"E. E. Doc Smith - Skylark 1 - Skylark of Space " - читать интересную книгу автора (Smith E. E. Doc)

beard always showing through, even after the closest possible shave. In his early thirties,
he was widely known as one of the best men in his field.

Scott came into his laboratory immediately after the auction, finding him leaning over the
console of the whatsitron, his forbidding but handsome face strangely illuminated by the
greenish-yellowish-blue glare of the machine.

`Hello, Blackie,' Scott said. `What d'you think of Seaton? Think he's quite right in the
head?'

`Speaking off-hand,' DuQuesne replied, without looking up, `I'd say he's been putting in
too many hours working and not enough sleeping. I don't think he's insane - I'd swear in
court that he's the sanest crazy man I ever heard of.'

`I think he's a plain nut, myself - that was a lulu he pulled yesterday. He seems to believe
it himself, though. He got them to put that junk solution into the auction this noon and he
and M. Reynolds Crane bid it in for ten cents.'

`M. Reynolds Crane?' DuQuesne managed to conceal his start of surprise. `Where does
he come in on this?'

'Oh, he and Seaton have been buddy-buddy for a long time, you know. Probably
humoring him. After they got the solution I they called a cab and somebody said the
address they gave the hackie was Crane's, the other side Chevy Chase, but ... oh, that's
my call - so long.'

As Scott left, DuQuesne strode over to his desk, a new expression, half of chagrin, half
of admiration, on his face. He picked up his telephone and dialed a number,

'Brookings? DuQuesne speaking. I've got to see you as fast as I can get there. Can't talk
on the phone .... Yes, I'll be right out.'

He left the Laboratory building and was soon in the private office of the head of the
Washington, or `diplomatic,' branch of the immense World Steel Corporation.

`How do you do, Dr. DuQuesne,' Brookings said, as he seated his visitor. `You seem
excited.'

-17-
`Not excited, but in a hurry. The biggest thing in history is just breaking and we've got to
work fast if we want to land it. But before I start - have you any sneaking doubts that I
know what I'm talking about?'

`Why, no, doctor, not the slightest. You are widely known; you have helped us in various
de - in various matters.!

'Say it, Brookings. "Deals" is right. This is going to be the biggest ever. It should be easy
- one simple killing and an equally simple burglary - and won't mean wholesale murder,
like that tungsten job.'