He made her promise that the Bulletin wouldn’t run the story on what had caused the death of the four scientists until they’d had the chance to talk to Professor Friedmann and find out what explanation he had to offer. ‘You bend over backwards to be fair, don’t you, Frank?’ Helen said in a tone that was more accusing than complimentary. ‘I don’t want to be responsible for wholesale panic in this town. Imagine what the Telluric Faith would make of this if they got to hear about it. Let’s at least give Friedmann the opportunity to put forward his side of the story.’ He added meaningfully, ‘The press does have a responsibility not to alarm the populace unnecessarily.’ ‘Which shouldn’t outweigh its responsibility to publish the truth,’ Helen retorted. She ducked back in the car and kissed him on the mouth. ‘Is that a bribe?’ he asked her. ‘In lieu of services yet to be rendered.’ ‘I’ll add it to your account.’ ‘It’ll be paid in full,’ she promised him, and skipped across the sidewalk into the office.
