Part 13 (2/2)
Dodd considered ”You couldn't use the scra infor on the wire?”
Rick thought he could
”Okay” Dodd motioned to a restaurant ”There's a phone in there I can see the booth through theHop to it”
Rick hurried into the restaurant The full horror of what had happened to Dr Marks was just having its effect He found hih with a severe chill Marks was the victi to ence behind the blank stare But his words were disconnected, coht the urgency in Rick's voice, and yelled for their father Hartson Brant cae,” Rick said urgently ”Dad, don't you have a professional friend in Newark? The teletype machine just went haywire for the third time and I need help”
Hartson Brant muttered, ”Good Lord! Yes, Rick I have a mechanic friend who is ideally suited for the purpose Constantine Chavez Look him up in the professional part of the phone directory I'll phone hi the machine”
”Good, Dad I'll come home as soon as possible Better phone the ive hiht Be careful”
Rick disconnected and looked up the na of physicians Back in the car, he cast a quick look at Dr Marks The scientist was sitting quietly, staring straight ahead He wasn't talking, and Rick was glad He didn't kno ibberish he could take It eird and horrifying, particularly since Marks had been so crisp and terse--even though someti for theh hisand hurried out to meet the car He was a tall, slender man with handsome features that showed his Spanish ancestry
”Youhands ”You look verya da cautious about so he didn't care to discuss on the phone”
”That's right, Doctor,” Rick said He introduced Toovernent Then he pointed to Dr Marks in the back seat
”There's your patient, sir”
”Bring him into the house,” Dr Chavez directed ”I assume from his appearance that the trouble is mental and not physical?”
”Exactly,” Dodd said
Inside the house they found one room outfitted as a home office ”I have an office don,” the doctor explained, ”but I also use this one a few afternoons a week Noho can tell me about this?” His eyes were on Marks, and as he talked, he reached for the scientist's wrist
Tom Dodd explained carefully, ”He was suddenly stricken We ith him We don't knohat happened, except that he arbled words the next”
Chavez took an otoscope, an instrument used to examine eyes, ears, nose, and throat, and switched on the tiny light He flicked it into Marks' eyes and watched the behavior of the pupils Then he listened with a stethoscope A little rubber hammer came out next and was applied to the reflexes of the stricken scientist The reflexes looked noran spouting gibberish Rick winced
Chavez listened gravely, apparently not at all disturbed The flow of hed with relief He saw that Scotty had been equally affected
”What is your specialty, Doctor?” Dodd asked