Let me give you an example of how it works. Think of the enzyme produced by the defective gene as a wrong key which fits into the chemical lock of the central nervous system—but won't turn.
Because it's there, the true key—the right enzyme—can't even enter the lock It's blocked.
Result?
Irreversible destruction of proteins in the brain tissue."
"But if it is irreversible," intruded one of the other psychologists who had joined the little audience, "how is it possible that Mr. Gordon here is no longer retarded?"
"Ah!" crowed Nemur, "I said the destruction to the tissue was irreversible, not the process itself.
Many researchers have been able to reverse the process through injections of chemicals which combine with the defective enzymes, changing the molecular shape of the interfering key, as it were.
This is central to our own technique as well.
But first, we remove the damaged portions of the brain and permit the implanted brain tissue which has been chemically revitalized to produce brain proteins at a supernormal rate—"
"Just a minute, Professor Nemur," I said, interrupting him at the height of his peroration.
"What about Rahaja-mati's work in that field?"
He looked at me blankly. "Who?"
"Rahajamati.
His article attacks Tanida's theory of enzyme fusion—the concept of changing the chemical structure of the enzyme blocking the step in the metabolic pathway."
He frowned.
"Where was that article translated?"
"It hasn't been translated yet.
I read it in the Hindu Journal of Psychopathology just a few days ago."
He looked at his audience and tried to shrug it off.
"Well, I don't think we have anything to worry about.
Our results speak for themselves."
"But Tanida himself first propounded the theory of blocking the maverick enzyme through combination, and now he points out that—"
"Oh, come now, Charlie.
Just because a man is the first to come forth with a theory doesn't make him the final word on its experimental development.
I think everyone here will agree that the research done in the United States and Britain far outshines the work done in India and Japan.
We still have the best laboratories and the best equipment in the world."
"But that doesn't answer Rahajamati's point that—"
"This is not the time or place to go into that.
I'm certain all of these points will be adequately dealt with in tomorrow's session."
He turned to talk to someone about an old college friend, cutting me off completely, and I stood there dumbfounded.
I managed to get Strauss off to one side, and I started questioning him.
"All right, now.
You've been telling me I'm too sensitive to him.
What did I say that upset him that way?"
"You're making him feel inferior and he can't take it."
"I'm serious, for God's sake.
Tell me the truth."
"Charlie, you've got to stop thinking that everyone is laughing at you.
Nemur couldn't discuss those articles because he hasn't read them. He can't read those languages."
"Not read Hindi and Japanese?
Oh, come on now."
"Charlie, not everyone has your gift for languages."
"But then how can he refute Rahajamati's attack on this method, and Tanida's challenge to the validity of this kind of control?
He must know about those—"
"No…," said Strauss thoughtfully.
"Those papers must be recent.
There hasn't been time to get translations made."
"You mean you haven't read them either?"
He shrugged.
"I'm an even worse linguist than he is.