The Robot Brains [with w_cat] | страница 2

11 Fox jumped to his feet again. He could not remain still for a moment.

12 "So you think I'm talking nonsense, Inspector! Well, let me tell you -"

13 The Inspector pressed a button on his desk, and a sergeant in a uniform opened the door.

14 "Show Doctor Fox out," said the Inspector.

15 The doctor left the police station. He walked, talking to himself.

16 "What the devil can I do? If only Christian were here..."

17 He stopped in the street. "Why not?" he thought. Why not, indeed! He would send for Christian at once.

18 He hurried to the post-office to send a telegram.

19 Meanwhile the inspector was drinking his tea and thinking over what he had just heard. It was absurd, of course. Yet, Fox was a scientist... The inspector saw no connection between the victims, except the manner in which they had died. The whole thing seemed to have no motive. The inspector was puzzled.

20 A neon sing was flashing:

FAIR FAIR FAIR

21 There was a lot of noise and movement. The crowds moved between tents and swings; coloured lights blinked on and off, sounds of music mixed with the shrieks of girls

22 On a wooden platform before a large tent a tall man spoke into a microphone:

23 "Come, ladies and gentlemen, for the greatest show of all! Burkholder is my name and I personally guarantee that you've never seen or heard anything like this before. Come and see the Brains! They'll answer any question you give them, any question on any subject! I am so sure of it that I offer five pounds to anyone who beats them. Come, ladies and gentlemen. The price is one shilling. One shilling to learn the mysteries of the universe!"

24 Burkholder took out of his pocket a five-pound note and showed it to everybody.

25 "Here it is, ladies and gentlemen! Five pounds to the man who asks a question which the Brains cannot answer. Pay your shillings and take your seats."

26 More and more people entered the tent. Inside there was a raised platform now curtained off. When all the benches were occupied, Burkholder entered the tent and went up to the platform.

27 "Ladies and gentlemen," he said, "I hope you have prepared your questions. Ask anything you like. Now I give you... the Brains!"

28 The curtain went up, and the people saw three men who were sitting on the stage.

29 The Brains looked very much alike. Each was a dwarf, dressed in a suit of grey colour. What attracted everybody's attention at once was their heads. They were very big, quite out of proportion to their little bodies.