"Thank you, Colonel."
I could see that Manning was about ready to leave, having pacified her; I was still curious about the big box that gave out the odd noises.
"May I ask what that is, Doctor?"
"Oh, that? That's an air conditioner."
"Odd-looking one. I've never seen one like it."
"It's not to condition the air of this room. It's to remove the radioactive dust before the exhaust air goes outdoors. We wash the dust out of the foul air."
"Where does the water go?"
"Down the drain. Out into the bay eventually, I suppose."
I tried to snap my fingers, which was impossible because of the lead mittens. "That accounts for it, Colonel!"
"Accounts for what?"