human
You'll get the conference tapes later, Burris said.
gpt
You can study them before you leave. I suggest you study them very carefully, Malone. Don't be like me. Don't get confused. He buried his face in his hands. Malone waited patiently. After a few seconds, Burris looked up.
human
Did you read books when you were a child?
gpt
What?
human
Books, Burris said.
gpt
When you were a child. Read them.
human
Sure I did, Malone said.
gpt
When Beth died, Malone said,
human
I wanted to cry. But I didn't. My father said big boys don't cry.
gpt
And your father was right, Burris said.
human
Why, when I was a ... never mind. Forget about Beth and your father. Think about 'Lucky Starr' for a minute. Remember him?
gpt
Sure, Malone said.
human
I liked those books. You know, it's funny, but the books you read when you're a kid, they kind of stay with you. Know what I mean? I can still remember that one about Venus, for instance. Gee, that was--
gpt
Never mind about Venus, too, Burris said sharply.
human
Keep your mind on the problem.
gpt
Yes, sir, Malone said. He paused.
human
What problem, sir?
gpt
The problem we're discussing, Burris said. He gave Malone a bright, blank stare.
human
Just listen to me.
gpt
Yes, sir.
human
All right, then. Burris took a deep breath. He seemed nervous. Once again he stood up and went to the window. This time, he spoke without turning.
gpt
Remember how everybody used to laugh about spaceships, and orbital satellites, and life on other planets? That was just in those 'Lucky Starr' books. That was all just for kids, wasn't it?
human
Well, I don't know,
gpt
Sure it was all for kids, Burris said.
human
It was laughable. Nobody took it seriously.
gpt
Well, _somebody_ must--
human
You just keep quiet and listen,
gpt
Yes, sir,
human
We're not laughing any more, are we, Malone?
gpt
Well, are we?
human
Did you want me to answer, sir?
gpt
Of course I did!
human
You told me to keep quiet and--
gpt
Never mind what I told you, Burris said.
human
Just do what I told you.
gpt
Yes, sir, Malone said.
human
No, sir,
gpt
No, sir, what?
human
No, sir, we're not laughing any more,
gpt
Ah, Burris said.
human
And why aren't we laughing any more?
gpt
Because there's nothing to laugh about, sir?
human
On the head! he said happily.
gpt
You've hit the nail on the head, Kenneth. I knew I could depend on you. His voice grew serious again, and thoughtful.
human
We're not laughing any more because there's nothing to laugh about. We have orbital satellites, and we've landed on the Moon with an atomic rocket. The planets are the next step, and after that the stars. Man's heritage, Kenneth. The stars. And the stars, Kenneth, belong to Man--not to the Soviets!
gpt
Yes, sir,
human
So, Burris said,
gpt
I don't know, sir.
human
We haven't, Burris said with decision.
gpt
Can you read my mind?
human
No, sir,
gpt
Can I read your mind?
human
Not that I know of, sir.
gpt
Well, I can't, Burris snapped.
human
And can any of us read each other's mind?
gpt
No, sir,
human
That's the problem, he said.
gpt
That's the case I'm sending you out to crack.
human
What problem, sir?
gpt
Mind reading, Burris said.
human
There's a spy at work in the Nevada plant, Kenneth. And the spy is a telepath.