human
Thanks for giving me a little time, Malone said.
gpt
I really appreciate it.
human
Not at all, Dr. O'Connor said, returning the smile with one of his own special quick-frozen brand.
gpt
I realize how important FBI work is to all of us, Mr. Malone. What can I do to help you?
human
I'm afraid I wasn't very specific on the phone last night, he said.
gpt
It wasn't anything I wanted to discuss over a line that might have been tapped. You see, I'm on the telepathy case.
human
I see, he said.
gpt
Well, I'll certainly do everything I can to help you.
human
Fine, Malone said.
gpt
Let's get right down to business, then. The first thing I want to ask you about is this detector of yours. I understand it's too big to carry around--but how about making a smaller model?
human
Smaller? Dr. O'Connor permitted himself a ghostly chuckle.
gpt
I'm afraid that isn't possible, Mr. Malone. I would be happy to let you have a small model of the machine if we had one available--more than happy. I would like to see such a machine myself, as a matter of fact. Unfortunately, Mr. Malone--
human
There just isn't one, right?
gpt
Correct, Dr. O'Connor said.
human
And there are a few other factors. In the first place, the person being analyzed has to be in a specially shielded room, such as is used in encephalographic analysis. Otherwise, the mental activity of the other persons around him would interfere with the analysis. He frowned a little.
gpt
I wish that we knew a bit more about psionic machines. The trouble with the present device, frankly, is that it is partly psionic and partly electronic, and we can't be entirely sure where one part leaves off and the other begins. Very trying. Very trying indeed.
human
I'll bet it is,
gpt
However, he said,
human
Well, if I can't carry the thing around, I guess that's that, he said.
gpt
But here's the next question: Do you happen to know the maximum range of a telepath? I mean: How far away can he get from another person and still read his mind?
human
We don't have definite information on that, I'm afraid, he said.
gpt
Poor little Charlie was rather difficult to work with. He was mentally incapable of co-operating in any way, you see.
human
Little Charlie?
gpt
Charles O'Neill was the name of the telepath we worked with,
human
I remember, Malone said. The name had been on one of the tapes, but he just hadn't associated
gpt
Charles O'Neill with
human
Little Charlie. He felt as if he'd been caught with his homework undone.
gpt
How did you manage to find him, anyway?