Gina knew that Theodore Dimitri was far from being simple. You don't get to be the head of CSBD, the biggest organisation of its kind, if you aren't very clever. She knew his decision could change her life. Gina began: 'I've discovered a drug which raises intelligence.' 'Hold on, Gina!' said Mr pimitri. 'You mean to say you've found a way of making people smarter?' 'Yes,' Gina answered. 'And without any harmful side effects as far as I can tell . 'As far as you can tell?' Mr Dimitri said, his eyebrows raised. 'I mean,' said Gina, 'the work has not been used on people - I've only worked on animals. Especially Max.' 'Max?' asked Mr Dimitri. 'Sorry - Max is a monkey,' Gina explained. 'A monkey . . .' said Mr Dimitri but his voice sounded less friendly than it had before. Gina knew she had to persuade him somehow. 'Max has done really well - it's quite amazing. He now has the intelligence of an eight-year-old human child. He can do many things . . .' 'You want money for a performing monkey?' said Mr Dimitri. He sounded a little annoyed. 'I can go to any cheap show to see smart monkeys doing tricks. And I don't have to pay a lot of money for it, either.' 'Mr Dimitri,' Gina said as she reached for her bag, 'I have a video of Max. I think you should see it before you make any decisions.' 'Oh, you do?' His voice was lower - not a good sign. 'Yes,' said Gina. 'If you would allow me. I'm sure you'll be as excited as I am once you've seen it.' Gina did not want to give up without a fight. Her future depended on Mr Dimitri's decision. 'Let's see what you've got,' he said in his low voice. The video showed Max three years earlier, before Gina had begun to work on him when he was still a normal monkey. Then, three months after her work had begun, Max was seen drawing simple pictures with a pencil. After a year he was spelling out simple words. After two years he could add and take away simple numbers. After three years he could read, write and do basic mathematics. He also understood everything Gina said to him. Max had come to see Gina as his mother and he loved her. The video finished with Max putting his arms around Gina while Gin» laughed. 'That's one smart monkey. Can you make him any smarter?' Mr Dimitri asked. Gina knew he was interested. She was pleased. 'Max can be as intelligent as we want to make him, Mf Dimitri,' she said, trying not to show her pleasure in whac she had achieved. 'Yes,' he said. 'But could that monkey be made to be as smart as a man?'(Or a woman, thought Gina) 'As I said, Mr Dimitri,' said Gina, 'we can make him as intelligent as we want to.' 'You mean,' asked Mr Dimitri, 'that that monkey could get to be smarter than I am?' T suppose it is possible — there's no reason why not, as far as I can tell. Although, of course, Max is a long way from that just now,' Gina said. 'But you're working on it, right?' Mr Dimitri asked.