Velikof nodded. From a heavy metal case he took a small lump of stuff that looked like a piece of ore. He handed the long tongs to Mangler, who viewed the sample from a safe distance through a piece of leaded glass conveniently placed on the table.
"You expect trickery," said Velikof. His tone suggested that he was unhappy that Mangler did not believe him. "Mark it if you like."
"I'd like to, but I'd rather not get that close to hot stuff."
"Then inspect it carefully and note anything characteristic about its structure. That way you can be sure."
"Just put the show on the road," said Mangler.
"All right."
Velikof tested the sample before the Geiger and the counting rate meter. From readings obtained, he set the dials on the control box. Then Velikof spent many minutes weighing, measuring, and testing the sample, transferring mass, volume, and so forth to the proper dials on the box. He re-tested the sample before the counters and rechecked his dial-settings, which he did not have to change.
"You will notice that the radioactivity has not diminished in the half-hour I've used to measure the sample," said Velikof.
Mangler chuckled. "The intensity there," he said with a wave at the counters, "is such that any short-term half-life radioactive you could get would have started off hotter than Oak Ridge itself. Go ahead."