"You're not responsible, darling; you're a technician, not a biochemist."
"I share the responsibility. We all do."
"So what? The fact remains that it was done, and here he is—and here we are."
The doorbell rang.
Philip and Norah exchanged glances. SK540 watched them.
"It's probably Kelly, from the lab," Philip said, "trying to find out why I wasn't there today. It's just about quitting time, and he lives nearest us."
Norah astonished him. She picked up SK540 from the bed-side table where Philip had placed him, and hid him under her pillow.
"Get rid of whoever it is," she said defensively. Philip stared for an instant, then walked briskly downstairs. He was back in a few minutes.
"It was Kelly, all right," he told her. "I said you were sick and I couldn't leave you to phone. I said I'd be there tomorrow. Now what?"
SK540's white whiskers emerged from under the pillow, and he jumped over to the table again. Norah's cheeks were pink.