human
What was that?
gpt
That, Malone snapped,
human
He paused and thought that over. Then he said:
gpt
Does that mean anything at all?
human
Lady Barbara was confused by the excitement, the Queen said calmly.
gpt
It's all right now, dear.
human
I was--afraid,
gpt
It's all right, the Queen said.
human
I'll take care of you.
gpt
This, Malone announced to no one in particular,
human
Since you're still thinking about the question, I'll answer you.
gpt
What question?
human
Sir Thomas asked me if I could foretell the future, the Queen said equably.
gpt
Of course I can't. That's silly. Just because I'm immortal and I'm a telepath, don't go hog-wild.
human
Then how did you know the FBI agents were going to find the girl in Honolulu tomorrow?
gpt
Because, the Queen said,
human
Oh,
gpt
Why didn't you tell me about these other telepaths before? he said.
human
You could have saved us a lot of work.
gpt
Oh, heavens to Betsy, Sir Kenneth, Her Majesty exclaimed.
human
How could I? After all, the proper precautions had to be taken first, didn't they? I told you all the others were crazy--_really_ crazy, I mean. And they just wouldn't be safe without the proper precautions.
gpt
Perhaps you ought to go back to the hospital, too, Barbara said, and added:
human
Your Majesty,
gpt
But if I did, dear, Her Majesty said,
human
She trilled a laugh again.
gpt
Riding around like this is just wonderful!
human
That's right, Sir Kenneth, the Queen said.
gpt
The country needs me, and I'm happy to serve. That is the job of a sovereign.
human
Fine,
gpt
Well, then, said Her Majesty,
human
Knight who?
gpt
Don't be silly, Sir Kenneth, Her Majesty said.
human
There are times and times.
gpt
Sure, Malone said at random. _And time and a half_, he thought. _Possibly for overtime._
human
What is Your Majesty thinking of?
gpt
I want to take a tour of Las Vegas,
human
I'm afraid that's not possible, Your Majesty,
gpt
And why not, pray? Her Majesty said.
human
No. I can see what you're thinking. It's not safe to let me go wandering around in a strange city, and particularly if that city is Las Vegas. Well, dear, I can assure you that it's perfectly safe.
gpt
We've got work to do,
human
I have made my wishes known,
gpt
But--
human
Yes, Your Majesty,
gpt
Your Majesty, tell me something, he said.
human
You can read my mind, right?
gpt
Well, of course, Sir Kenneth, Her Majesty said.
human
I thought I'd proved that to you. And, as for what you're about to ask--
gpt
No, Malone said.
human
Please. Let me ask the questions before you answer them. It's less confusing that way. I'll cheerfully admit that it shouldn't be--but it is. Please?
gpt
Certainly, Sir Kenneth, if you wish,
human
O.K., Malone said.
gpt
Now, if you can read my mind, then you must know that I don't _really_ believe that you are Queen Elizabeth of England. The First, I mean.
human
Mr. Malone, Barbara Wilson said suddenly.
gpt
I--
human
It's all right, child, the Queen said.
gpt
He doesn't disturb me. And I do wish you'd call him Sir Kenneth. That's his title, you know.
human
Now that's what I mean, Malone said.
gpt
Why do you want us to _act_ as if we believe you, when you know we don't?
human
Because that's the way people do act, the Queen said calmly.
gpt
Very few people really believe that their so-called superiors _are_ superior. Almost none of them do, in fact.
human
Now wait a minute,
gpt
No, no, it's quite true, the Queen said,
human
Lady Barbara made a strangled noise but Her Majesty continued, unruffled.
gpt
Nearly everybody suffers from the silly delusion that he's possibly equal to, but very probably superior to, everybody else ... my goodness, where would we be if that were true?
human
Who knows?
gpt
All the things people do toward their superiors, the Queen said,
human
He's a nice guy, Malone said.
gpt
I work for him. He's a good Director of the FBI.
human
Of course, the Queen said.
gpt
But you believe you could do the job just as well, or perhaps a little better.
human
I do not,
gpt
And what if I do?
human
Why, nothing, Her Majesty said.
gpt
You don't think Mr. Burris is any smarter or better than you are--but you treat him as if you did. All I am insisting on is the same treatment.
human
But if we don't believe--
gpt
Bless you, Her Majesty said,
human
I can't help the way you _think_, but, as Queen, I do have some control over the way you _act_.
gpt
You have a point there,
human
But--
gpt
Yes, Sir Kenneth, the Queen said,
human
I do. She seemed to be ignoring Lady Barbara. Perhaps, Malone thought, she was still angry over the nap affair.
gpt
It's not that,
human
Not what?
gpt
Not the naps,
human
What naps?
gpt
I was thinking--
human
Good, Boyd said.
gpt
Keep it up. I'm driving. Everything's going to hell around me, but I'm driving.