 Why does the army get involved with the situation?
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Worlds of If Science Fiction, September 1962. 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. 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. "Actually, Doctor, we haven't the right to ask this of a man of your importance. "No, Harold, it isn't," Macklin admitted. "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. "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. "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." "If this really works, I could stop using that damned gynergen, couldn't I? "On rats, on chimps...." Conscientious objectors from the Army." "We want you," Ferris told him. Unless we can produce quick, conclusive and dramatic proof of our studies we can get no more financial backing. When I start making slips like that it means another attack of migraine. "When your heart stops, your blood pressure goes to its lowest point," Mitchell said. All our test animals survived and seem perfectly happy and contented. As I said, the virus is self-stabilizing. Ferris and I are confident that there is no danger.... "No! I'm ready.
 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.