Part 30 (1/2)
”That brings up a question in my mind. If you're right, King will now make contact with the android, will he not?”
”I a.s.sume he will.”
”And that will give you a chance to capture him and have the whole ten accounted for?”
”I don't want him until he sends the data back to whoever is waiting for it.”
”You'd like to have them build their synthetic army on the specifications I made out?”
”I'd dearly love that.”
”Do you know where to contact King again?”
”He's being tailed. They stripped me, but I still have two men left.”
”You're being treated miserably!” Entman scowled. ”I'm going to talk to some people about this. I refuse to allow--”
”Thanks, but not for a while. I've shaped my operation on a one-man basis. I'd be embarra.s.sed if they relented. I wouldn't know what to do with all the men.”
Entman's little eyes shone with affection. ”I can only wish you good luck.”
”Thanks. I'll need it.”
”And one more thing I was wondering.”
”What's that?”
”Why do you suppose the tenth android killed the one in the Village?”
”Another case of taking one reason for want of a better one. I think it was his way of delivering the creature to us for research. He couldn't know for sure that we already had his 'brothers.'”
”You're right--you must be,” Entman agreed.
”Small consolation. I'd like a few facts to go on for a change instead of having to depend on logic all the time,” Taber growled.
”What are you referring to?”
”The data. I'm a.s.suming, _if_ that's what's important, that the tenth creature has a way of getting the stuff back up there.”
”I can help a little on that,” Entman said. ”I can a.s.sure you that from what I've found in those brains, the data could, most likely, be sent mentally.”
”You're sure of that?”
”I've found a certain part of those brains developed in a peculiar way--”
Taber smiled. ”You're sure of that?”
”Well ... that's my theory. It would appear logical that--”