of two evils." Raymond sighed. "Great little place we have here, Jim. Sometimes I feel like closing the windows and turning up the gas." He shook his head reflectively. "But it wouldn't work. Some bastard would drag me next door and bring me back to life again." He reached into the bookshelf and produced the liquor bottle. "One quick shot apiece," he said. "Then I want to take you round back to show you the rest of the lab." CHAPTER VI The grand tour of the laboratory grounds was as disturbing as it was stimulating. Seemingly tireless, Raymond marched him through room after room where elaborate experiments were going on. "Serotonin-diffraction goes on in here. This room's plasma research; remind me to bring you back some time when the big centrifuge is running. Fascinating. This is Klaus' enzyme lab, and down here--"