"Kuttner, Henry - Piggy Bank UC" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kuttner Henry)

УAnd heТs strong,Ф Gunther said. УDonТt forget that. ItТs important. He can rip metal, if he can get leverage. HeТs not a superdooper, of courseЧ if he were, he couldnТt be mobile. HeТs subject to normal physical laws. But he is beautifully adaptive; heТs very strong; he has super-swift reactive powers; heТs not too vulnerable. And weТre the only guys who can immobilize Argus.Ф
УThat helps,Ф Ballard said.
Gunther shrugged. УMight as well start. The robotТs ready.Ф He jerked a wire free from the golden helm. УIt takes a minute or so for the automatic controls to take over. NowЧФ

The immense figure stirred. On light, rubberoid soles, it moved away, so quickly that its legs almost blurred. Then it stood motionless once more.
УWe were too close,Ф Gunther said, licking his lips. УHe reacts to the vibrations sent out by our brains. ThereТs your piggy bank, Bruce!Ф
A little smile twisted BallardТs lips. УYeah. LetТs seeЧФ He walked toward the robot. Argus slid away quietly.
УTry the combination,Ф Gunther suggested.
Ballard said softly, almost whispering, УAll is not gold that glitters.Ф He approached the robot again, but it reacted by racing noiselessly into a distant corner. Before Ballard could say anything, Gunther murmured, УSay it louder.Ф
УSuppose someone overhears? ThatТsЧФ
УSo what? YouТll change the key phrase, and when you do, you can get close enough to Argus to whisper it.Ф
УAll is not gold that glitters.Ф BallardТs voice rose. This time, when he went to the robot, the giant figure did not stir.
Ballard pressed a concealed stud in the golden helm and murmured, УThese are pearls that were his eyes.Ф He touched the button again, and the robot fled into another corner. УUh-huh. It works, all right.Ф
УDonТt give him such obvious combinations,Ф Gunther suggested. УSuppose one of your guests starts quoting Shakespeare? Mix up your quotations.Ф
Ballard tried again. УWhat light through yonder window breaks I come here to bury Caesar now is the time for all good men.Ф
УNobodyТs going to say that by accident,Ф Gunther remarked. УFair enough. Now IТm going out and enjoy myself. I need relaxation. Write me a check.Ф
УHow much?Ф
УCouple of thousand. IТll tele-call you if I need more.Ф
УWhat about testing the robot?Ф
УGo ahead and test him. You wonТt find anything wrong.Ф
УWell, take your guards.Ф
Gunther grinned sardonically and headed for the door.

An hour later the air taxi grounded atop a New York skyscraper. Gunther emerged, flanked by two husky protectors. Ballard was running no risks of having his colleague abducted by a rival. As Gunther paid the air cabman, the detectives glanced at their wrist spotters and punched the red button set into each case. They reported thus, every five minutes, that all was well. One of BallardТs control centers in New York received the signals and learned that all was wellЧthat there was no need to send out a rush rescue squad. It was complicated, but effective. No one else could use the spotters, for a new code was used each day. This time the key ran: first hour, report every five minutes; second hour, every eight minutes; third hour, every six minutes. And, at the first hint of danger, the detectives could instantly send in an alarm.
But this time it didnТt work out successfully. When the three men got into the elevator, Gunther said, УThe Fountain Room,Ф and licked his lips in anticipation. The door swung shut, and as the elevator started its breakneck race down, anaesthetic gas flooded the little cubicle. One of the detectives managed to press the alarm warning on his spotter, but he was unconscious before the car slowed at the basement. Gunther didnТt even realize he was being gassed before he lost consciousness.
He woke up fettered securely to a metal chair. The room was windowless, and a spotlight was focused on GuntherТs face. He manipulated sticky eyelids, wondering how long he had been out. Scowling, he twisted his arm so that his wrist watch was visible.
Two men loomed, shadowy beyond the lamp. One wore a physicianТs white garment. The other was a little man, ginger-haired, with a hard rat trap of a face.
УHi, Ffoulkes,Ф Gunther said. УYou saved me a hangover.Ф
The little man chuckled. УWell, weТve done it at last. Lord knows IТve been trying long enough to get you away from BallardТs watchdogs.Ф
УWhat day is this?Ф
УWednesday. YouТve been unconscious for about twenty hours.Ф
Gunther frowned. УWell, start talking.Ф
УIТll do that, first, if you like. Are BallardТs diamonds artificial?Ф
УDonТt you wish you knew?Ф
УIТll offer you about anything you want if youТll cross up Ballard.Ф
УI wouldnТt dare,Ф Gunther said candidly. УYou wouldnТt have to keep your word. ItТd be more logical for you to kill me, after IТd talked.Ф
УThen weТll have to use scopolamin.Ф
УIt wonТt work. IТve been immunized.Ф
УTry it, anyway. Lester!Ф
The white-gowned man came forward and put a hypodermic deftly into GuntherТs arm. After a while he shrugged.
УComplete immunization. Scop is no good, Mr. Ffoulkes.Ф
Gunther smiled. УWell?Ф
УSuppose I try torture?Ф
УI donТt think youТd dare. Torture and murder are capital crimes.Ф
The little man moved nervously around the room. УDoes Ballard himself know how to make the diamonds? Or are you the only one?Ф
УThe Blue Fairy makes Сem,Ф Gunther said. УSheТs got a magic wand.Ф
УI see. Well, I wonТt try torture yet. IТll use duress. YouТll have plenty to eat and drink. But youТll stay here till you talk. ItТll get rather dull after a month or so.Ф
Gunther didnТt answer, and the two men went out. An hour passed, and another.