The Robot Brains [with w_cat] | страница 5

71 "So that's why we meet in Reading," said Christian.

Fox nodded.

72 "I went to the Fair and saw a show called the Brains... three dwarfs with huge heads who answer questions. There is something strange about them, besides their appearance They know a lot."

He paused.

73 "You know me, Chris. It's not easy to fool me. Well, I shot questions at the Brains - questions on physics, history, literature, mathematics, anything that came into my head that I could answer myself. They knew all the answers."

74 "So?" said Christian.

75 "I want you to see them for yourself. I didn't like them - and neither did the public. They are evil. I feel it. I want to know who they are, where they came from and how they got their great knowledge."

76 "It won't be hard to find out," said Christian.

77 "Maybe harder than you think," said Fox. "Professor Leach was a friend of mine. He was number one. He did research work in hydroponics.

78 "I was interested in other victims. Gruller, the second victim, was an astronomer. He had just made some new discovery about the stars and was ready to publish - the secret died with him.

79 "The third was Robert James, a chemist. He studied the effect of radiation on insect life. The fourth man was Bond, a psychologist. He worked out a new theory of brain structure. The latest, of course, is Margaret Greenways."

"Potatoes," said Christian.

Fox leaned forward.

80 "Don't you see, Christian? All the murdered people were scientists... and all were working on something new!"

Christian looked at Fox.

81 "Have you any ideas about the weapon?"

82 "Only that it is something new - some great discharge of energy with much heat: that's why the necks are cauterized."

83 "The murderers must be very sure of themselves," said Fox. "You will see it when you meet the Brains. I think they are the murderers."

84 But why a fair? At the fair so many people see and know them."

85 "What can be a better way of travelling about the country?" said Fox. "Remember, they are physically different from the rest of us, and it is easy to notice them. The Fair makes a sort of cover for them."

86 "But why must they kill scientists?" said Christian. "Maybe they are a group of people who are against any form of progress."

Fox shook his head.

87 "It's a big thing, Chris - we're only at the beginning. There'll be more murders. Where did they get their weapon? Modern science does not know such an energy gun..."