Walter Sills, a struggling chemist, toils in a dingy laboratory, dreaming of fame and success through his groundbreaking discovery of ammonium metal. His friend Eugene Taylor visits, and Sills excitedly reveals his progress in isolating pure ammonium, which he believes will lead to wealth and recognition. After weeks of experimentation, Sills successfully creates ammonium oxide, a substance that appears more valuable than gold, prompting them to consider selling the patent. However, their excitement attracts the attention of J. Throgmorton Bankhead, a wealthy industrialist who attempts to buy the patent for a fraction of its worth. Sills and Taylor refuse, believing their discovery is worth much more. Meanwhile, Peter Q. Hornswoggle, an ex-Congressman, offers his dubious assistance, claiming to protect them from unscrupulous individuals like Bankhead. As tensions rise, Sills and Taylor face threats from gangsters, including Mike the Slug, who seeks to steal their discovery. A chaotic night ensues when burglars invade their lab, leading to a confrontation that results in a near-disaster. Despite the chaos, Sills and Taylor manage to plate a spoon with ammonium, but when exposed to air, it emits a horrific odor, causing panic in the neighborhood. The situation escalates as the smell attracts attention, leading to a chaotic scene outside their lab. Sills and Taylor, overwhelmed by the consequences of their discovery, find themselves in a precarious position, contemplating the future of their invention amidst the chaos it has caused. Ultimately, they realize that their groundbreaking work has brought them more trouble than anticipated, leaving them to navigate the fallout of their scientific ambitions.
By Isaac Asimov · First published 1957 · Genre: Science Fiction, Adventure, Drama