Сидней Баундс - The Robot Brains [with w_cat]

These weak and hungry people worked at their rockets...

They had made flights to Mars and Venus, but found that it was impossible for humanity to live on these planets. They had to go to the stars. And they had built a new rocket: the new star-ship was now standing in the valley, pointing its nose to the sky.

In the shadow of the great ship a man raised his eyes and smiled.

"This is our last chance," he said. "Somewhere in space we'll find another earth - and then we can start again."

The woman standing near him said:

"And if we don't find it?"

"We must find," he answered. "There are millions of stars in space - certainly one of them must have a planet like Earth. Maybe, it will take us a long time to find it -"

"A long, long time," said the woman.

"The ship can remain in space indefinitely long," said the man. "Our children will be born in it, and their children, and the ship will go on. And at last, one day, men will land on a planet and built a new world."

All the people gathered round the star-ship. They were ready to get in.

And at that moment they saw strange figures in grey clothes with very big heads. They were approaching the ship.

Christian and Paul saw the great star-ship and the people who were standing round it. From a short distance the Brains were approaching. Waldo was walking at the head of the Brains.

Paul opened his box and pressed some buttons. The high-pitched sound came at once, rose higher and higher - and stopped. But for the Brains it did not stop - it continued in their heads.

"The Watcher again!" shouted Waldo

Paul shouted to them: There is no escape for you - return to your own time!"

Waldo fired his decapitator. "Destroy the ship!" he shouted

Christian turned to Paul. "You must do something," he said

But the Watcher hesitated: he did not want to interfere into the battle, which had already begun. The Brains were firing their decapitators and killing star men, trying to get to the star-ship, the star men were defending the star-ship.

Christian raised his automatic gun and ran to Waldo. At that moment somebody shouted:

"The insects - the insects are coming!"

Christian turned. From the hills, a dark crowd of giant mutated insects were coming into the valley. They quickly approached and attacked both the Brains and the star men...

Christian was trying to find his way to Waldo. Paul shouted:

"A radioactive cloud is approaching!"

The leader of the star men gave a command: "Into the ship - hurry!"

The star men began to get into the ship. The Brains continued to struggle with the insects.

At last Christian stood face to face with Waldo. Waldo aimed his decapitator at the captain, but he was half mad because of the continuous noise in his head - and missed. Christian shot at him - and the Brain fell dead.

Christian heard Paul's voice and ran towards him. Paul erected his energy barrier to protect them from the radioactive cloud.

"Return to your own time," the Watcher shouted to the Brains. "You will be safe there."

The Brains hesitated for only a moment. They had lost their leader. The terrible high-pitched sound never stopped in their heads. They were afraid of the radioactive cloud, and the giant

insects were attacking and killing them. They touched their crystals and disappeared...

Christian and Paul were standing in the valley and looking at the star-ship

"This is a historic moment," said Paul.

The ship rose a little, great flames of fire appeared under it. Faster and faster it was rising - and in a few seconds disappeared in the dark sky.

"It is over," said Paul. They looked at each other and smiled.

"Do you think the Brains have returned to your time?" asked Christian. "I think so." said Paul, "but I shall make sure as soon as I have taken you back to your own time."

He touched the crystals on Christian's and his own belts - and then Christian found himself on the bank of the Thames near his yacht. It was dirty and greatly damaged. But it was all right, he thought. The great and most important thing was that the Brains were no longer there. As to the yacht, he would repair and clean it.

Paul appeared beside him.

"All the Brains are in their time," he said. "Now the only thing I have to do is to destroy their time machine. I shall do it at once. So - I must say good-bye, Captain"

Christian took the crystal off his belt and gave it to Paul. He felt that he must make a speech, but could not find words.

"Thanks," he said. "Thank you for all you have done - from all the people of Earth."

They shook hands.

"Now you can be sure of your future," said Paul. "So - good-bye and good luck to you."

He touched his crystal and disappeared.

Christian stood a long time, looking down at the Thames and his yacht. The adventure was over. At last people could breathe a sigh of relief. He felt good. He thought about his friends - Doctor Fox and Jo, who were waiting for him.

He turned and walked away.

- Это интересная история, доктор. - вежливо сказал инспектор полиции.

- Интересная!? - доктор Фокс, вскочил со стула и возбужденно замахал руками.

- Позвольте мне напомнить вам, они убивают людей!

В возбуждении Фокс начал метаться из угла в угол. Это был коротышка с очками на пухлом лице, типичный ученый. Он славился тем, что имел собственное мнение обо всем на свете.

- И какова ваша теория, доктор? - сказал инспектор. - Эта организация, о который вы говорите, какой у них мотив? А если вы скажете мне, каким оружием они убивают, я буду очень благодарен.

Фокс отрицательно покачал головой.

- Я знаю только то, что прочел в газетах. Какой-то вид энергетического разряда, это ясно.

Инспектор посмотрел на настенные часы, ясно, чай остыл. Он вздохнул. Фокс внезапно сел.

- Вы не обязаны признавать мою теорию, - сказал он, - но вы должны признать факты. Я тщательно проверил. Каждый раз когда имеет место убийство, поблизости находится ярмарка Буркхолдера. Каждый раз - это не может быть совпадением.

Инспектор кивнул.

- Доктор Фокс, первая жертва - профессор Лич - был ваш друг, я понимаю. Признайте, этот факт немного влияет на ваши суждения.

Фокс вскочил опять. Он не мог быть спокойным.

- Так, вы думаете, я говорю чепуху, инспектор! Позвольте мне сказать вам -...