“Is there something in particular you want, Dennis?”

“No. But there’s something you’re going to want.”

This time Nora wheeled around to face her classmate, determined to give him a piece of her mind.

Before she could utter a word, he waved an official-looking letter in front of her. “This came for you. But if you don’t want it…”

“Give it here. Right now.” Nora snatched the envelope from his hand. The return address read: E.O. Lawrence, The Radiation Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley.

Nora’s hands began to shake. Ernest Lawrence was the Nobel Prize-winning father of the cyclotron. He was a legend. What could he possibly want with her?

“Aren’t you going to open it?”

Nora frowned. She’d forgotten Dennis was standing there. “When I’m ready.” She adjusted the settings for the mass spectrometer for what seemed like the thousandth time. If she could find the sweet spot, she could produce the results her male counterparts had failed to achieve the entire semester and prove what she’d known all along—she was every bit as smart and capable as they were. Naturally, as a woman in a man’s field, she had to work ten times as hard simply to be taken seriously.

“Women.” He shook his head and walked away.

When Nora was sure she was alone, she carefully slit open the envelope and teased out the single sheet of paper.

March 23, 1943

Dear Dr. Lindstrom (please excuse the presumption of title, as I know you will not officially receive your doctorate until May):

My colleague and friend, Robert Oppenheimer, says he met you recently at Columbia and he has apprised me of your work in Pupin Hall. He tells me you have some interesting theories and a keen understanding with regard to uranium-isotope separation using electromagnetic fields. Dr. Oppenheimer also tells me you are a scientist of the highest integrity.

As it happens, I have need of someone meeting your description, especially a female. While I cannot relate more details, I wonder if, upon your graduation, I might entice you to embark upon an important scientific assignment that will be of utmost importance in the war effort.

I assure you that the pay will be more than you can imagine and that the work will be tremendously satisfying. The assignment will require your relocation to a new, secret environment. All of that will be disclosed at a later date should you choose to accept this offer of employment.

Time is of the essence, so if you could please respond to this letter as soon as practicable, I would be most appreciative.

Thank you for your consideration, and congratulations on your upcoming graduation.

Sincerely,

Ernest O. Lawrence