"It has been impossible to find a single one which had a high enough Index to warrant your consideration."
"I see," said Baker. "So you've taken care of the usual routine without any help from me?"
"Yes," said Pehrson.
"There's one grant left over from before I was absent. We must get that out of the way as quickly as possible."
"I don't recall any that were pending—" said Pehrson in apology.
"Clearwater College. Get me the file, will you?"
Pehrson didn't know for sure whether the chief was joking or not. He looked completely serious. Pehrson felt sick at the sudden thought that the accident may have so injured the chief's mind that he was actually serious.
He sparred. "The Clearwater College file?"
"That's what I said. Bring a set of approval forms, too."
Pehrson managed to get out with a placid mask on his face, but it broke as soon as he reached the safety of his own office. It wasn't possible that Baker was serious! The check that went out that afternoon convinced him it was so.