human
Well, Malone said, equally bored,
gpt
Now, just look at him, Boyd said.
human
He certainly doesn't _look_ like the head of a spy ring, does he?
gpt
Of course he doesn't, Malone said.
human
That's probably why the Russians used him. They figured nobody would ever look twice at a fat slob like this. Nobody would ever suspect him of being the head man.
gpt
I guess you're right,
human
Who'd ever think, Malone said,
gpt
It is surprising,
human
But, then, Malone said,
gpt
Oh, sure, Boyd said.
human
We've got enough evidence from the other two to send this one to the chair tomorrow, if we want to.
gpt
More than enough,
human
Tell me, Boyd said conversationally, leaning down to the fat man,
gpt
Did your orders on that job come from Moscow, or did you mastermind it all by yourself?
human
Me? he said in a hoarse bass voice.
gpt
I know nothing about this murder. What murder?
human
Oh, the ones you shot in Redstone,
gpt
The what? Brubitsch said.
human
I shot people? Never.
gpt
Oh, sure you did, Boyd said.
human
The others say you did.
gpt
Borbitsch and Garbitsch, they tell you about a murder? It is not true. Is a lie.
human
Really? Malone said.
gpt
We think it's true.
human
Is a lie, Brubitsch said, his little eyes peering anxiously from side to side.
gpt
Is not true, he went on hopefully.
human
I have alibi.
gpt
You do? Boyd said.
human
For what time?
gpt
For time when murder happened, Brubitsch said.
human
I was some place else.
gpt
Well, then, Malone said,
human
I know nothing about time, Brubitsch said, jerking at his collar.
gpt
I don't know when they happened.
human
Then how can you have an alibi?
gpt
Because I didn't do them! Brubitsch said tearfully.
human
If I didn't, then I _must_ have alibi!
gpt
You'd be surprised, Malone said.
human
Now, about these murders--
gpt
Was no murder, not by me, Brubitsch said firmly.
human
Was never any killing of anybody, not even by accident.
gpt
But your two friends say--
human
My two friends are not my friends, Brubitsch said firmly.
gpt
If they tell you about murder and say it was me, they are no friends. I did not murder anybody. I have alibi. I did not even murder anybody a little bit. They are no friends. This is terrible.
human
There, Malone said reflectively,
gpt
I agree with you. It's positively awful. And I think we might as well give it up. After all, we don't need your testimony. The other two are enough; they'll get maybe ten years apiece, but you're going to get the chair.
human
I will not sit down, Brubitsch said firmly.
gpt
I am innocent. I am innocent like a small child. Does a small child commit a murder? It is ridiculous.
human
You might as well give us your side of the story, then, he said easily.
gpt
If you didn't commit any murders--
human
I am a small child,
gpt
O.K., Boyd said.
human
But if you didn't commit any murders, just what _have_ you been doing since you've been in this country as a Soviet agent?
gpt
I will say nothing, Brubitsch announced.
human
I am a small child. It is enough. He paused, blinked, and went on:
gpt
I will only tell you this: no murders were done by our group in any of our activities.
human
And what were your activities?
gpt
Oh, many things, Brubitsch said.
human
Many, many things. We--
gpt
Malone here,
human
Sir Kenneth! she said.
gpt
I just got a tremendous burst of--static!