 Why does the army get involved with the situation?
Why, having a head, of course! [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Worlds of If Science Fiction, September 1962. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] But Macklin is exactly what we need for a quick, dramatic test. Who would have financed a study of cyclic periods of the hedgehog? "When we prove our results that should be of enough practical value for anyone. Our reputations don't go outside our own fields," Mitchell said. No one knew whether his Theory of Spatium was correct or not because no one had yet been able to frame an argument with it. The government took up a lot of his time using him as the symbol of the Ideal Scientist to help recruit Science and Engineering Cadets. For the past seven years Macklin—who was the Advanced Studies Department of Firestone University—had been involved in devising a faster-than-light drive to help the Army reach Pluto and eventually the nearer stars. A cycle of the headaches had caused him to be absent from his classes for several weeks, and there were an unusual number of military uniforms seen around the campus. "Actually, Doctor, we haven't the right to ask this of a man of your importance. "No, Harold, it isn't," Macklin admitted. "I would have said the common cold," Macklin replied, "but I suppose from what you have said you mean headaches." "Everybody has them at some time in his life. "Aspirins would still be used to reduce fever and relieve muscular pains," Mitchell said. "There are a number of different causes for headaches—nervous strain, fatigue, physical diseases from kidney complaints to tumors, over-indulgence—but there is one effect of all of this, the one real cause of headaches," Mitchell announced. "The pressure effect caused by pituitrin in the brain," Mitchell said eagerly. "That is, the constriction of blood vessels in the telencephalon section of the frontal lobes. It's caused by an over-production of the pituitary gland. We have artificially bred a virus that feeds on pituitrin." "In certain areas it is valuable to have a constriction of blood vessels." "The virus," Ferris explained, "can easily be localized and stabilized. A colony of virus in the brain cells will relax the cerebral vessels—and only the cerebral vessels—so that the cerebrospinal fluid doesn't create pressure in the cavities of the brain."
 Macklin is a valuable asset to them, and they don't want something to happen to his intellect.
 Macklin is a valuable asset to them, and they don't want something to happen to his intellect.  The army is investigating Mitchell and Ferris because they gave unauthorized medical assistance.  Mrs. Macklin called them in to help.  They want to see the results of Ferris and Mitchell's trial.