ATOMIC BONANZA
By George O. Smith
A device which could decontaminate any bit of
radioactive matter would be invaluable—only
it was impossible. But Doctor Velikof was
ready to demonstrate just such a machine!
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from
Science Fiction Quarterly May 1951.
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that
the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
The visitor arriving at General Atomic Research climbed a broad flight of stairs and then encountered a sort of plaza presided over by a rare combination of brains and beauty. Here the visitor inspected the beauty while the brains inspected the visitor's credentials. After which mutual inspection the visitor stepped into the exact center of a long corridor and turned either to the right or to the left, depending upon which of the two main offices he was to visit.
At one end was the office of Doctor Howard Mangler, Director of Research; at the other end of the corridor was the office of Phillip Newton, Director of Operations. Between the two was the corridor called "The Battlefield" by the clerks, stenographers, and office boys.
Up and down the silent battle raged, its casualties mutely entombed in the filing cabinets, swathed in directives (with carbon copies) and counter-directives (with carbon copies).
It was not a bloody battle. It was fought with words and words and words of argument, counter-thrust, statement, rebuttal and rejoinder; espionage and security. The objective was Control.