The Robot Brains [with w_cat] | страница 36

"Why, Jo!" he exclaimed.

"Mrs. Fox," the doctor said proudly. "We have been married a whole week."

Christian laughed.

"Well, congratulations!"

"Welcome back, Sailor," said Jo.

"This is Paul," said Christian "Paul, these are two good friends of mine."

Paul stepped forward, smiling.

Fox and Jo were listening with great interest while Christian was telling them about his adventures.

"The Brains will find you," said Paul to Christian when they left Fox's house. "You have interfered with their plans too often, and they will not forgive you that. They will come to you soon, I am sure. And when they come, I want to talk to them."

They drove to Reading, where the captain's yacht was still standing in the quiet place in the Thames.

In the cabin of the yacht Paul put his metal box on the table and opened it.

"You need not be afraid, Captain," he said. "My energy barrier will protect you."

Christian pulled out a box of shells and loaded his automatic.

"If the Brains come," he said, "let them be afraid."

Paul looked at him.

"There will be no more shooting, please," he said. "I don't want any more killing."

They had visitors the next day.

Christian was standing on deck and smoking his cigar.

Suddenly he was no longer alone. A voice said:

"At last, Captain!"

He turned and saw many big bald heads. The Brains! One of them was Waldo. He raised his decapitator. There was a flash - and nothing happened. Paul's energy barrier protected Christian.

Waldo was shaken.

There is a Watcher here," he said - and then Paul came up on deck.

Waldo spat. All the Brains were standing and looking at Paul

"You must return to the future," said Paul quietly. "If you don't. I shall have to use force."

Waldo laughed.

"It is well known," he said, "that the Watchers do not kill. You can do nothing. We are not afraid of you!"

Christian was angry. He threw away his cigar and raised his automatic.

"I am not a Watcher," he said," and I kill."

Paul turned his head.

"It is useless to shoot, Captain," he said. "My energy barrier works both ways - it will protect them, too"

"I'll kill you one day!" shouted Waldo to Christian. "You shan't always escape me."

Paul looked at Waldo.

"Your time machine is in the hands of the Watchers," he said. "You are free only while you remain here - and I shall make this age unbearable for you."

Waldo was looking at him with angry eyes.

"You Watchers have done what you liked too long," he said. "You have upset our plan - but that won't save you. We'll see what happens -"