The Robot Brains [with w_cat] | страница 6

88 "So," smiled the captain, "they landed in a flying saucer! You and your theories."

Fox thought.

89 "I imagine an interplanetary organization. They know what is happening on the earth. They see the success of our science and they don't want us to get into space. They want to stop us."

90 He became more excited.

91 "Think of our progress. In twenty years we'll be ready to cross space - and who knows what we may find out there? Maybe they don't want us to leave the earth"

92 "So they kill a young woman who grows potatoes," said Christian.

93 "You don't understand. Margaret Greenways discovered something new. Something new - that's what they are trying to stop. Stop all progress - and you keep man on this planet forever!"

94 Christian looked at his friend with open admiration. It was not everyone who could create such a theory from so few facts.

95 "Well, Christian," said Fox looking at the captain, "you are the man of action. What shall we do about it?"

96 "Investigate the Burkholder Fair," said Christian. "In the morning I'll go to the Fair and see if I can get a job there."

97 Gilbert Thurston worked late in his house on the outskirts of Reading. He was sitting at his desk. On the desk there were pages of manuscript and many notebooks.

98 He was alone, except for his cat. His housekeeper had gone to stay with her relatives and would not be back until morning.

99 Thurston was pleased with his progress. The work of years was nearly over.

He felt tired, but not sleepy. He looked again at the title of his work:

A SOCIAL REVOLUTION

100 He was sure that the publication of his theories would bring great changes. It was an idea of which he was proud.

101 A sound was heard. The cat raised her head, looking at the window.

102 "It's nothing," said Thurston. "Go back to sleep."

103 He crossed the room to the little table and took a sandwich. When his paper was published, it would cause a sensation. He was certain of that.

104 The sound came again, this time from the back of the house. Thurston decided to pay no attention. He drank his milk and looked at the manuscript again.

105 The cat rose, arched her back and hissed. She was looking at the door.

106 Thurston took a poker from the fireplace and opened the door.

107 "Stay where you are," he said loudly. "I can see you."

108 The figure was in shadow, but Thurston noticed the gleam of metal. He raised the poker and said:

"Throw it down!"