Mindbend

There were several doctors at the table and Adam hoped he wasn’t offending them, but he did notice that Dr. Nachman was smiling. Adam was pleased, since he thought the more enthusiastic they were about him, the better his chance of learning what they were doing.

“Do you think your attitude would make dealing with doctors difficult?” asked Linda Aronson.

“Not at all,” said Adam. “I think my understanding of medical reality makes it easier. As a sales rep I’ve been reasonably successful.”

“From what Bill Shelly has reported,” said Nachman, “I think that Mr. Schonberg is being modest.”

“Adam, has anyone described our plans should you decide to enlist in our management training program?” asked Dr. Glover.

“Not specifically,” said Adam.

Dr. Nachman folded his hands and leaned forward. “Arolen is about to release a whole new generation of drugs or treatment modalities as a result of our fetal research. We are looking for someone to work with Linda to educate the medical profession in these new concepts. We feel that you have the perfect background and attitudes for the job.”

“Precisely,” said Linda. “But we don’t mean to overwhelm you. At first, all you would be doing would be familiarizing yourself with Arolen’s research.”

Adam wished he had more than two days. The job they had in mind would undoubtedly put him in a position to learn what he needed.

“That’s not quite true,” said Brian Hopkins. “Mr.

Schonberg must first take our management training course.”

“Brian, we all know that Mr. Schonberg has to take your course first.”

“Please,” said Dr. Nachman. “Let’s not display our departmental jealousies yet. There will be plenty of time for that.”

Everyone laughed except Hopkins.

Adam finished his dessert and put down his spoon. Looking at Dr. Nachman, he said, “That was a wonderful dinner, but I’m eager to see the research facility.”

“And we are eager to show it to you. Tomorrow we plan to .

. .”

“Why not tonight?” interrupted Adam enthusiastically.

Dr. Nachman looked at Glover and Mitchell, who smiled and shrugged. “I suppose we could show you some of the facilities tonight,” said Dr. Nachman. “Are you sure you are not too tired?”

“Not in the slightest,” said Adam.

Dr. Nachman stood up, followed by Dr. Glover and Dr.

Mitchell. The others excused themselves, preferring to remain at the table for more coffee and after-dinner drinks.

Dr. Nachman led Adam back to the main building, where guests signed in. Then the four went through another set of double doors to the research center. This part of the building was floored in white tile, the walls painted in bright primary colors.

“These are the administration offices,” explained Dr.

Nachman. A moment later Adam found himself crossing a glass-walled bridge. He could see palm trees waving on either side and realized that there were two concentric buildings, one nestled inside of the other, much like the Pentagon in Washington.

Turning down another hallway, Adam smelled the unmistakable odor of caged animals. Dr. Glover opened the first door and for the next half hour led Adam from room to room, explaining the complicated machinery and examining an endless number of rats and monkeys. This was where Arolen was doing its basic fetology research.

To Adam’s surprise, white-gowned technicians were working in some of the labs, despite the late hour. Dr. Glover explained that ever since they’d begun to get positive results with fetal implants, they’d been working around the clock.

“Where do you get your material?” asked Adam, pausing by a cage of pink mice.

“Most of the research is done with animal systems,”

explained Dr. Glover, “and we breed our animals right here at the center.”

“But surely you’re doing some human implants. Where do you get your tissue?” persisted Adam.

“Very good question,” said Dr. Glover. “We did run into a bit of a problem after restrictive laws were passed, but we’ve managed one way or another. Most of our material comes from the Julian Clinic.”

Adam wanted to pound the glass cases in frustration. Why couldn’t he get anyone to listen to him? Obviously, doctors like Vandermer were increasing the supply of fetal tissue by merely increasing the number of therapeutic abortions.

“Tomorrow,” continued Dr. Glover, pleased that Adam was demonstrating such interest, “we will take you into our hospital wing. We’ve had some amazing results, particularly in treating diabetics with fetal pancreatic extracts.”

“I know how interesting this is, but I think Dr. Mitchell would like to describe some of his work,” said Nachman, smiling at Glover.

“Indeed,” echoed Dr. Mitchell. “A year from now, when the sales figures are in, we’ll see whose department accounts for the biggest increases.”

Mitchell devoted the next thirty minutes to a nonstop monologue on psychotropic drugs, particularly a new brand of phenothiazine. “It’s effective for every type of psychotic condition. It’s essentially nontoxic, and it changes the most disturbed individual into an exemplary citizen. Of course, some spontaneity is sacrificed.”