Pawn’s Gambit by Timothy Zahn Page A

“but we ran into the local ethics committee. Any idea how the Family Alliance might have overheard our conversation, Dr. Jordan?”
    The two of them exchanged glances, then Jordan grimaced. “My secretary, probably,” he said. “I called Pam right after I talked to you, and the door to her office was open. I’m sorry; it never occurred to me that she’d go off and tell anyone.”
    â€œNo harm done,” Dan shrugged. “Let’s forget it and get down to business, shall we?”
    â€œYour idea sounds very interesting, Dr. Staley,” Halladay said, “but I think there are one or two technical points that need clearing up. First of all, would you be following a single fetus from conception to term, or would you try to reach a group of fetuses at various stages of growth?”
    â€œI hadn’t really thought that much about it,” Dan said slowly. “I suppose the second method would be faster.”
    â€œIt would give better statistics, too,” Jordan said. “What do you think, Pam—would a hundred be enough?”
    â€œA hundred subjects?” Dan said, looking a little taken aback.
    â€œWell, sure. If you want this to have scientific validity you’ll need a reasonable sample. Why?—did you have a smaller number in mind?”
    â€œYeah. About ten.” Dan frowned. “Maybe we could compromise at twenty-five or so.”
    â€œYou cut the sample too small and it won’t be scientific enough to satisfy the skeptics,” Jordan warned.
    â€œWhether it’ll be scientific enough anyway was my second question,” Halladay put in.
    We all looked at her. “What do you mean?” Jordan asked.
    â€œOh, come on now, Eliot—the heart of the scientific method is the reproducibility of an experiment. With only one proven telepath on Earth, this one is inherently unrepeatable. Whatever Dr. Staley concludes we’ll have to take on faith.”
    â€œAre you suggesting I might lie?” Dan asked quietly.
    â€œNo—I’m suggesting you might misinterpret what you hear. How are you going to know, say, whether the differences you see are human versus nonhuman or simply four months versus two months?”
    Dan nodded. “I see. I wondered why you hadn’t told Dr. Jordan you’d seen Cooper and Mrs. Reese loitering out in the hall earlier. You called them down on us, didn’t you?”
    Halladay’s face reddened. “No, I … uh … look, I didn’t expect anyone to come out here and ambush you like that. I just wanted to know whether you were pro- or anti-abortion; if you’d ever taken a public stand on the issue. I mean, they keep files on that sort of thing.”
    Jordan was looking at his co-worker as if she’d just shown a KGB membership card. “Pam! What on earth —”
    â€œIt’s all right, Dr. Jordan. As I said before, no harm done.” Dan turned to Halladay, and there was a glint in his eye I didn’t often see. “I’ll tell you what I told your friends: I’m not doing this to push anyone’s opinions, and that includes any I might have. If you have to pigeonhole me anywhere, put me down as ‘protruth.’ I won’t wear any other labels, understand?”
    â€œYes. I’m sorry, Doctor.” She smiled wanly. “I guess I’m not immune to the emotions the whole subject generates. I’ll keep my feelings to myself from now on—I promise.”
    â€œWill you prove your sincerity?” Dan leaned forward and offered his hand.
    She frowned at it for a second before understanding flickered across her face. Then, visibly steeling herself, she reached out and gingerly took his hand. They held the position for nearly twenty seconds before Dan released his grip and sat back. “Thank you,” he said. “I’m sure you’ll be a great help to us.” Turning to Jordan, he nodded. “Now then,