Текст книги "The Thinking Machine Affair"

Автор книги: Joel Bernard

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CHAPTER ONE

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

PROFESSOR Karel Novak was in deep thought as he sat in the comfortable armchair in the living-room of his modern villa, a building standing in a quiet tree-lined street of the Prague suburb of Dejvice. As his pretty twenty-five-year-old daughter, Vlasta, entered the room and placed his favorite meal on the table, he hardly noticed her, and her words, "Dinner's ready, father," did not reach him.

At any other time the delicious smell of the well-prepared rump steaks with all the usual trimmings would have prompted him to cross hurriedly to the dinner table to enjoy his favorite food; but now, as he sat in his chair, the inviting smell didn't seem to entice him at all. He was too absorbed thinking about his new invention.

"Your dinner's getting cold, father," Vlasta said, a little annoyed that her father had not joined her by now. "I've taken a lot of trouble to get the steaks cooked to your liking, so, please, don't spoil my good work."

"I'm sorry," the Professor said, looking at her startled; "I didn't notice..."

He pulled himself up from the armchair and went to the table. "It looks delicious," he said as he took up his knife and fork. As soon as he'd tasted the food, he exclaimed: "It is delicious! You're a marvelous cook."

Vlasta was happy seeing her father eating with such relish for she had been worried about him. During recent weeks his health had begun to deteriorate, owing to his being so preoccupied with his project, and he had seldom eaten anything. Now, seeing how much he was enjoying the steak, she resolved to coax him in the future with his favorite dishes and so help him to regain his lost strength.

As they drank coffee and ate the chocolate gateau she brought in, the Professor said with reproach:

"I shouldn't really be sitting here eating so much of your excellent gateau; I should be working in my laboratory..."

"No, you shouldn't," Vlasta interrupted. "Good food and rest will do you a world of good."

"I know," he admitted. "But I seem to have arrived at a stalemate with my work. Whatever improvement I make, it still doesn't work out exactly as I intend it to do. And you know, if I'm unable to show some striking results pretty soon, the Government might stop my future research and insist on my being engaged in other and perhaps more speedy exploration."

"I've never asked you on what you're working because I know that your research is classed top-secret," Vlasta said, "but if you'd like to talk about it with me, perhaps we might be able to get over one or two obstacles together. Of course I haven't got a fraction of your knowledge and experience, but I am a qualified electronics engineer and research worker and sometimes someone with less knowledge and experience might spot something that eludes the top expert."

Her father remained silent, delving once more in his thoughts to find the missing step to the full success of his project. Vlasta misunderstood the silence and said:

"I shouldn't have said that–I should have realized that you can't talk to me about your secret work."

"What did you say?" her father asked, obviously not having heard her remark.

"I should have realized that you can't discuss your secret work with me," she replied.

"Nonsense, dear, nonsense. Of course I can, but it's a fantastic project—very complex," he assured her.

"I wouldn't expect you to embark on something simple, father." She knew that only the most complex problems ever interested him.

"Well, to tell you the truth, when the thought of 'Project I.P.', as we call it, first entered my mind, it appeared rather simple to me and I thought I'd be able to complete the whole thing very speedily," he admitted. "And when I actually started on it, and constructed the first apparatus, it seemed as if my expectations had been right, that it would be a short-term research venture. You see, almost right from the start the thing worked, but only at a very short distance, only a few feet away. I managed eventually to extend the working radius, but the result is still far from what I intended to create. My intention is to see 'Project I.P.' operate over an unlimited distance, and as efficiently as it does at the present limited radius."

"What is the actual purpose of 'Project I.P.'?" Vlasta asked, encouraging her father's mood to talk.

He hesitated, then he said, simply: "Well, it's a sort of thought transference apparatus."

"A thought transference apparatus?" the girl repeated in surprise.

Professor Novak nodded.

"Excuse me saying so, father, but what does anyone need a thought transference apparatus for?" she demanded.

"I expected that its perhaps inadequate and possibly misleading description would make you wonder whether I've lost my sense of proportion and judgment," the Professor sighed, as he sipped his coffee. "'Project I.P.' means 'Project International Peace'. I believe I have found the way to secure lasting peace throughout the world—provided I succeed in truly perfecting my invention so that it does all I want it to do."

"It certainly sounds interesting," the girl said. "But how could it do such a wonderful thing?"

"Yes, I see you can't figure out how it can work." Her father smiled at her incredulous tone. "I'll try to explain my idea in the simplest possible way so that you understand what I have in mind."

Vlasta herself was qualified in electronics and accustomed to grasp complex matters, but she humoured her father's attitude towards her as if the ABC of his scheme had to be explained in simple words before she could understand.

"Science has established that thoughts are measurable vibrations," her father began; "if we accept this, it should be possible to feed thoughts into a machine or apparatus and transmit them to others. I studied every available scrap of information which the Soviet Research Institutes in Leningrad, Kiev, Tiflis and other Soviet cities released, and the more information I gathered about the thought vibration, the more I acquainted myself with the subject, the more the idea grew of creating a machine, an apparatus, or call it what you wish, that could be used to transfer constructive thoughts that would make people do the right things."

"One could describe your invention as an apparatus for hypnotizing people in any part of the world from a center point here in Prague!" Vlasta observed.

"You could call it that, but strictly speaking, it is not exactly hypnosis," the Professor went on. "But it doesn't matter what we call it—all that matters is that it should work. And, if I succeed and my apparatus proves to be capable of sending out positive thoughts to any part of the world, then there is no doubt that the continuous danger of world wars could become a matter of the past and that lasting peace could be made to prevail."

"It's a fantastic dream!" Vlasta said, after a moment's pause. "Although I never studied the subject of thought vibrations and the possibilities of sending positive thoughts around the world, I agree that if you accomplish your aim you'll create the most important invention mankind has ever achieved. To think that people all over the world could be made to stop thinking of wars, to disarm, to forget race and other hatred, and live in peace with each other! Think of the multi-millions of currencies now daily spent on armaments, maintaining armed forces, and waging local wars, instead being used for health research, education, social amenities, the arts, and culture—it's so wonderful that one is afraid to even hope!"

"It will come true one day, my child, it will," her father assured her. "I know what I'm talking about. My invention works perfectly within a limited radius, and I am almost certain that before long I shall find the solution and achieve unlimited distance thought transference."

It was now Vlasta's turn to be silent, and as, for a time, Professor Novak watched her, he assumed that she was trying to figure out how to overcome the stalemate of his experimental research. At last, as the silence grew, he felt he had to ask what she was thinking about.

"I was considering that your invention could actually be used as a two-sided weapon," she replied. "For instance, some unscrupulous power could get hold of it and use it for bringing other people under their yoke, instead of using it for world peace. That would be terrible."

She paused a moment, then continued:

"Some ruthless clique might want to condition the minds of other people to their own way of thinking. They could, without a drop of blood being shed, turn our country, or the Soviet Union, or any other land, into their satellite, and bring it under their control. It is horrible to even think that any freedom-loving and social-minded nation might be subjugated to fascism or some other form of ruthless dictatorship—the mere thought of it makes me shudder..."

"That is why my 'Project I.P.' was given top-secret clearance," the Professor explained; "that's why our villa is guarded day and night by hand-picked armed security officers, and why I am the only person who knows all the details of my experiment. Our Government is only too well aware of the grave dangers which my invention might constitute if it fell into unscrupulous hands, and consequently every humanly possible precaution is being taken to safeguard the world from terror or destruction. My invention is designed to help humanity, not to harm mankind, and that is why I have complete Government backing—both as far as finance and security are concerned."

"Let's only hope that no one else has the same lead as you have and that no one else works on exactly the same project as you do," Vlasta said. "If there were any scientists working on such an apparatus and if they were already more advanced than you are, it could well turn out that, for money gain, they might sell their invention to any unscrupulous elements prepared to pay any price for this sort of power..."

"There's no need to fear that anything of the sort could happen," her father stressed, anxious to put her mind at rest. "At present the only experts who are engaged in research of thought vibrations are Soviet scientists and research workers, and their experiments and findings are well-guarded. I only learned this because of my friendship with Professor Smirnov who heads this type of research in the Soviet Union. But, despite our close friendship, even he only provided the really important research data when both our Government and the Soviet Government decided to support my idea of inventing an apparatus for the transference of positive thought to any part of the globe. So you see, even if anyone anywhere in the world should embark on the same research, it would be years before he, or they, could arrive at the point where our scientists and research workers are now; and that means they would be too late. Once my 'Project I.P.' is perfected, 'World Operation Lasting Peace' will commence immediately and, once this is done, there isn't anything to worry about any longer."

Vlasta accepted the wisdom of her father's words. "You say that your apparatus works satisfactorily within a certain radius?" she asked after a short pause.

"Oh yes, without the slightest hitch," the Professor confirmed.

"How big is that radius at present?"

"About two miles." On sudden impulse he proposed: "Would you like to see it working?"

"I'd love to!" she exclaimed.

Professor Novak led her to his laboratory, which was secured by a solid steel entrance door with a security lock to which only he knew the secret combination. Before working the complex dials, he disconnected the alarm system, for this was linked with State Security Headquarters by electronic connections to inform them if any unauthorized person was trying to gain access to this top-secret laboratory.

It was Vlasta's first visit to this part of her father's villa.

She saw that the spacious room was lit by bright fluorescent lights, the large windows secured by thick steel plates harnessed to the same electronic alarm systems which were linked with state Security Head quarters. As soon as they entered, Professor Novak locked the door behind them. "One must always be prepared for every eventuality," he said. "We must be sure no one else enters." He unlocked the heavy, built-in, burglar-proof safe, removed something, and placed it on the table which was in the middle of the room.

"So that's your 'Project I.P.'," Vlasta exclaimed admiringly. "I didn't expect it to be the size of a portable wireless set—somehow I had imagined it to be a huge thing with plenty of dials and all sorts of gadgets."

"In actual fact," the Professor explained, "the final version—when all problems are solved and everything works to my complete satisfaction—will be even smaller. My ultimate aim is to reduce the machine to half or even one third of its present size."

He plugged the apparatus into an electric socket on the opposite wall and began turning some dials and working tiny levers. Fascinated, Vlasta watched his every move, trying to figure out how 'Project I.P.' operated.

"I am ready for the experiment," her father said at long last. "If you care to name any of your friends or acquaintances whom you wish to receive your thought transference, we can go ahead. But mind, at present the distance cannot be further than about two miles."

"We could try Marie Diouha," Vlasta suggested. "She lives about a mile from here, and it's most likely she's at home."

"Where does she live?"

"Petrin Street 15, second floor, the flat on the right."

"What message do you want to send her?"

"Well—" Vlasta thought a moment and then said:

"Send her a thought message to phone me immediately and to suggest that we go to the Roxy Cinema."

Professor Novak checked to see that the telephone was plugged through to the laboratory, then went to his apparatus and began to work some dials and levers. When he was satisfied that the scene was set for his experiment, he said aloud:

"Marie Diouha, telephone Vlasta Novak immediately and suggest that you and she should go to the Roxy Cinema."

As soon as he had finished the spoken message, he switched off the apparatus. Then he explained:

"Under ordinary circumstances I would just have sent out a concentrated thought message, because it is unnecessary to speak a message aloud; but in this particular case I wanted you to hear that I was transmitting the message you asked me to..."

He was interrupted by the shrill sound of the telephone bell on his desk.

"Shall I take the call?" Vlasta asked.

"Please do. It ought to be Marie."

And it was Marie Diouha!

"I'd actually planned to stay at home tonight and watch the television play," Marie said, "but I suddenly thought I'd phone and suggest we go to the Roxy Cinema. Would you like to come? The film had quite a good Press."

Vlasta made some excuses and declined the invitation. When she replaced the phone receiver, she cried enthusiastically:

"This is almost unbelievable! You have invented and built something tremendous, father! I wouldn't have thought it possible."

"Still, so much has yet to be done before my goal is achieved," sighed the Professor. Then he brightened. "But I am confident I shall succeed. You see, at first the apparatus would transfer thoughts only inches away; then the radius improved and it worked on people yards away; now a distance of about two miles can be covered. I have no doubt that I'll succeed in over coming any distance in the future."

"I am sure you are right, father. I only wish you'd let me help you with your calculations and experiments. Maybe I'll stumble on something that might eventually help you solve your problem."

To her delight, he instantly agreed.

"I should be happy if you would assist me," he said. "But one thing must be understood between us. It must remain a secret that you are in any way connected with 'Project I.P.' If someone learned that you were assisting me, hell would break loose, because, you know, all the Government officials are obsessed with security-phobia, and without special security clearance and consent no one is allowed to gather the inside knowledge of my work."

That same evening they began experimenting with new calculations and adaptations of the original apparatus, convinced that the time must come when all present obstacles would be overcome.

CHAPTER TWO

LONG NOSES AND BIG EARS

THE Monitoring Officer of the Electronics Department at THRUSH'S European Center E lit another cigarette as he checked the long-distance electronic listening device beamed at Professor Novak's villa in Prague Dejvice. He was tired of keeping this leading Czech scientist, rumored to be engaged on top-Secret research, under round-the-clock electronic audio surveillance.

The Monitoring Officer had good reason to be fed up with the task he'd been given. Since the day three months earlier when THRUSH Intelligence had unearthed the fact that the Professor's villa had been turned into a miniature fortress and that he had been classified as being on top-secret research, it had been the Monitoring Officer's duty to record every sound in the villa. But this task had been frustrating because the only words the listening device had overheard and recorded on tape were harmless everyday conversations between father and daughter, unrevealing telephone conversations, or brief contacts with people who came to the villa. It was obvious that Professor Novak was the only scientist engaged on this particular project, and it was annoying that he never spoke about his work to his daughter or anyone else. For these reasons the long nose of THRUSH, as well as its electronic ears, were having very little luck.

Then, quite unexpectedly, on the day of Professor Novak's fiftieth birthday, THRUSH'S patience was rewarded. The Monitoring Officer's ears overheard the conversation which took place at the Novak's dinner table, and which suddenly turned to the Professor's work. In this way they had discovered the secret the villa held.

The Monitoring Officer felt elated when, in the early hours of that morning, the Professor and his daughter decided to stop work. The THRUSH electronic listener reproduced the sounds of footsteps, the noise of the locking of the safe and the laboratory's heavy steel door. The Officer was now able to report to his Chief Organizing Officer some unique information of real importance and some detail—an unexpected stroke of luck which could mean promotion for him.

His hands trembled with excitement as he pressed the knob on the closed circuit television set that linked his monitoring room with his superior at THRUSH'S office. As soon as the latter appeared on the television screen, he reported proudly:

"Sir, I have obtained the requested information and data on Professor Novak's research. Do you wish me to play the tape for you?"

"Send me the tape. I'll listen to it here," came the curt command, and the Chief Organizing Officer switched off the circuit.

He hasn't said a single word of praise or expressed some appreciation, the Monitoring Officer grumbled to himself, but as he rewound the tape, ready for his superior to play back, and then placed it in a metal container which he sealed, hopeful thoughts ran through his mind. Perhaps once the Chief realized the importance of the news, he would praise and reward the work he had done. As he dreamed of promotion, he put the package containing the tape into a special channel which had been constructed to connect with the Chief Organizing Officer's office; through this tapes and other items could speedily and privately be transported in either direction.

Later, when the Chief Organizing Officer had listened to the tape, he at once realized that immediate action was imperative. There was no doubt in his mind that an instant THRUSH Executive Council meeting must take place. He sent out appropriate commands which would at once convene the extraordinary meeting. This done, he flashed the necessary signals to the Armed Guards Commander at THRUSH'S European Center E to prepare for this meeting.

As he approached the door of his office, the two steel sections slid silently into the surrounding walls, permitting him to enter the corridor where two armed guards stood watchfully. As soon as he had passed the door, the invisible electronic eyes moved the steel plates silently back to the closed position.

The guards escorted him on his way towards the elevator which was at the end of the long, well-lit corridor with its numerous steel doors on either side. The elevator doors opened automatically and as soon as the three men entered, shut silently behind them. They descended at high speed to the eighth floor, where the doors again opened automatically.

Once more the Chief Organizing Officer and his two armed guards walked along a seemingly endless corridor, until at last they reached a closed oversize steel door in front of which stood half-a-dozen armed guards of higher rank. They stepped aside to allow the officer to enter the Conference Room; concealed electronic eyes having opened the door for him.

The Executive Council members of THRUSH arrived in rapid succession and the council was in session less than fifteen minutes after it had been convened.

"Information of extreme importance prompted this meeting," said the Chief Organizing Officer, opening the convention. "I now propose to play a tape recording containing the said vital information so that the Council may decide what steps should be taken."

After the assembled members had unanimously concurred with the proposition, the loudspeakers reproduced the sounds and words registered on the monitored tape.

"This calls for immediate action," the Executive Council's Chairman announced, once the tape had been heard. Turning to the Chief Organizing Officer, he questioned: "How do you propose to get the Professor and his apparatus to our Headquarters?"

"The simplest and speediest solution would be to send a special task force to the villa and bring him and the apparatus here," the Chief Organizing Officer replied.

"Before arriving at any final decision on the operation, we should take into consideration the danger of a self-destruction gadget having been built into the apparatus, to prevent it falling into unauthorized hands," warned the Head of THRUSH'S Technical Department. "If this were so, forceful action might induce the Professor to destroy the apparatus, and thus thwart our plans."

"There's no indication on the tape of any self destructing gadget on the apparatus," the Chief Organizing Officer countered.

"That doesn't establish that there isn't one," the Technical Department head insisted. "The tape gives us a very good idea of what the invention is, and how the apparatus works, but it doesn't give us all the answers. If you listened carefully to the tape, you'd know that no opportunity arose for the Professor to say whether of not a self-destruction gadget is built in. Under the circumstances I must insist that we take every safety precaution to ensure that we get both the Professor and his apparatus undamaged."

"Regardless of whether there is a self-destruction Unit or not, I am against a special task force being sent to the Professor's villa," the Executive Council's chairman declared. "I want the operation to be smooth and unnoticed. I want no disturbance that might alert Government Security forces. I propose that we use the information we have from the Ultimate Computer and carry out the operation smoothly."

"I'm not with you, sir," the Chief Organizing Officer said uneasily. "I have no knowledge of this Ultimate Computer data."

"You can't have it because I haven't made it known to anyone yet," the other replied sharply. "It would have been premature. But now, in the light of this important development, the time has come when all members of the Executive Council must know the facts to enable us to arrive at the appropriate solution for the problem."

The eyes of the assembled men were now fixed on the speaker.

"The information from the Ultimate Computer is as follows," the Chairman continued. "Professor Karel Novak's wife Dana was killed in a road accident in 1946 and left him with their five-year-old daughter Vlasta. He brought up the girl, whom he loves more than anything in the world. Here is the means of getting at the Professor and his apparatus without creating any special disturbance. Bring his daughter here, and the rest will be simple."

"This solution is doubtless best," the Deputy Chair man seconded after a moment. "I suggest it be accepted unanimously."

"There's only one thing to be considered and it is that, despite his great love for his daughter, the Professor might not after all be persuaded to come over to us with his apparatus." This was the opinion of the Chief of the Special Tasks Department. He liked the initial proposal made by the Chief Organizing Officer because it gave him the chance of displaying the efficiency of his Task Force section. "We mustn't overlook the fact," he added, "that Professor Novak is one of the most devoted of Czech Government scientists. Because of this, he might put his country before his love for his daughter..."

"I don't think we need worry about that. We know from experience how well the hostage method works," the Deputy Chairman insisted. "However, should it turn out to be a futile modus operandi in this case, we can then switch to the Special Tasks Force for assistance."

It was unanimously moved by THRUSH'S Executive Council that Vlasta Novak be brought to their European Center E.

"This, I think, concludes our extraordinary meeting," declared the Executive Council Chairman. "All other matters can be dealt with at the next extraordinary meeting when the Professor's daughter has been brainwashed and conditioned for our plans."

"There is one thing that, I think, should be decided at this meeting," the head of the Technical Department intervened.

"What is it?" the Chairman inquired.

"We have learned from the tape that Professor Novak is faced with stalemate in the development of his apparatus, and from what we've heard it seems unlikely that he and his daughter will quickly stumble on the solution to this vital problem."

"I am confident that, aided by you and with the help of your assistants, Professor Novak and his daughter will certainly solve that problem, once he and his apparatus are safely here," the Chairman cut in.

"That may be, but I'm afraid there's not much chance of us being successful, because none of us here have the slightest knowledge of this thought vibration transference business." The Head of the Technical Department looked wry. "By trial and error we might of course solve the problem sooner or later; but I consider it my duty to point out to the Executive Council that it may take a very considerable time before Professor Novak can achieve his goal."

"Have you any constructive idea on the subject?" the Chairman enquired.

"I have, but this entails overcoming enormous difficulties."

"We are used to overcoming such difficulties," the Chief Organizing Officer remarked smugly.

"Let's hear your idea and decide whether it is acceptable," said the Chairman.

"My idea," the Head of the Technical Department announced, "is to strike first at U..N.C.L.E. because I believe that U.N.C.L.E. is our principal antagonist and must be wiped out before they can interfere with us."

"What has U.N.C.L.E. to do with Professor Novak solving the problem of long-range thought transference?" the Chief Organizing Officer demanded.

"My idea is to overcome Professor Novak's stalemate by linking his apparatus to an electronic beam transmitter and thus attacking the target," the technical expert explained. "But this is where the enormous difficulty comes in. My idea can only work if we can install special electronic beam receivers in the electronic communications circuits inside U.N.C.L.E. Headquarters. To do this, one of our people must penetrate U.N.C.L.E. Headquarters, and that, you will agree, is certainly a great task."

"If this is all that's worrying you, put your mind at rest, for it can be done!" the Chief of the Special Tasks Department exclaimed. "The only difficulty would be the actual installation of your special electronic beam receivers within the electronic communications circuits at U.N.C.L.E. Headquarters."

"The installation of such gadgets shouldn't be difficult, for they are so tiny that they can be fixed anywhere along the circuits. As they are equipped with magnetic claws, no complicated fixing is required," the technical expert elucidated. "The man who has to install the beam receivers must of course know where to find the electronic communications circuits at U.N.C.L.E. Headquarters, but once he knows the layout and penetrates U.N.C.L.E.'S stronghold, everything else will be simple."

"Under the circumstances," said the Chairman, "I invite the Executive Council to move that 'Operation U.N.C.L.E. Headquarters', as we may as well call it, commences immediately, to make ready for thought transference to U.N.C.L.E. as soon as Professor Novak and his apparatus arrive here."

This motion was approved, then before adjourning, the meeting proposed that the three chiefs involved should meet to finalize the details of 'Operation U.N.C.L.E. Headquarters'.

Ten minutes later the Head of the Technical Department and the Chief of the Special Tasks Department met the Chief Organizing Officer and were discussing the problems before them.

"To eliminate all possibility of failure, it is imperative to know every detail of the U.N.C.L.E. Headquarters," said the Chief Organizing Officer. "If you agree, I propose to feed all the relevant questions into the Ultimate Computer to obtain the necessary data."

Following this, questions were fed into the Ultimate Computer, and soon this information began to stream out.

The U.N.C.L.E. Organization (United Network Command of Law and Enforcement) is centered in a row of buildings in New York City, a few blocks from the United Nations Building. Starting from the south end, this row consists of a three-storied whitestone which appears fairly new in comparison to the brown stone buildings which make up the rest of the street. At the north end is a public garage an active, bustling place in parking-space-starved New York. The brownstones are occupied by a few lower-income families living above the decrepit shops and businesses which rent the space on the street level. Del Floria's tailor shop occupies the street level space in a brownstone near the middle of the block. The first and second floors of the whitestone are taken up by an exclusive "key-club" restaurant named "The Mask Club" which features fine food served by waitresses wearing masks (and little else) to patrons who don masks (covering nostrils to brow) as they enter.