. I'm
going to talk to the people at your university — I think you should have a Ph.D. for the work you've done so far. . .'
Gina raised her eyes.
'Yes, Miss Capaldi, I believe in your honesty and believe you are a brilliant young scientist. I would very much like you to continue to work for us. . .'
Gina shut her eyes. She was tod happy to speak. '. . . but in a different area,' Mr Dimitri added.
Gina opened her eyes. She could hardly believe what she had heard. 'But what about my work?' she asked.
'You may carry on if you wish,' said Mr Dimitri, 'but you will have no money from us if you do. And I think I can say that nobody else will help you if I have anything to say about it - and I will.'
Gina felt bad about losing her work. But she had been offered a job - and her Ph.D.
'If you leave all your work with us, Miss Capaldi, we'll make sure that it is properly taken care of. After all, y^u have made a discovery which could change the world someday. And you can be sure that we will recognise you as the person behind it all when the time comes. But it could take a long time.
'But right now we would like to use your clever brain to the full in doing important work for us. And, of course, you will be safe in the knowledge that you have the CSBD
behind you. You will never be short of money again. So why not join us, Gina? What do you say?'
Gina felt surprisingly good about the offer.
And I'll get recognition for my work?' Gina asked. 'Definitely' said Mr Dimitri.
'Mr Dimitri, I accept!'
There were smiles and goodbyes and, soon after, a happy Gina Capaldi left the room.
Mr Dimitri sat down, lit another cigar and watched the smoke rise up to the ceiling before it finally disappeared. He knew that business was not good when people asked too many questions. If people were made to be too smart they would do just that. And once they didn't get the answers they wanted, they might not buy things. And if they didn't buy things there would be no money to be made.
No-one would like that. No-one at all.
Miss Capaldi's work would be put away somewhere nice and safe. Somewhere secret. Along with all the other dangerous ideas. Like the car that ran on water, or the shoes that never wore out, or the battery that never stopped.
But he was glad to have Miss Capaldi. She was bright. He ought to give her something to do. Something that would make a lot of money. He picked up his telephone.
'Miss Epstein . . . See that Miss Capaldi is sent to the biological science centre. I want her to be a part of that three-legged chicken plan. She can do it, if anybody can. She's one smart lady. Oh, and Miss Epstein . . .'
'Yes, Mr Dimitri?' said Miss Epstein.
'I want you to see that a dangerous animal from one of our centres is killed. It's a monkey. His name is Max.'