he Security Officer's mouth tightened into a thin, grim line. "A major lapse of security," he snapped. "I'll check into this very thoroughly."
"Will you remove the trap?" George asked.
"I can't, until you're cleared," the Security Officer said, shaking his head. "I certainly won't authorize any action that could be later construed as aiding the entrance of spies or subversives into the plant."
"How old are you?" the Administrative Officer asked George.
"Fifty-six days," George replied without hesitation.
"Under twelve years," the Administrative Officer pointed out to the Security Officer. "No clearance required."
"I don't know," the Security Officer said, shaking his head. "There's no precedent for a case like this. I'll be damned if I'll stick my neck out and have that trap removed. I know, I'll send a request for an advisory opinion." He turned and walked toward the door.
"What should I tell my wife?" George called after him.
"Tell her that I'm asking the A.E.C. for an opinion, with carbon copies to the Defense Dept. and the F.B.I."