‘These waste products are much moredangerous than I’d thought.
Didn’t youread that in my report?
When I put thechemicals in rats’ drinking water, some ofthe baby rats were born without eyes andears.
One didn’t have any legs, and onehad six.’
He shivered.
‘And some were bornwithout legs when they drank only twoparts per million.
We can’t put thosechemicals in the river.’
‘Of course I read that, John.
I read yourreport very carefully indeed.
And yourreport also says that on most days we putless than two parts per million into theriver.
No, wait, listen to me for a minute!
We both know that no drinking watercomes out of this part of the river, don’twe?
And in two kilometres the river goesout into the sea.
So why is it dangerous?
Nobody is ever going to drink it, John!
Wedon’t need to build these new machines!’
John thought of his children, sailing on theriver in their boat.
He thought of the seals,and people fishing, and little childrenplaying on the beach and swimming.
‘We’ve got to build them!’
he said.
David Wilson looked at him carefully.
Hisvoice, when he spoke, was quiet and veryhard.
‘Listen to me, John.
You’re a verygood scientist, and we’re lucky to have youin this company.
But you’re not abusinessman, and I am.
Look at this.’
Hepicked up a sheet of paper, and held itacross the table for John to see.
It showedhow much money the company had.
‘Weborrowed ten million pounds last year,and we employed four hundred morepeople.
Think how much that means to asmall town like this!’
‘I know,’ said John.
‘But…’
‘Just a minute.
Listen to me.
If we buildthese cleaning machines of yours, peoplewill lose their jobs – a lot of people!
Thiscompany can’t afford to borrow any moremoney, John.
We just can’t do it!’
John stood up.
‘And what happens ifpeople get ill because of this?
Have youthought of that?
What will the newspaperssay then?’
‘No one will get ill, because no one drinksthat water, John.
