they get the word, andpretty soon they are glancing over certain botany journals apparentlyfor relaxation. They read my papers. It's slow, but it works." Masonleaned forward and struck a large stick match under the lab bench top.Drawing several puffs through his pipe his eyes were on Collins'confused face. Then he laid the pipe down.
"The enemy botanists may read the botany journals, sure, but the enemyphysicists don't. Their totalitarian training has made them inflexiblein their thinking, besides they have their hands full trying to keep upin their own fields. The curse of specialization is a blessing to us.When the enemy botanists read it, it makes sense, but it doesn't helpthem much in their work--more or less innocuous." He waved toward thebotany texts on his desk. "It took me six months to learn enough aboutit to do the job." As he spoke Mason untangled his legs and brought theopen journal over to his desk.
"All right, notice in my article I am writing on chromosomes--chains ofgenes, and my field is--?"
"Chain reactions," Collins finished softly, "but--"
"The article itself is well disguised, but it's a parable. It's botanyon the surface, but it gets over enough chain-reaction theory to be goodphysics, if you read it right. You see botany is what you might call mycode field."
The bright light of noon shimmered on the white buildings and greenlawns beyond the lab windows. Collins was silent and thoughtful.
"Well, that's about all. Gordon knows. He's in with us, but theGovernment doesn't suspect--yet. Oh, they may catch on to us. Informationmay leak out to the enemy. There's some chance, but when we're caughtwe'll think of something else. Most of us believe it's worth the chance.There's a risk in anything."
Suddenly all the pieces fell into place, and Collins' anger and confusionmelted away. In its place was a sense of relief and hope, hope for thefuture. It wasn't the final answer, but it was a way to keep going. Hewas not alone any longer. He had friends who understood, who had beenthrough what he had been through. It was a good feeling. He heardMason's voice again.
"Milt, why don't you do some library work? Botany's my code field. Idon't know what yours is, but you've got some catching up to do. Theremay be some interesting stuff published already in your code field."
Collins did, and he developed his new interest enthusiastically. Gordonhad been right. He had been getting stale. Besides, astronomy was afascinating field, and suns with their revolving planets in somerespects are very like atomic systems, if you look at it that way.
THE END
Transcriber's Note:
This e-text was produced from Astounding Science Fiction October 1955. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.
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