Page 88 - Just Deserts

PIVOT

literature and scavenges any software he can get at through the
university’s network.”
Angie shook her head. “Paramorphic...uh, whatever. I’ll get into it
pretty quickly, Mungo. I learn fast, and I’m willing to work late until I
get up to speed. But my specialty is hands-on genetic manipulation.
Where is the electron microscope?”
Mungo pointed. “Under that dust cover. You’d better take a look
at it and make sure it works: the professor doesn’t like to fiddle with
high-tech equipment. No patience, I guess. But now you’re here, and
things on the experimental side will start to get moving.”
“Yes,” she said, advancing on the instrument, her eyes magnified
by the lenses of her glasses. “It’s definitely time to get things
moving.”

* * * * *

Dr. Frederick Kingswater, a tall ruddy man with a thick full beard,
strode into the Bordham University faculty lounge. Despite the
coolness of early autumn he wore the same faded seersucker suit he
had been seen in all summer. As if to emphasize his disdain for the
regard of others, he ignored the familiar faces of colleagues arrayed
around the room and made a beeline for the only obvious outsider.
“Are you Fuller from the magazine?” demanded the professor.
The stranger rose to his feet, a small dark man with thinning
black hair and quick darting eyes. “Yes, sir. Phil Fuller, of the ‘Science
Frontier.’ Pleased to meet you, Dr. Kingswater.”
The professor gave the journalist a peremptory handshake and
gestured at the sofa. They sat down at opposite ends of it,
Kingswater with arms folded in the stoic pose of an Indian chief and
Fuller busily getting ready to take notes on a pad.
“I’m not familiar with your publication,” said Kingswater abruptly.
“Where is it published?”
“Roanoke, Virginia. We’ve only been in on the stands for a few
months now. I’m sorry: I should have brought a back issue for you to
look at.”

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