Dispassionate Science

“It had been twenty-four hours since — as the diplomats would phrase it — the frank exchange of views had taken place. His knuckles were still throbbing gently . . . Chad had stumbled on his way to the door, lurching into Mitchell, and Mitchell had taken that opportunity to unload a punch which connected with a less-than-perfect tenderness. But as punches go, analyzed merely in the interests of dispassionate science and apart from any ethical considerations, it had been exquisite” (Evangellyfish, pp. 10-11).