Part 25 (2/2)
”No I have only a hypothesis, and one so far afield froest it Let me ask a question If the enemy could have access to the brain pattern of an individual--and reerprints--could the enenal that would affect only that pattern?”
Julius Weiss objected ”The supposition is based on scientific knowledge that does not exist”
”So far as we know,” Dr Morrison added
Parnell Winston held up his hands ”I'm as aware as any of you that the hypothesis assue of the brain that is incredibly far advanced But let us consider the evidence The three scientists who have fallen victiation indicates that they were different types who probably had dissimilar patterns We also have the special case of Dr Marks, as drugged while on the train The person who drugged hi of his room Can we accept the fact that the salt paste was used for EEG electrodes, and a recording ? We can't prove it, but what other explanation can there be?”
Dr Morrison shook his head ”Suppose we accept that theory How does that account for the other two? They were under guard, and there is no evidence that they ever were drugged If we accept your hypothesis, we must also accept the theory that the other two iven an EEG exarowing in Rick's mind Suddenly he blurted, ”That's where the barber comes in!”
”The barber's machine was examined by Steve's men and found harmless,”
Hartson Brant pointed out
Scotty spoke up quickly ”Yes, but when Duke looked at it this , he found electrical connections! Why couldn't an EEG be taken with such a gadget?”
Parnell Winston considered ”It could,” he said finally ”I would need to exaet that fits over the head could be adapted for proper placement of electrodes The recorder would be difficult to hide, however, unless it was in another room”
Rick sank back and looked at Scotty No wonder the barber had wanted to give a treatment to Hartson Brant The elevator operator's wink had told him that the scientist had been on the fourth floor, where the project team was located
”Didn't you ever have your hair cut in the arcade shop, Dr Morrison?”
Rick asked
”No, Rick I used a barber in a hotel nearby, one I've patronized for years”
”But the other two did use the shop in the building,” Scotty finished, ”and Dr Marks had no need for a barber, so they had to get at him some other way!”
”It seems reasonable,” Hartson Brant admitted ”The pieces fall into place nicely But we must first accept Parnell's theory that some kind of pattern can be transmitted that will interfere with normal brain activity If we believe it, we must also believe that the eney that we are hopelessly outdistanced I can't believe so ress could have taken place without soed ”It seems incredible, Hartson But we haven't another theory, much less a better one”
”We had better make sure no one takes EEG's of the rest of us, in any case,” Weiss suggested dryly
Rick added, ”And don't get any haircuts until this is all straightened out!”
When thebroke up, Rick and Scotty walked to the front porch where the girls were listening to the music of a Newark disk jockey on Barby's portable radio
”Lot of puzzled people in this neighborhood,” Rick said ”Including reed ”And I'll bet I know the most curious one of all”
”Who?”