Page 78 of The Secrets of Dragonfly Lodge
‘Thank you. They want someone with exactly my research interests.’ His smile was sheepish. ‘Briggs must have pushed quite hard on my behalf.’
Lucky James, Nancy thought. The professor had never offered her that kind of support.
She decided that she must share her concerns about Zalathion with Dr Staunton. A few days later, she worked up the courage to knock on the door of his office.
He glanced up at her entrance and his thin lips turned down in a frown.
‘May I have a word?’
‘I am rather busy, Miss Foster, so it had better be quick.’
Dr Foster, Nancy thought as she sat down, but it wasn’t worth correcting him.
He steepled his spidery fingers and peered enquiringly at her. ‘I’m all ears,’ he said in a clipped voice.
‘There’s something that’s worrying me. About my research.’ She paused, was reassured by his murmur of encouragement and hurried on. She summarized briefly what she had found, that the Zalathion she was using in her experiments attacked the nervous systems of the locust in the same way that it would in humans. In short, the substance was dangerous to people. ‘Small doses could cause muscle weakness or developmental problems. Larger doses could kill.’
When she’d finished, Staunton said nothing for a moment, but stared at the wall somewhere above her head. Then heabsently rubbed a glass paperweight on his desk, cleared his throat and said, ‘Yes, that’s all very interesting. However, to the best of my knowledge the organophosphates that ICP has developed for commercial use have been tested extensively and are ruled safe to use.’ His tone implied, what did she, a junior researcher, think she was doing challenging this conclusion?
‘I understand that they would have been extensively tested, but I have conducted various experiments,’ she went on bravely, ‘and so far the results underpin my hypothesis. What I’d like to do, with your permission, is to test more extensively, but of course that will take up time, time I should be spending on other aspects of my work.’
Again, he regarded her over his clasped hands. Finally, he said, ‘I am most grateful to you, Miss Foster, for bringing this matter to my attention. I will report your findings to my superior, but for the moment I should like you to continue to focus on what you are paid to do. We are under a certain pressure of time to produce results. Time is money, Miss Foster. Time is money.’ He paused for a moment, then appeared to come to a decision. ‘Which reminds me, the salaries board meets soon and I will put in a word on your behalf. No promises, though. So good of you to come and see me.’ And with that she found herself dismissed and outside in the corridor.
‘He made me feel small,’ she complained to James later. She’d caught him just before he left Brandingfield for the airport to fly to Boston. ‘I feel so angry.’
‘I did warn you,’ James murmured, checking his coatpocket for his passport. ‘It’s good news that your salary might be reviewed, though.’
‘Whose side are you on?’ Her eyes blazed.
‘Oh, yours, undoubtedly yours,’ he said. He leaned in and kissed her, then stood back, regarding her thoughtfully. ‘But the man’s right, confound it, what else did you expect? You are only a junior researcher and unfortunately your word doesn’t count for much. They’ve already invested heavily in producing this stuff and using it in the field. Your job is simply to help them to develop the damned product more effectively.’
‘But what if I’m right and people die? Won’t ICP be taken to court?’
‘By poor farmers out in the colonies? I doubt it.’
‘James, that’s a monstrous way to look at it.’
‘I’m just putting myself in ICP’s shoes. They’re interested in turning a profit, Nancy, not in the good of mankind. Look, I must go.’
‘I do hope things go well,’ she said, giving him a hug.
‘I’ll be back in a few days. Just stop worrying, Nancy. Everything will work out, you’ll see.’
She followed him out to the hall. One last wave and he was off into the sunshine, suitcase in hand, his long coat flapping. Maybe, she thought wistfully, he’d always be walking away. Far into the distance and she’d be left behind. She wanted to run after him, to tell him to stop, but that would be ridiculous. Instead, tears filled her eyes, blurring a last sight of him. She brushed them fiercely away, turned and plodded slowly back to her lab.
‘Nancy? Hello, can you hear me?’
It was eleven o’clock at night when the Brauns’ phone rang out. Nancy scampered down to the hall to answer it. James’ voice was distant, but unmistakable.
‘It’s awfully late here,’ she said. ‘Hang on. I don’t want to disturb the others.’ The flex of the phone just reached into the sitting room. She pushed the door to and leaned against it. ‘I’m here again. How are you?’
‘Fine. I had to tell you right away. They’ve offered me the job!’
‘Oh!’ She paused, then said brightly, ‘Congratulations, that’s marvellous.’
‘Nancy, I’m going to accept it. It’s…’ The voice crackled and faded, then returned: ‘… miss.’
‘What?’ She slid down the door and crouched in a miserable heap.
