“I have no plans. If you have any sort of job at your disposal, I’ll take it.”
“Marvin, that’s no proper remark for a specialist in carbon. Everything in that group ought to interest you. Carbon, silicon, titanium—”
“Stop there, sir. Send me after titanium, if you know a country where it occurs without admixture of girls.”
Chase laughed. “If you’ll come back one step in the group, I can use you.”
“Silicon dioxide?”
“Precisely. But under sealed orders.”
“The less discretion you allow me, the better. Do I go abroad?”
“Later, perhaps, but for the present the St. Mary’s river will serve. Are you willing to run up there and buy me some rock?”
“Perfectly willing. How much?”
“Twenty acres, in two parcels, islands preferred.”