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[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
hand. "Besides which, I've been especially designed to interface with all this
first-rate equipment." He gestured at the computer terminals and info screens
built into two of the white walls.
Jake sat, tentatively, in the stiff white chair. "I have to contact--and
question--a gent named D. E. Nister," he said, mentioning the name he'd
persuaded Inspector Spellman to pass along. "He's a professor of Technobiology
at the Austrian Academic Network."
"And also connected with the largest Tek cartel in Europe." The
Gewitter android tapped a sheaf of papers atop the desk. "I did some back
grounding soon as Timecheck contacted me."
"From what I learned in Berlin, I suspected as much." Jake leaned forward.
"By now it's possible that Professor Nister suspects I'm interested in him. I
need a reliable informant, which Timecheck assured me you are, to help me find
out where the prof might hole up."
"That's a challenging problem," said the android. "Nister doesn't broadcast
from the regular AAN studios. In addition, his lectures for the past two days
have been repeats."
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"Where do they originate?"
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"From a private studio in his home near the Riesenrad."
"But he's not at home?"
Tapping the report, the sim answered, "Not according to my sources."
"Then we have to find out where he is."
"Exactly, mein herr." The android left his chair to walk to the nearest wall.
"Earlier I sent out some discreet queries." He inserted his forefinger into a
socket beneath one of the info screens "Any news that's come in during the
past few minutes will automatically be transferred from here to my brain. Then
I can tell you what--"
"Wouldn't it be simpler for me just to read it off--"
"Nein, this particular capacity cost a great deal. Not to make use of it
would... Gott/"
Suddenly the screen turned bright red. The socket crackled and sputtered, the
android's hand began to glow and throw off an impressive shower of gold and
yellow sparks. His entire body stiffened as he rose up on his toes and
commenced howling.
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His eyeballs melted and went splashing down his cheeks. His blond hair stood
straight up and then burned swiftly away to soot.
He was flung back from the wall.
The burned-out android fell back onto his desk, dropped to the floor and lay
on his side, twitching and kicking.
His mouth snapped open and he started spewing out twists of bright-colored
wire, tiny coppery cogs and steaming spurts of greenish oil.
Jake grabbed the report up off the desk and thrust it into a pocket.
Pivoting, he ran to the door and into the hall. "Looks like it's going to be
tougher than I thought to arrange a chat with the professor," he reflected as
he hurried for the stairs.
The Neptune Cafe was built out over the Pacific Ocean and the night surf hit
low at its tinted plastiglass walls. Dan had left Molly
in a booth in the central dining area and made his way to a vidphone booth.
He called the offices of the Cosmos Detective Agency. When a robot showed on
the screen, Jake's son said, "I want to leave a message for
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Walt Bascom. Ask him if--"
"Don't be shy, lad." Bascom appeared on the phone screen "Ask me directly."
Dan asked, "Do you have somebody watching me?"
"What makes you ask?"
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"Do you? Because if you don't, then somebody--" "Describe this alleged tail."
"Well, actually I haven't seen him myself. But a friend of mine--not a friend
exactly, somebody from the academy--a fellow student. She spotted him near the
condo, keeping an eye on the place," explained
Dan. "A slim man, about thirty, short-cropped blond hair. He one of yours?"
"Yep, that's McCay," admitted Bascom. "Who's the young lady who noticed him?"
"Oh, Molly Fine. Basically she's a nuisance."
"But perceptive."
"I suppose so. Why do you--"
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"Your father's concerned, Dan. So am I. That's why I have operatives--"
"If it's all the same to you, I can take care of myself," Dan assured him. "So
you can retire McCay and whoever else you assigned to babysit."
"It'd be smarter to keep--"
"Isn't necessary."
"Very well." Bascom nodded amiably. "From now on you're on your own.
Okay?"
"Thanks, yeah."
Back at the booth Dan said, "It was one of the Cosmos operatives.
Sort of a nursemaid that my dad thought I needed."
"And?" asked Molly.
"Bascom's calling him off," he said. "He also suggested that we quit playing
detective."
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"How'd he find out about that'?."
"He's a detective, too," reminded Dan. "Anyway, I think I will give this up.
Too dangerous and I ought to be concentrating on my academy work. So from now
on, Molly, I won't be needing your help."
Molly smiled. "Neither you or Bascom are especially good liars," she pointed
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