〃No; I did not say anything to him about it。 Im sure he wouldnt remember if I did; hed go; Did you say that; Beth? I suppose you might have mentioned something like that; yes。 。。。 〃
〃I still think you should talk to him。〃
〃Norman; youre not listening to me。〃
〃If you talked to him; at least you wouldnt be so angry about it now。〃
〃Shrink talk;〃 she said; shaking her head。 〃Look; Ted does whatever he wants on this expedition; he makes his stupid speeches; whatever he wants。 But I go through the door first and Barnes gives me hell。 Why shouldnt I go first? Whats wrong with a woman being the first; for once in the history of science?〃
〃Beth…〃
〃…And then I had the gall to turn on the lights。 You know what Barnes said about that? He said I might have started ''96'' a short…circuit and put us all in jeopardy。 He said I didnt know what I was doing。 He said I was impulsive。 Jesus。 Impulsive。 Stone…age military cretin。〃
〃Turn the volume back up;〃 Harry said。 〃Id rather hear Ted。〃
〃e on; guys。〃
〃Were all under a lot of pressure; Beth;〃 Norman said。 〃Its going to affect everybody in different ways。〃
She glared at Norman。 〃Youre saying Barnes was right?〃
〃Im saying were all under pressure。 Including him。 Including you。〃
〃Jesus; you men always stick together。 You know why Im still an assistant professor and not tenured?〃
〃Your pleasant; easygoing personality?〃 Harry said。
〃I can do without this。 I really can。〃
〃Beth;〃 Harry said; 〃you see the way these cables are going? Theyre running toward that bulkhead there。 See if they go up the wall on the other side of the door。〃
〃You trying to get rid of me?〃
〃If possible。〃
She laughed; breaking the tension。 〃All right; Ill look on the other side of the door。〃
When she was gone; Harry said; 〃Shes pretty worked up。〃
Norman said; 〃You know the Ben Stone story?〃
〃Which one?〃
〃Beth did her graduate work in Stones lab。〃
〃Oh。〃
Benjamin Stone was a biochemist at BU。 A colorful; engaging man; Stone had a reputation as a good researcher who used his graduate students like lab assistants; taking their results as his own。 In this exploitation of others work; Stone was not unique in the academic munity; but he proceeded a little more ruthlessly than his colleagues。
〃Beth was living with him as well。〃
〃Uh…huh。〃
〃Back in the early seventies。 Apparently; she did a series of important experiments on the energetics of ciliary inclusion bodies。 They had a big argument; and Stone broke off his relationship with her。 She left the lab; and he published ''97'' five papers…all her work…without her name on them。〃
〃Very nice;〃 Harry said。 〃So now she lifts weights?〃
〃Well; she feels mistreated; and I can see her point。〃
〃Yeah;〃 Harry said。 〃But the thing is; lie down with dogs; get up with fleas; you know what I mean?〃
〃Jesus;〃 Beth said; returning。 〃This is like The girl whos raped is always asking for it; is that what youre saying?〃