Page 31 - Psychoceramics and the Test of Fire

Archaeontogeny

armpits up, a balding bull-necked bearded bright-eyed colossus in a
Hawaiian shirt. He looked at me keenly.
“You sure you’re in the right office? Business administration
moved to Toad Hall about ten years ago.”
He grinned at his pleasantry and I did, too, careful not to bare my
incisors to the gum line. Better be on guard, I thought: this guy has
seen a lot of people in a lot of places.
“I sure hope so,” I uttered respectfully. “You are Professor
Eugene Cutter, are you not? I have—”
“Call me Gene.”
“—an appointment with you, sir. My name is Andrew Mann. The
Charybdis Foundation.” I approached the desk, exuding
unctuousness. “My card.”
He took it, tossed it on the midden. “Okay. Now I know who you
are. Hard to believe anyone is taking an interest in archaeontogeny.
But I’m ready and willing to be a believer. Have a seat.”
I would unbend as I bent to his will. Watch me transform into yet
another adoring acolyte, Professor, I said to myself. But I had to pass
a test somewhere along the line. Fortune favors the prepared mind.
“Thank you for taking the time to see me in your office,
Professor.”
“Call me Gene.”
“Certainly, Gene. Why don’t you call me Andy? Well, to the
matter at hand. As our mission statement indicates, we have an
endowment generating income to be disbursed to recognized
authorities in psychology, sociology and anthropology, for original
research projects in their field. Although you did not directly apply
for one of our grants, we are aware of your work and encourage you
to do so.”
He knitted his brows, with enough material to make a pair of
mittens.
“What do you know about my work?”
I was expecting this sort of torpedo, and knew it had to be
defused with care. “We know about your past successes and failures,
including the ground-breaking attempt to detect panspermia in the
genome. As far as we’re concerned, you were betrayed by bad
computer support. But our board of directors—some of whom you
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