The Eyes of Heisenberg by Frank Herbert Read Free Book Online Page A

said.
    â€œThis equipment’s quite old,” the nurse said. “I’ve asked for replacement units several times, but we don’t seem to be very high on the priority lists.”
    And there’s a natural reluctance at Central to admit anything can wear out , Potter thought.
    â€œYes,” Potter said. “Well, I daresay you’ll get your replacements now.”
    Did anyone else see her trip that switch? Potter wondered. He tried to remember where everyone in the room had been looking, worried that a Security monitor might’ve been watching her. If Security saw that, she’s dead, Potter thought. And so am I.
    â€œThe technician’s report on repairs will have to be part of the record on this case,” Svengaard said. “I presume you’ll—”
    â€œI’ll see to it personally, Doctor,” she said.
    Turning away, Potter had the impression that he and the computer nurse had just carried on a silent conversation. He noted that the big screen was now a gray blank, the
Durants no longer watching. Should I see them myself? he wondered. If they’re part of the Underground, they could help. Something has to be done about the embryo. Safest to get it out of here entirely … but how?
    â€œI’ll take care of the tie-off details,” Svengaard said. He began checking the vat seals, life systems repeaters, dismantling the meson generator.
    Someone has to see the parents, Potter thought.
    â€œThe parents’ll be disappointed,” Svengaard said. “They generally know why a specialist is called in … and probably got their hopes up.”
    The door from the ready room opened to admit a man Potter recognized as an agent from Central Security. He was a moon-faced blond with features one tended to forget five minutes after leaving him. The man crossed the room to stand in front of Potter.
    Is this the end for me? Potter wondered. He forced his voice into a steady casual tone, asked, “What about the parents?”
    â€œThey’re clean,” the agent said. “No tricky devices—conversation normal … plenty of small talk, but normal.”
    â€œNo hint of the other things?” Potter asked. “Any way they could’ve penetrated Security without instruments?”
    â€œImpossible!” the man snorted.
    â€œDoctor Svengaard believes the father’s overly endowed with male protectiveness and the mother has too much maternalism,” Potter said.
    â€œThe records show you shaped ’em,” the agent said.
    â€œIt’s possible,” Potter said. “Sometimes you have to concentrate on gross elements of the cut to save the embryo. Little things slip past.”
    â€œAnything slip past on this one today?” the agent asked. “I understand the tape’s been erased … an accident.”
    Does he suspect? Potter asked himself. The extent of his own involvement and personal danger threatened to overwhelm Potter. It took the greatest effort to maintain a casual tone.
    â€œAnything’s possible of course,” Potter said. He shrugged. “But I don’t think we have anything unusual
here. We lost the Optishape in saving the embryo, but that happens. We can’t win them all.”
    â€œShould we flag the embryo’s record?” the agent asked.
    He’s still fishing, Potter told himself. He said, “Suit yourself. I’ll have a verbal tape on the cut pretty soon—prob ably just as accurate as the visual one. You might wait and analyze that before you decide.”
    â€œI’ll do that,” the agent said.
    Svengaard had the microscope off the vat now. Potter relaxed slightly. No one was going to take a casual, dangerous look at the embryo.
    â€œI guess we brought you on a wild goose chase,” Potter said. “Sorry about that, but they did insist on watching.”
    â€œBetter ten wild goose chases than one set of parents knowing too much,”