course, he was asked how the medical students responded that
year. His answer indicated that he believed the students generally
liked the lab portion. He also disclosed that the lab had not changed
at all from what had been taught in previous years.

Not bloody likely, thought Diana, since they copied most of the
material from my manual that they were expressly forbidden to use....
the manual that was so successful in the course for the previous two
years.

When Jimbo declared that the year Diana didn't teach, the course
content was no different from the previous year, Henry tried to hurry
him out the door. He recalled all the testimony from the NERD people
insisting that things were much different and much improved after Diana
left the course.

Before he could, Diana said, "I have one question, Jimbo. We taught
that lab together for many years when you were chair of NERD. During
that time, it was my impression that each year's class could differ
immensely from the previous year. Specifically, one year, the class
would like the way the course was run, then the next year's class would
hate it. Do you agree?"

"Yes, wholeheartedly, absolutely."

"Thank you."

Henry walked Jimbo out of the hearing room wishing fervently that he
had never asked him to testify. What a mess, but hopefully Lyle could
fix it.

Chapter 25

Ann Biggot was a crawling morass of nerves. As she explained to the
panel, it was not really fear of retribution for what she might say, it
was fear that she might be understood incorrectly and that would harm
either her chairman or Diana. She was overwhelmed, she exclaimed,
"....because I heard that this is the first Termination for Cause
Hearing ever held in Belmont!"

What an airhead, Henry thought. She swings so widely back and forth
that her testimony is generally contradictory and always rambling.
When she criticizes Lyle, in answer to a question from the panel, she,
in nearly the same breath, praises him on a totally unrelated issue.

Lord protect me from these dithering female types, he implored, raising
his eyes toward the ceiling. He looked back at the witness critically.
She's held her own in the looks department for a woman of her age, he
decided, but has let herself go to fat somewhat. Must be, from the
looks of her about ten years or so younger than Diana. Well, Lyle
thinks she loyal to him and that's what counts here.

Ann would not confirm her niece's testim