“But—” he began to protest.

Banks, her eyes riveted on his, stopped him with a minute shake of her head, and Lou pulled back.

Was Scupman protecting something … or someone? he wondered. He had expected the bacteria sycophant to behave eccentrically, but by shutting the door on a concerned physician, as well as on his own second-in-command, he had taken a step over the line between eccentric and rude. Lou had already decided that because of Scupman’s behavior, he was going to help Humphrey set up his lab no matter what. Still, one final try at getting some encouraging information from the division chief seemed called for.

“Dr. Scupman, Dr. Banks, I know you’ve taken a look at the effect of bacteriophage on the Doomsday Germ, but what do you think about the proposal of using three different types of phage administered simultaneously—one directed at the Gram positive, and two directed at the Gram negative?”

Scupman pushed himself away from the table and stood.

“Scientists have invented a dozen different antibiotics in just the past few years, and we are on the doorstep of creating a dozen more. One of them, or a combination, will eventually be enough to bring the so-called Doomsday Germ to its knees, at least until the tyrant figures out what’s going on and mutates. We have known about bacteriophage for close to a century. There is a reason why they haven’t caught on as an antibacterial agent.”

Lou was disappointed when Banks also stood. He had no choice but to join them.

“Three different forms of phage is an interesting approach,” she said. “It would be like forest rangers setting a fire to fight a fire. It seems a long shot, but maybe the proposal does have some merit. Sam?”

“The only thing I’m willing to concede,” Scupman said, “and I’m sorry to have to say this so bluntly, is that I think it’s best if you light a candle for your friend. We only have the time and manpower to follow very promising lines of research. Bacteriophage therapy is most certainly not one of those. Now, as I said, I have another appointment, and Dr. Banks has some promising work I want to take a look at before that. Thank you for your effort, Dr. Welcome. I appreciate your sad situation. Now, if you’ll excuse us.”

Lou felt stunned. Either Scupman did not like his opinions being questioned, or he hated the notion of this super-germ being vulnerable in any way. It was as though he were rooting against a cure—hoping that super-germ never stumbles onto any kryptonite.

Scupman pointedly moved to the desk at the far end of the conference room, made a phone call, and began talking more loudly than he probably had to.