ong do you think it will take?"

"It depends on how well the fluke is established. Six months at the
minimum--and I wouldn't care to guess at the maximum. However, I hope
the minimum will be time enough."

"So do I," Blalok said.

"Well," Kennon said, "let's get on with it."

"I hope it won't interrupt our program," Jordan said.

"Of course it will interrupt it," Kennon replied. "It can't help it. Get
the idea in your head that you're facing something here that can cripple
you--maybe abort your whole operation. You have a choice--interrupt now
or abort later. And half measures won't work. To eradicate this pest
requires an all-out effort."

"But I can't see why we can't merely bypass Bay Ten--" Jordan said.

"Take my word for it," Kennon said. "You can't. There's no accurate way
of telling how far this spreads until the death losses occur. Our tests
for fluke infestation aren't that good. We have to work thoroughly and
carefully. We can't be butting heads over this--either we all co-operate
or this whole operation will blow up in our faces.

"Look at the record. Six months ago you ended a year with no deaths from
disease. Five months ago Old Doc and two Lani were ill. Four months ago
one of the two Lani was dead and Old Doc was too ill to be effective.
Three months ago Old Doc and the other Lani were dead, and before the
end of the month two more followed them. Two months ago six died, last
month eight, and so far this month you've lost four and you have over
two weeks to go. Up to now they've all been from here, but two this
month were at other stations. In six months if nothing is done, we'll
be having losses there unless we're lucky. And the losses will keep
on increasing. Apparently you don't know what it is to live with
parasites--so let me tell you. It isn't pleasant!"

Blalok shrugged. "You needn't get hot about it," he said. "After all,
you're the Doc--and we'll co-operate."

Jordan nodded. "We will," he said. "All the way."

CHAPTER X

There is a special providence that looks over recent veterinary
graduates, Kennon reflected as he checked the monthly reports from the
Stations. Since the time he had laid down the law to Judson and Blalok,
he had had no trouble from the production staff. And for the past four
months there had been no further trouble with Hepatodirus. That unwanted
visitor had apparently been evicted. At that, they had been lucky. The
parasite had been concentrated at Hillside S