Part 8 (2/2)
But I'd hardly call it an example of sinister experimentation under the circ.u.mstances, would you?”
Harry shook his head. ”About Ritchie, though,” he said. ”What will happen to him?”
”I can't offer any prognosis. In view of my recent error in judgment concerning him, it's hard to say how he'll respond to further treatment. But rest a.s.sured that I'll do my best for his case. Chances are you'll be seeing him again before very long.”
Dr. Manschoff glanced at his watch. ”Shall we go back now?” he suggested. ”Supper will be served soon.”
The two men toiled up the bank.
Harry discovered that the doctor was right about supper. It was being served as he returned to his room. But the predictions concerning Ritchie didn't work out quite as well.
It was after supper--indeed, quite some hours afterwards, while Harry sat at his window and stared sleeplessly out into the night--that he noted the thick, greasy spirals of black smoke rising suddenly from the chimney of the Third Unit building. And the sight may have prepared him for the failure of Dr. Manschoff's prophecy regarding his disturbed patient.
Harry never asked any questions, and no explanations were ever forthcoming.
But from that evening onward, n.o.body ever saw Arnold Ritchie again.
3. President Winthrop--1999
The Secretary of State closed the door.
”Well?” he asked.
President Winthrop looked up from the desk and blinked. ”h.e.l.lo, Art,”
he said. ”Sit down.”
”Sorry I'm late,” the Secretary told him. ”I came as soon as I got the call.”
”It doesn't matter.” The President lit a cigarette and pursed his lips around it until it stopped wobbling. ”I've been checking the reports all night.”
”You look tired.”
”I am. I could sleep for a week. That is, I _wish_ I could.”
”Any luck?”
The President pushed the papers aside and drummed the desk for a moment. Then he offered the Secretary a gray ghost of a smile.
”The answer's still the same.”
”But this was our last chance--”
”I know.” The President leaned back. ”When I think of the time and effort, the money that's been poured into these projects! To say nothing of the hopes we had. And now, it's all for nothing.”
”You can't say that,” the Secretary answered. ”After all, we did reach the moon. We got to Mars.” He paused. ”No one can take that away from you. You sponsored the Martian flights. You fought for the appropriations, pushed the project, carried it through. You helped mankind realize its greatest dream--”
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