“Many top Brungarian officials have joined the plotters,” Thurston added, “and it’s now becoming very difficult for anyone to enter or leave the country.”
28 THE VISITOR FROM PLANET X
Ames asked for information on any rebel sympathizers known to be in the United States. Thurston was able to tell him very little.
“We keep strict tabs, of course, on all Brungarians entering this country,”
Thurston explained. “But even though we screen them carefully, a rebel agent like Narko may slip in-usually on a stolen or faked passport.”
When the telecast ended, Tom, Bud, and Ames discussed the news grimly.
“What if Narko has pals working with him?” Bud conjectured.
“If he does,” Tom said, “they may try carrying through Narko’s mission.”
“I’ll station extra guards around the outer wall on twenty-four-hour alert,”
Ames promised.
Tom approved this measure wholeheartedly, but the purpose of Narko’s secret mission remained a mystery. Why had he tried to force his way into Enterprises? What was he after? There was little hope of resolving these questions, since United States Intelligence had learned of the rebel movement itself only within the past few days. Thurston had asked Tom and his companions to treat the information as confidential.
“I’d better get back to work,” Tom decided after Bud and Ames had left his office. Tom sat down at his drawing board and began to sketch out some rough ideas for a vehicle to house the “brain energy” from space.
REPORT FROM INTERPOL 29
Tom wondered if the brain would be able to perform actions by itself, given the proper mechanical output devices. Or would he have to help it function via an electronic computer to digest incoming information or stimuli and then to respond through servo controls?