"Yes," said McCausland, "and go back up to the ship. You and Miss de Vries both. I don't care how important this is for purposes of record. That's an order. Go!"
Adam was on duty at the head of the spiral stair when they arrived. "Did you get it?" he asked.
Paulette put a finger on her lips and glanced at Bjornsen, then as though referring to some previous arrangement, said easily, "Do you suppose Dr. Perkins will explain the matter now?"
"I think so," he replied, catching on quickly. "I'll leave Burchall in charge of the watch and we can go up and see him at all events."
A few moments later they had reached the top of the ship where the scientific laboratories were located in a series of outer compartments. Dr. Perkins looked up from his desk as the pair entered.
"Hello, Miss de Vries," he said. "Glad to see you, Longworth. What's on your mind?"
Adam spoke. "I just wanted to ask you two questions."
"Go ahead."
"Well, the first is—what did you think of that isotope business?"
The chemist's face gathered in a frown.