The Electronic Mind Reader by John Blaine

Author:John Blaine [Blaine, John]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER XII

The Coast Guard Draws a Blank

Rick said quietly, “And so the wolf ate Little Red Riding Hood, and when the

grandmother heard about it she said-“

Barby’s voice erupted in the tiny earphone plug in Rick’s ear. “I don’t think that’s very funny, Rick Brant!”

Scotty spoke up. “Barby doesn’t like realism in her fairy tales.”

Barby answered, “I don’t think you’re very funny either, Donald Scott!” Her voice faded on the last word.

Rick asked quickly, “Barby, did you move then?”

“No, Rick. Why?”

“You faded. Scotty, did you notice a fade?”

“Negative. I did not.”

Rick asked, “Barby, please recite something.”

“Recite what?”

“Anything.”

Barby began, “She walks in beauty like the night . . .”

Rick turned slowly, listening for differences in strength of signal received.

Scotty interrupted. “Hey, what’s that?”

“Lord Byron,” Barby said loftily. “I wouldn’t expect you to know.”

Rick had it now. “Okay,” he called. “Come on in.”

He had been standing on the front porch of the Brant home. Scotty was inside the laboratory building, while Barby and Jan were at Pirate’s Field. Presently Scotty joined him and grinned. “Workgood ?”

“Perfect.”

Barby and Jan came through the orchard and up on the porch. Barby was wearing an ornamental plastic head band, not too gaudy for daytime wear, but not too simple for anything dressy. She had arranged her hair so the gadget was hardly noticeable. A wave of smooth blond hair hid the little bump made by the battery.

“Technically,” Barby stated, “it worked fine. But the program material was terrible.”

The boys chuckled. “How do you know it was technically fine?” Scotty teased.

Barby looked at him coolly.“Because I heard Rick perfectly.”

“And I heard you and Scotty,” Rick agreed. “All three units work fine. Have you switched them off?”

Bar by reached up and seemed to pat her hair slightly. “I forgot,” she admitted. “Now it’s off.”

Rick looked at Jan. “Could you hear me through Barby’s phone while I was talking?”

Jan shook her head. “No, I couldn’t. I was listening, too. These are wonderful, Rick.”

He smiled his thanks. “One interesting thing, though. I should have known, but it didn’t occur to me. The receivers are directional.”

“What’s that?” Barby asked.

“Directional. The antenna is a tiny coil. When it’s broadside to the incoming signal, the volume is loudest, but when it’s end on, the volume is much less. So, if you can’t hear well, just turn sideways. Turn until the signal is loudest.”

Scotty took his transceiver from his pocket and examined it with pride. It was no larger than a pack of playing cards, and its sensitive microphone was incorporated right into the case. The tiny antenna was a piece of stiff steel wire only two inches long. The whole gadget fitted easily into an inside coat pocket without a noticeable bulge.

Barby’s rig was slightly different. The antenna ran along one edge of the plastic strip. At one end the microphone was in contact with her head just above the ear, allowing for transmission of voice by bone conduction, a new method developed by the United States Air Force. At the other end of the band a tiny speaker made similar contact.

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