human
Let's review the facts, Malone said.
gpt
This whole thing started with some inefficiency in Congress.
human
And some upheavals elsewhere. Boyd said.
gpt
Labor unions, gangster organizations--
human
Just about all over, Malone said.
gpt
And though we've found three spies, it seems pretty obvious that they aren't causing this.
human
They aren't causing much of anything, Boyd said.
gpt
Except a lot of unbelieving laughter farther up the FBI line. I don't think anybody is going to believe our reports of those interviews.
human
But they're true,
gpt
Sure they're true, Boyd said.
human
That's the unbelievable part. They read like farce--and not very good farce at that.
gpt
Oh, I don't know, Malone said.
human
I think they're pretty funny.
gpt
Shall we get back to the business at hand?
human
Ah, Malone said.
gpt
Anyhow, it isn't the spies. And what we now have is confusion even worse compounded.
human
Confounded, Boyd said.
gpt
John Milton. 'Paradise Lost.' I heard it somewhere....
human
I don't mean confounded, Malone said.
gpt
I mean confusion. Anyhow, the Russian espionage rings in this country seem to be in as bad a state as the Congress, the labor unions, the Syndicates, and all the rest. And all of them seem to have some sort of weird tie-in to these flashes of telepathic interference. Right, Your Majesty?
human
I ... believe so, Sir Kenneth, she said. The old woman looked tired and confused. Somehow, a lot of the brightness seemed to have gone out of her life.
gpt
That's right, she said.
human
I didn't realize there was so much of it going on. You see, Sir Kenneth, you're the only one I can pick up at a distance who has been having these flashes. But now that I'm here in Washington, I can feel it going on all around me.
gpt
It may not have anything to do with everything else,
human
If it doesn't, he said,
gpt
But why? Boyd said.
human
What is it being done for? Just fun?
gpt
God only knows, Malone said.
human
But we're going to have to find out.
gpt
In that case, Boyd said,
human
I suggest lots and lots of prayers.
gpt
That's a fine idea,
human
But God helps those, Malone said,
gpt
All right, Boyd said.
human
So far, all the facts have been a great help.
gpt
Well, here's one, Malone said.
human
We got one flash each from Brubitsch, Borbitsch and Garbitsch while we were questioning them. And in each case, that flash occurred just before they started to blab everything they knew. Before the flash, they weren't talking. They were behaving just like good spies and keeping their mouths shut. After the flash, they couldn't talk fast enough.
gpt
That's true, Boyd said reflectively.
human
They did seem to give up pretty fast, even for amateurs.
gpt
So the question is this, he said.
human
Just what happens during those crazy bursts of static?
gpt
I don't know, she said.
human
I simply don't know. It's just noise to me--meaningless noise. She put her hands slowly over her face.
gpt
People shouldn't do things like that to their Sovereign,
human
Now, look, Your Majesty, he said in gentle tones,
gpt
Sure we will, Boyd said.
human
After all, Your Majesty, Sir Kenneth and I will work hard on this.
gpt
And the Queen's Own FBI, Malone said,
human
I know you won't fail your Queen, she said.
gpt
You two have always been the most loyal of my subjects.
human
We'll work hard, Malone said.
gpt
No matter how long it takes.
human
Because, after all, Boyd said in a musing, thoughtful tone,
gpt
You're quite correct, Sir Thomas! she said.
human
The security of the Throne and the Crown are at stake!
gpt
What? he said.
human
Are you two talking about something? What crime is this?
gpt
An extremely serious one,
human
Go on,
gpt
The crime, Boyd said,
human
Aha, Malone said.
gpt
I've got it. The crime is--
human
High treason,
gpt
High treason,
human
Very high treason, Malone said.
gpt
Extremely high.
human
Stratospheric, Boyd agreed.
gpt
That is, of course, he added,
human
My goodness, the Queen said.
gpt
I never thought of that. Suppose they're not?
human
Then, Malone said in his most vibrant voice,
gpt
Steps, Boyd said,
human
We must do our utmost, Malone said.
gpt
Sir Thomas--
human
Yes, Sir Kenneth?
gpt
This task requires our most fervent dedication, Malone said.
human
Please come with me.