Velikof nodded. "You do it," he said. "But please hurry."
"The measurements take time."
"I know. But—well, go ahead."
Newton nodded and put the sample on the scales. His hands fumbled a bit and he started over—
"Please hurry."
"I guess that's close enough," said Newton. He set the mass dial, looked at it, looked back at the balance, then shrugged. He dunked the sample in the volumetric graduate, flashed it through the electrical bridges, and made the appropriate settings on the dials of the control box.
"You're being rather sloppy," said Mangler pointedly.
"I fear he has been too sloppy," said Velikof. "But we have too little time to repeat."
"You set the radioactive constants," said Newton to Mangler. Mangler thought for a moment and then set them; and his setting was precise.
"Now!" said Newton. He thrust the switch home.