human
Something funny happened in the lab last night, Philip reported, watching Norah struggle with dinner on the massive coal-stove.
gpt
Somebody broke in and stole about half our experimental animals. And they got our pride and joy.
human
The famous SK540?
gpt
The same. Actually, it wasn't a break-in. It must have been an inside job. The cages were open but there were no signs of breaking and entering. We're all under suspicion till they find out who-dunit.
human
You too? What on earth would anybody want with a lot of laboratory rats? They aren't worth anything, are they--financially, I mean?
gpt
Not a cent. That's why I'm sure one of the clean-up kids must have done it. Probably wanted them for pets. They're all tame, of course, not like wild rats--though they can bite like wild rats if they want to. Some of the ones missing are treated, and some are controls. It would just be a nuisance if they hadn't taken SK540. Now they've got to find him, or do about five years' work over again, without any assurance of as great a success. To say nothing of letting our super-rat loose on the world.
human
What on earth could even a super-rat do that would matter--to human beings, I mean?
gpt
Nobody knows. Maybe that's what we're going to find out.
human
It was a rat! A rat ran right over my face!
gpt
You're dreaming, darling. It's because I told you about the theft at the lab. There couldn't be rats in this place. It's too solidly built, from the basement up.