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rse。 Spring was the time of year for new ideas。
〃I think we're ready to give it a try。〃
〃Have they ironed the bugs out？〃
〃Pretty much； enough for a field test； I think。〃
〃Okay。〃 Griffin sat back in his chair。 〃Tell me about it。〃
〃Mainly； sir。 I'm worried about the old ones。 The problem's only going to get worse as we start retiring the old units。 We had that chemical spill last month 〃
〃Oh； yeah。〃 Griffin rolled his eyes。 Most of the units in use contained PBBs； polybrominated biphenyls； as a cooling element within the power transformer。 These were dangerous to the linemen； who were supposed to wear protective clothing when working on them； but； despite pany rules； often didn't bother。 PBBs were a serious health hazard to the men。 Even worse； the pany had to dispose of the toxic liquid periodically。 It was expensive and ran the risk of spills； the paperwork for which was rapidly being as time…consuming as that associated with the pany's nuclear reactor plant。 Westinghouse was experimenting with a transformer that used a pletely inert chemical in place of the PBBs。 Though expensive； it held great promise for long…term economies and would help get the environmentalists off their backs； which was even more attractive than the monetary savings。 〃Alex； if you can get those babies up and working； I will personally get you a new pany car！〃
〃Well； I want to try one out。 Westinghouse will lend us one for free。〃
〃This is really starting to sound good；〃 Griffin noted。 〃But have they really ironed the bugs out yet？〃
〃They say so； except for some occasional voltage fluctuations。 They're not sure what causes that； and they want to do some field tests。〃
〃How bad are the fluctuations？〃
〃Marginal。〃 Alex pulled out a pad and read off the numbers。 〃It seems to be an environmental problem。 Looks like it only happens when the ambient air temperature changes rapidly。 If that's the real cause； it shouldn't be too hard to beat。〃
Griffin considered that for a few seconds。 〃Okay； where do you want to set it up？〃
〃I have a spot picked out down in Anne Arundel County； south of Annapolis。〃
〃That's a long ways away。 Why there？〃
〃It's a dead…end line。 If the transformer goes bad； it won't hurt many houses。 The other thing is； one of my crews is only twenty miles away； and I've been training them on the new unit。 We'll set up the test instrumentation； and I can have them check it every day for the first few months。 If it works out； we can make our purchase order in the fall and start setting them up next spring。〃
〃Okay。 Where exactly is this？〃
Dobbens unfolded his map on Griffin's table。 〃Right here。〃
〃Expensive neighborhood；〃 the field superintendent said dubiously。
〃Aw； e on； boss！〃 Alex snorted。 〃How would it look in the papers if we did all our experiments on poor folk？ Besides〃 he smiled 〃all those environmental freaks are rich； aren't they？〃
Dobbens had chosen his remark with care。 One of Griffin's personal； hobbyhorses was the 〃Park Avenue Environmentalist。〃 The field superintendent owned a small farm； and didn't like having some condo…owning dilettante tell him about nature。
〃Okay； you can run with it。 How soon can you set it up？〃
〃Westinghouse can have the unit to us the end of next week。 I can have it up and running three days after that。 I want my crew to check the lines in fact； I'll be going down myself to set it up if you don't mind。〃
Griffin nodded approval。 〃You're my kind of engineer； son。 Most of the schoolboys we get now are afraid to get their hands dirty。 You'll keep me posted？〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃Keep up the good work； Alex。 I've been telling management about you。〃
〃I appreciate that； Mr。 Griffin。〃
Dobbens left the building and drove home in his two…year…old pany Plymouth。 Most of the rush…hour traffic was heading in while he headed out。 He was home in under an hour。 Sean Miller was just waking up； drinking tea and watching television。 Alex wondered how anyone could start the day with tea。 He made some instant coffee for himself。
〃Well？〃 Miller asked。
〃No problem。〃 Alex smiled； then stopped。 It occurred to him that he'd miss his job。 After all the talk in college about bringing Power to the People； he'd realized with surprise after starting with BG&E that a utility pany engineer did exactly that。 In a funny sort of way； he was now serving the ordinary people； though not in a manner that carried much significance。 Dobbens decided that it was good training for his future ambitions。 He'd remember that even those who served humbly still served。 An important lesson for the future。 〃e on； we'll talk about it in the boat。〃
Wednesday was a special day。 Jack was away from both his jobs； carrying the bear while Cathy wheeled their daughter out。 The bear was a gift from the midshipmen of his history classes； an enormous monster that weighed sixty pounds and was nearly five feet tall； topped off with a Smokey Bear hat actually that of a Marine drill instructor courtesy of Breckenridge and the guard detail。 A police officer opened the door for the procession。 It was a windy March day； but the family wagon was parked just outside。 Jack scooped up his daughter in both arms while Cathy thanked the nurses。 He made sure she was in her safety seat and buckled the belt himself。 The bear had to go in the back。
〃Ready to go home； Sally？〃
〃Yes。〃 Her voice was listless。 The nurses reported that she still cried out in her sleep。 Her legs were fully healed； finally。 She could walk again； badly and awkwardly； but she could walk。 Except for the loss of her spleen； she was whole again。 Her hair was trimmed short to pensate for what had been shaved； but that would grow out soon enough。 Even the scars； the surgeons said； would fade； and the pediatricians assured him that in a few months the nightmares would end。 Jack turned to run his hand along the little face； and got a smile for his efforts。 It wasn't the smile he was accustomed to getting。 Behind his own smile； Ryan's mind boiled with rage yet again； but he told himself that this wasn't the time。 Sally needed a father now； not an avenger。
〃We have a surprise waiting for you；〃 he said。
〃What？〃 Sally asked。
〃If I told you； it wouldn't be a surprise；〃 her father pointed out。
〃Daddy！〃 For a moment his little girl was back。
〃Wait and see。〃
〃What's that？〃 Cathy asked on getting in the car。
〃The surprise。〃
〃What surprise？〃
〃See；〃 Jack told his daughter。 〃Mommy doesn't know either。〃
〃Jack； what's going on？〃
〃Doctor Schenk and I had a little talk last week；〃 was all Ryan would say。 He released the parking brake and headed off onto Broadway。
〃I want my bear；〃 Sally said。
〃He's too big to sit there； honey；〃 Cathy responded。
〃But you can wear his Smokey hat。 He said it was okay。〃 Jack handed it back。 The wide…brimmed campaign hat dropped over her head。
〃Did you thank the people for the bear？〃 Cathy asked。
〃You bet。〃 Ryan smiled for a moment。 〃Nobody flunks this term。 But don't tell anybody that。〃 Jack had a reputation as a tough marker。 That might not survive this semes