farm. He had no time for friends, holding three jobs while taking extra courses so he could graduate early and
begin to teach. And lately, when he could go out, he didn't, because he was afraid of taking time from research, from preparation for his lectures, from anything that might slow down his progress in his field. Except for an occasional evening with a few close friends, he never went anywhere.
Until now.
He finished his coffee and sat back. 'My turn. I don't know anything about you.'
*But you haven't finished. Did you find a world where everything was in its place?'
'Almost everything. Where are you from? I can't place your accent.'
'I grew up in Europe. But what is it you find? I don't know what a molecular biologist does.'
Garth laughed, discovering the pleasure of having a beautiful woman insist that he talk about himself. 'All right,' he said. 'We study the structure and behavior of molecules in living things. I specialize in the structure of genes and how we might alter them to eliminate genetic diseases.'
Stephanie rested her chin oh her hand, watching his eyes and his mouth. 'If you change the structure of genes,' she said hesitantly, 'aren't you changing life?'
He looked at her curiously, like her professors when she asked a good question. 'What does that mean?'
'Wouldn't you be tampering with - what makes life?'
'Well, I don't call it tampering; that sounds as if I'm screwing up the works. Look, those antiques you signed for; didn't craftsmen change the wood in making them? Doesn't a sculptor change marble?'
'But artists don't have power. A marble statue can't change the world. But you could, couldn't you, by changing genes?'
'Possibly.'
'Well, somebody ought to control that.'
'Who?'
She looked at him over her coffee cup. 'The government?'
'Petty, untrustworthy, plodding, narrow-minded, no vision.*
'Scientists, then.*
'Probably just as bad. Most of us are a little crazy. The faa is, you can't limit research; it pops up every time you try to cut it down.'
•I guess I have to think about rhat. What do you want out of your research?'
Back to the personal, he thought, admiring her tenacity. But the answer would take too long for today. He put it off. To make a pile of money by inventing a boysenberry syrup for eternal youth.'
She laughed. 'What's wrong with cheny?'
•Run of the mill. No drama.'
'Garth, you don't really want to make a pile of money.'
•Oh, don't I?'
•But do you expect to?'
'Oh, if you put it that way, no. Not in university research. Private companies pay well, but they're not my style.'
She looked a question.
'I don't like conmiercial pressure. In a university, no one peers over my shoulder to see how close I am to discovering something that will make a profit. I like research for its own sake, being free to follow leads that might help—'
'Humanity.'
'Something like that. You're right, though. It's unlikely I'll ever be able to afford you. Are we leaving?'
'Yes.' Stephanie was taking bills from her wallet. 'That is the silliest remark I've ever heard. I think it's wonderful that you care about research, about people, that you're willing to earn less so you can do what you believe in. That was a silly remark.'
He caught her arm as she stood up. 'Wait. Now wait a minute. First, I'm paying for breakfast.'
'You're my guest. I invited you.'
'I invited myself for the day. I may be only a lowly assistant professor who cares about humanity, but I can afford to take my friends to breakfast. Aside from my silly remark, why are we leaving?'
'I have to get back to the library to see if they need help setting up for the auction. It's less than a week away, and so many people have been sick that we're behind schedule.
Tm Sony, because I promised you the whole day, but I have to do it - it's my job.'
Tour job/
*I work for the art department and we run the auction/
*Why do you work for the art department?'
To earn money/
'I thought—'
'Yes, I know you
begin to teach. And lately, when he could go out, he didn't, because he was afraid of taking time from research, from preparation for his lectures, from anything that might slow down his progress in his field. Except for an occasional evening with a few close friends, he never went anywhere.
Until now.
He finished his coffee and sat back. 'My turn. I don't know anything about you.'
*But you haven't finished. Did you find a world where everything was in its place?'
'Almost everything. Where are you from? I can't place your accent.'
'I grew up in Europe. But what is it you find? I don't know what a molecular biologist does.'
Garth laughed, discovering the pleasure of having a beautiful woman insist that he talk about himself. 'All right,' he said. 'We study the structure and behavior of molecules in living things. I specialize in the structure of genes and how we might alter them to eliminate genetic diseases.'
Stephanie rested her chin oh her hand, watching his eyes and his mouth. 'If you change the structure of genes,' she said hesitantly, 'aren't you changing life?'
He looked at her curiously, like her professors when she asked a good question. 'What does that mean?'
'Wouldn't you be tampering with - what makes life?'
'Well, I don't call it tampering; that sounds as if I'm screwing up the works. Look, those antiques you signed for; didn't craftsmen change the wood in making them? Doesn't a sculptor change marble?'
'But artists don't have power. A marble statue can't change the world. But you could, couldn't you, by changing genes?'
'Possibly.'
'Well, somebody ought to control that.'
'Who?'
She looked at him over her coffee cup. 'The government?'
'Petty, untrustworthy, plodding, narrow-minded, no vision.*
'Scientists, then.*
'Probably just as bad. Most of us are a little crazy. The faa is, you can't limit research; it pops up every time you try to cut it down.'
•I guess I have to think about rhat. What do you want out of your research?'
Back to the personal, he thought, admiring her tenacity. But the answer would take too long for today. He put it off. To make a pile of money by inventing a boysenberry syrup for eternal youth.'
She laughed. 'What's wrong with cheny?'
•Run of the mill. No drama.'
'Garth, you don't really want to make a pile of money.'
•Oh, don't I?'
•But do you expect to?'
'Oh, if you put it that way, no. Not in university research. Private companies pay well, but they're not my style.'
She looked a question.
'I don't like conmiercial pressure. In a university, no one peers over my shoulder to see how close I am to discovering something that will make a profit. I like research for its own sake, being free to follow leads that might help—'
'Humanity.'
'Something like that. You're right, though. It's unlikely I'll ever be able to afford you. Are we leaving?'
'Yes.' Stephanie was taking bills from her wallet. 'That is the silliest remark I've ever heard. I think it's wonderful that you care about research, about people, that you're willing to earn less so you can do what you believe in. That was a silly remark.'
He caught her arm as she stood up. 'Wait. Now wait a minute. First, I'm paying for breakfast.'
'You're my guest. I invited you.'
'I invited myself for the day. I may be only a lowly assistant professor who cares about humanity, but I can afford to take my friends to breakfast. Aside from my silly remark, why are we leaving?'
'I have to get back to the library to see if they need help setting up for the auction. It's less than a week away, and so many people have been sick that we're behind schedule.
Tm Sony, because I promised you the whole day, but I have to do it - it's my job.'
Tour job/
*I work for the art department and we run the auction/
*Why do you work for the art department?'
To earn money/
'I thought—'
'Yes, I know you
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