'By all means Professor,' said Bernard with a dismissive wave, carefully avoiding eye contact. Natalie felt a little bit ill. The boss had caught her arguing with the scientists. They were all such very important men and she was actually arguing with them. Oh well, four days in a job wasn't bad.

'Thank you,' the Professor said. 'You will no doubt be pleased to hear that they have fixed the projector and the lecture will continue in five minutes. In the meantime, please help yourselves to more coffee and biscuits.' She nodded at Natalie. 'Come with me.'

Laughter followed them out of the room. Natalie fumed. They had just ignored everything she said. They had given her a chance to influence their decisions and they had just laughed at her opinions. She could not understand how they could be so obstinately ignorant of the dark possibilities ahead.

When they reached the quiet of the hallway, the Professor turned to face Natalie, put a hand on each shoulder and said quietly, 'I really don't think you should be getting involved in these discussions.'

'But Professor, these idiots don't understand what they're messing with!'

'Oh, I'm quite sure that they do, dear. That's why we're all here.'

'Do you think it's a good idea?'

'Good? Not really. Inevitable? Certainly.'

'I just don't see what good all these computers will do. What about the planet? What about all the energy six billion computers will use up?'

'What about it? We are getting better at that, too. Energy I mean, not using it up.' Natalie wondered what was happening. Why the Professor seemed to be just as interested in what she had to say as the scientists had been. They had done it to show off, but the Professor? Her boss? It was a strange way to sack someone. And why was she smiling? Natalie should have kept her mouth shut and let the so-called 'experts' make their own mistakes.

'I'm sorry. I should keep my mouth shut. It always gets me into trouble.'

'Oh don't be. I'm delighted that you have taken such an interest in the proceedings. It is a historic day.'

'History will tell, I suppose.'

'Quite.' Natalie felt that the Professor was waiting for her to say something else.

'I just think they're missing something really big here,' she said, 'All this talk about information and global networks. It's spying on people. It's wrong.'

'Not everything is black and white, or right and wrong. They are not wrong, and you are not right. Technology has a way of balancing everything out in the end. Think of all the positive things that could come out of such a global network.'

'Like what?'

'Like information being accessible to all, regardless of social status. You would be able to look after your children and learn at the same time; connect to shops and order what you want without ever leaving your house; keep in touch with friends all over the world; the possibilities really are endless!' It still didn't sound that great to Natalie.

'So although we will all be fat and lazy, at least we will be well educated?' The Professor laughed. Natalie became even more confused; the Professor had spent most of the week bossing all the workers around, she didn't smile. She'd even sacked a few people for stupid things, like the coffee being a bit cold, or running out of biscuits, and yet here she was, trying to find out what Natalie thought about things. It didn't make sense.

'I suppose you want me to go home now,' she said. The Professor shook her head.

'You're here for the day aren't you? What will the geeks have for tea? You know they can't feed themselves.' Natalie was stunned.

'Really? Thank you so much! I really need this job, the kids need me to have this job, thank you!' She nearly hugged her, but although friendly enough, the Professor's stance forbade it.

'Do you really want to change the world, Natalie?'

'Well... what can I do?'

'What school did you go to?'

'I - um.. I dropped out of school. That's why I'm here. I have kids to feed.'

'That's a pity. You have a very sharp mind.'

'Well, maybe one day I'll go back. I wish-'

'You know, there is a lot more going on here than computer networks this week. If you really wanted to get your teeth into something I'm doing a lecture on Neurology tomorrow. I would very much like to hear what you think.'

'What? But I'm just-'

'I know a powerful mind when I see one, Natalie. Come. It'll be educational.'

'I should get back,' said Natalie. 'People will start talking.'

'I think they are all talking about you now, dear. Come and see me before work tomorrow at eight o'clock sharp,' the Professor said. 'At this address.' She handed Natalie a small white card on which were printed the words, 'Professor Joanne Dudgeon, Dudgeon Pharmaceuticals, The White Building, London.'