Walt & Leigh Richmond by Phoenix Ship

Author:Phoenix Ship [Ship, Phoenix]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2011-09-07T16:29:18+00:00

VI

They've spotted us," Stan said furiously. "Let's jet."

Paulsen nodded, still smiling, and turned toward the walkway, taking long strides that would appear unhurried but would cover a lot of territory fast.

Stan fell into step with him and continued talking: The guy said he was Weed of AT, and that he'd had a tracer on us since we left the Lassie, but I doubt that last. They simply spotted us when I tried to call Lang. Must have his phone monitored. That Weed character! He was trying to give me some sort of hypnotic command or other, to get the hell up to his office. What a dullie!"

Paulsen was leading them back to the freight loading area behind the shopping center through which they had come, apparently thinking to take the same freightways.

"You going to double back on the same trail?" Stan asked, worried. "Now they've spotted us, it should be easier to tracer us. Maybe . . ."

"Doesn't matter. Mr. Weed just said to be unobtrusive. I don't think any of the others have spotted us yet."

"Any of the others?"

"He warned you that others were looking for you too," said Paulsen impatiently. "We're to be unobtrusive about getting to his office, but I don't think we have to hide exactly. It will be just as well if AT can tracer us. Then if anybody else stops us, they can get to us to help."

Stan came to an abrupt stop, and Paulsen, of necessity, turned to see what had occurred. It was then that Stan got a good look at Paulsen's eyes. They held a strange blank-ness.

"Where are you taking me?" Stan asked.

"To Weed's office, of course. We're to hurry."

Stan stood stock still, estimating his chances. Without Paulsen he was indeed a stranger in a strange land. But with Paulsen?

Why hadn't it occurred to him that the AT school was a molecular memory training school? Katsu Lang had headed each; and each had turned out—robots. If he had needed any demonstration of what Mallard had been talking about, he had it now before him.

But why wasn't he, himself, reacting in the same manner as Paulsen? The command had been "in the name of the Belt." And it was quite obviously a phrase that keyed in a hypnotic condition. But there'd be another command phrase for use on Earth; and that hadn't been used. Okay, he was safe until somebody started using whatever phrase had been selected to key in his own robotic responses. He shivered violently, knowing his own vulnerability to be as great as the one he was witnessing; then, with an effort, he pulled himself back to the immediate problem.

He and Paulsen were facing each other just inside the door to the unloading area. From the corner of his eye, Stan could see the Mutt and Jeff freight loaders straightening, beginning to pay attention to what must seem a disagreement—a disagreement in which they would take the part of the Belter against an Earthie.

Idly he let his fingers go to his belt, then glanced down at it.

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