human
I'm not quite sure I understand.
gpt
Why, to the blind there are no shadows, Farley said.
human
Another drink?
gpt
I think it would be lovely,
human
As Katherine has probably told you, he said,
gpt
I find it hard to comprehend, too, Phil Kaufman said.
human
And I suppose that's what leads me on.
gpt
Well, the thing is, Farley continued,
human
Washington seems to have gotten wind of it, and you know how they are. They don't like things to be over their heads.
gpt
I don't understand. How can they possibly be interested in what I'm doing? It's purely theoretical research.
human
Surely you don't deny that Lisa Meitner's researches began by being theoretical? And look what _they_ led to. The point is, Kaufman, that I have been informed that we are about to receive a visit from a man from the A.E.C. He's arriving here sometime this afternoon.
gpt
But that's absurd! I'm not _doing_ anything to atoms. I'm merely examining them!
human
When the A.E.C. hears of somebody working in atomic research, Farley said,
gpt
I'm damned if I see why I should! Phil said.
human
What does he expect to do? Classify me?
gpt
I know it seems high-handed, but I think we all ought to remember there is such a thing as Security.
human
Security, my foot! Phil said.
gpt
It was that kind of demented thinking that caused Germany to lose Lisa Meitner! _And_ Einstein.
human
What strikes _me_ as rather odd, Katherine said,
gpt
A little while ago. On the phone.
human
Curiouser and curiouser.
gpt
He was very polite and apologetic.
human
Quite typical, Phil said.
gpt
It's the velvet-glove touch.
human
He won't be here for a while, so I wish you could brief me about the inwardness of what you are doing, Phil. He'd never used his first name before, and Phil became a little wary.
gpt
I know you can't give me a ten-year course in advanced physics this afternoon, but--well, I'd like to know what kind of stand to take. I'll be representing the university, after all.