The Thinking Machine Affair by Joel Bernard Read Free Book Online Page A

window because my arm and hand seemed useless—and that's the last thing I know. I must have lost consciousness."
    "You did, Miss Novak," the doctor confirmed. "Fortunately the driver noticed your alarming condition in the driving mirror and brought you here. You arrived in time and the stomach pump and oxygen equipment saved you."
    "What was the matter?"
    "Food poisoning, Miss Novak, acute food poisoning. But that's over and done with now and you're back to normal."
    "Acute food poisoning?" Vlasta exclaimed, surprised. "That doesn't make sense. How could I have got food poisoning? I had breakfast and lunch at the Research Institute and it tasted all right."
    "One can't always judge from the taste of food whether it's all right or not, and apart from that, some people react worse to poisoning than others." The doctor sounded plausible.
    "You ought to know," she succumbed.
    "Yes."
    "How is my father?"
    "Oh, fine, fine. He's longing to see you as soon as possible—indeed, as soon as you want him to come."
    "But he had an accident. Surely it's I who should go and see him?"
    "The accident was really a false alarm. There's nothing to worry about. Your father is in perfect shape, but I'm afraid we can't release you yet because..."
    "But you said earlier that the food poisoning was over and done with, and that I was back to normal," Vlasta interrupted. "If that's so there's no need for me to stay. I feel fine, really fine."
    "Acute food poisoning and its aftereffects are not as simple as you think, Miss Novak. I repeat that the food poisoning is over and done with and you are back to normal, but I must add that in cases such as yours the patient must be kept under observation to detect whether there is any possibility of recurrence."
    "All right then, doctor, you know best," Vlasta agreed. "When will it be possible for my father to come and see me?"
    "I think you'd better discuss this with the gentleman who arranges this sort of thing—I'm only concerned with medical matters. He'll see you presently."
    "Thank you, doctor."
    The Medical Officer left to rejoin the Chief Organizing Officer. "She's all yours now. There's no longer any danger of shock and you can put her through the mill now, if need be."
    As the Chief Organizing Officer entered, Vlasta looked up. She thought him quite good looking, though she disliked his thin lips and the close-set eyes which had a suggestion of cruelty. He noted that she was now looking very much prettier than before, when she had been under the influence of the gas.
    "I am pleased to see you looking so well, Miss Novak," he said, and forced a smile.
    "I feel fine," she replied, "and I think the doctor is being over-careful in keeping me here."
    He ignored the remark. "I understand you're anxious to see your father," he said, sitting down on the chair beside the bed.
    "I am, and I'm sure he's terribly worried about me, too."
    "Well, all you need do is to write a note to him and I will arrange for him to be brought here immediately."
    "I would rather phone him."
    "That's not convenient," he said, dismissing her request. "You'll have to write a note."
    "Can I have pen and paper?"
    "Certainly." He gave the necessary orders to a messenger outside and the pen and paper was quickly brought to her.
    "A short note should do," he suggested. "And you can tell your father that he can bring along his apparatus, if he wishes."
    "How do you know about that?" Vlasta exclaimed, suddenly alarmed.
    "My dear Miss Novak, you talked almost non-stop about your father's apparatus and your assisting him while you were unconscious," he lied. "So you see, I am only trying to be helpful—both to your father and you—by giving you the opportunity to utilize your stay here to continue working on 'Project I.P.' With a project as important as that, there is no time to lose, for the sake of the world and humanity. It's a wonderful idea."
    For some inexplicable reason Vlasta began to feel uneasy. She asked: "Which hospital am I