Page 52 - Three Adventures

Deflator Mouse

“But why didn’t you quit? I’ve quit jobs I didn’t like.”
“Because I like working at Litmus: I like the people in my
department, and I think we could do some wonderful things in the
field of automated communications gear and underwater exploration.
I’ve been staying on there in the hopes that the company would give
up Salamander and do something worthwhile.”
“Salamander? What’s that?”
“Oh, just the code name of the amphibious robot. Forget I said
that; it’s not supposed to be known outside the office.”
“Okay.”
“Anyway, babe, it looks like Litmus will have to find some other
work for its people. And that’s why I’m so pleased.”
Cindy was silent for a minute, applying lipstick. “But don’t
companies like Litmus make a lot of money off those government
contracts? Why would they give it up?”
“Now, this is just a rumor I heard yesterday, but it seems that the
government doesn’t think Litmus has good enough security to handle
a top-secret project.”
“Really? I thought everything was very hush-hush there. Don’t you
have to show a pass to get in every morning?”
It seemed to Ken that Cindy was displaying more than usual
interest in his job; it must be, he reflected, that she feels close enough
to me to share in my concerns and enthusiasm. “Well, you know how
it is. Maybe the management got a little careless in some paperwork,
failed to dot an ‘i’ or cross a ‘t’. There must be other, more
experienced companies that could take over the project, if the
government wants to continue with it; it’s far from complete.”
“Mmm.” She sat up and started brushing her short blond hair.
“Do you want me to get you a Coke?”

* * * * *

The following Thursday it was still light when Ken Oshima got
home. He braked his car violently and ran up the steps, leaving his
convertible exposed to the elements. In his hand was the morning
Inglewood Spectator. He threw open the door of his apartment and

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