"Dr. Richardson, if we're about through here, could you help me a minute?" I thumbed toward the open door. "Tanaka wants you to approve the final setup for the partitions."
I quickly discovered I was wrong about the idea she would quit. As we worked our way past the computer terminals and stacks of printouts, retreating toward the center of the floor, she declared war. "MITI or Mori or whoever's behind this is going to have a fight on their hands. We don't need them involved."
"Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I think we're being kept in the dark about a lot of what's cooking." I kept my voice low, scarcely above a whisper, as the Japanese staff milled in and out. "There's a sheet of paper in my briefcase that I'd like to go over with you. Yet another example of the curious new developments around this place."
She poured herself a cup of green tea from the large urn stationed in the middle of the floor. "What do you mean?"
"We'll talk about it later." I poured some tea for myself. "I think something's gone haywire."
That startled her, and she began to tune in. "Things are pretty haywire now."
"This may be even worse. I came across something a while ago that doesn't add up." I looked at her. "I think we ought to talk about it."
"Now?"
"Not here. How about tonight?"
"Can't. There's a damned faculty dinner I have to attend."