human
Fine, he said.
gpt
Now, getting on back to the facts, we've established something, anyhow. Some agency is causing flashes of telepathic static all over the place. And those flashes are somehow connected with the confusion that's going on all around us. Somehow, these flashes have an effect on the minds of people.
human
And we know at least one manifestation of that effect, Boyd said.
gpt
It makes spies blab all their secrets when they're exposed to it.
human
These three spies, anyhow,
gpt
If 'spies' is the right word,
human
O.K., Malone said.
gpt
And now we've got another obvious question.
human
It seems to me we've got about twelve,
gpt
I mean: who's doing it? Malone said.
human
Who is causing these telepathic flashes?
gpt
Maybe it's just happening, Boyd said.
human
Out of thin air.
gpt
Maybe, Malone said.
human
But let's go on the assumption that there's a human cause. The other way, we can't do a thing except sit back and watch the world go to hell.
gpt
It doesn't seem to be the Russians, he said.
human
Although, of course, it might be a Red herring.
gpt
What do you mean?
human
Well, Boyd said,
gpt
He stopped.
human
You know, he said,
gpt
Likewise, Malone said.
human
But go on.
gpt
Sure, Boyd said.
human
Anyhow, they might have set the three of them up as patsies--just in case we stumbled on to this mess. We can't overlook that possibility.
gpt
Right, Malone said.
human
It's faint, but it is a possibility. In other words, the agency behind the flashes might be Russian, and it might not be Russian.
gpt
That clears that up nicely, Boyd said.
human
Next question?
gpt
The next one, Malone said grimly,
human
I'll go along with that, Boyd said.
gpt
I have to go along with it. But don't think I like it.
human
Nobody likes it, Malone said.
gpt
But let's go on. O'Connor isn't any help; he washes his hands of the whole business.
human
Lucky man,
gpt
He says that it can't be happening, Malone said,
human
No, Boyd said reflectively.
gpt
A certain amount of comfort, to be sure, but no handles.
human
Sir Lewis Carter, on the other hand-- Malone said. He fumbled through some of the piles of paper until he had located the ones the President of the Psychical Research Society had sent.
gpt
Sir Lewis Carter, he went on,
human
Who is? Boyd said.
gpt
Except for O'Connor, of course.
human
Well, somebody is, Malone said.
gpt
Whoever's doing all this, for instance. And the theories do seem O.K. In most cases, for instance, they agree with O'Connor's work--though they're not in complete agreement.
human
I should think so, Boyd said.
gpt
O'Connor wouldn't recognize an Astral Plane if TWA were putting them into service.
human
I don't mean that sort of thing, Malone said.
gpt
There's lots about astral bodies and ghosts, ectoplasm, Transcendental Yoga, theosophy, deros, the Great Pyramid, Atlantis, and other such pediculous pets. That's just silly, as far as I can see. But what they have to say about parapsychology and psionics as such does seem to be reasonably accurate.
human
I suppose so,
gpt
O.K., then, Malone said.
human
Did anybody notice anything in that pile of stuff that might conceivably have any bearing whatever on our problems?
gpt
I did, Boyd said.
human
Or I think I did.
gpt
You both did, Her Majesty said.
human
And so did I, when I looked through it. But I didn't bother with it. I dismissed it.
gpt
Why?
human
Because I don't think it's true, she said.
gpt
However, my opinion is really only an opinion.
human
Let's get straight what it is we're talking about, he said.
gpt
All right?
human
Anything's all right with me, Boyd said.
gpt
I'm easy to please.
human
Now, this writer ... what's his name? he said. He glanced at the copy of the cover page.
gpt
he read.
human
By Cartier Taylor.
gpt
Great title, Boyd said.
human
Does he say which is which?
gpt
Let's get back to serious business, Malone said, giving Boyd a single look. There was silence for a second, and then Malone said:
human
He mentions something, in the book, that he calls 'telepathic projection.' As far as I understand what he's talking about, that's some method of forcing your thoughts on another person. He glanced over at the Queen.
gpt
Now, Your Majesty, he said,
human
Because, Her Majesty said flatly,
gpt
You've tried it?
human
I have, she said.
gpt
And I have had no success with it at all. It's a complete failure.
human
Now, wait a minute, Boyd said.
gpt
Just a minute.
human
What's the matter? Malone said.
gpt
Have you tried it, and made it work?
human
Fat chance, he said.
gpt
I just want to look at the thing, that's all. He held out his hand, and Malone gave him the sheaf of papers. Boyd leafed through them slowly, stopping every now and again to consult a page, until he found what he was looking for.
human
There,
gpt
There, what?
human
Listen to this, Boyd said.
gpt
That's the quote I was thinking of,
human
Of course it is, Her Majesty said.
gpt
But it really doesn't work. I've tried it.
human
How have you tried it?
gpt
There were many times, Sir Kenneth, Her Majesty said,