Robot Trouble Read Free Page B

pardon?”
    â€œThe correct quote is ‘Music has charms to soothe a savage breast.’ It’s from William Congreve’s ‘The Mourning Bride’—Act 1, Scene 1. People usually misquote it.”
    Dr. Weiskopf looked at her strangely.
    â€œI have sort of an overactive memory,” she explained, blushing a little. “Anyway, the point is, if you’re any kind of an example, the quote is true. A minute ago you were…”
    She began to blush again.
    Dr. Weiskopf laughed. “Oh, come right out and say it. I was cranky. Then I played some music and calmed right down. It’s true, music can do that. But it can also rile things up. And if you don’t recognize that, you’re only dealing with half the truth. Give me the right song, and I can start a war.”
    Rachel raised a questioning eyebrow.
    â€œSoldiers always have their battle songs. I have a historian friend who claims that if the South had had an anthem as inspiring as ‘The Battle Hymn of the Republic,’ they might have won the Civil War. That’s the other face of music—its dark side, if you will. Everything has one, you know.”
    â€œYou can’t shine a light without casting some shadows,” said Rachel, quoting her father’s favorite response to people who complained about problems created by modern science.
    â€œPrecisely!” exclaimed Weiskopf. “You’re a very sensible young lady, Miss Phillips.” He leaned toward Rachel. “Can you keep a secret?”
    Rachel had the uncomfortable feeling he was trying to look inside her head, to see if he could trust her. She licked her lips nervously. What was going on here?
    â€œI said, can you keep a secret? Oh, come along—I know you can! You and your friends have got all kinds of secrets going on. You’re the most closemouthed group of kids I ever saw!”
    â€œHow did you know that?” asked Rachel indignantly.
    Dr. Weiskopf seemed flustered for a moment. “Dr. Remov told me,” he said at last.
    Dr. Remov was another of the Project Alpha scientists, one the gang had turned to for help during their first adventure. Rachel didn’t like the fact that he had mentioned their conversations to anyone else.
    â€œI can keep a secret,” she said after a moment. Then she added: “Better than some adults, it would seem.”
    It was Dr. Weiskopf’s turn to blush. “Stanley had his reasons for talking to me. Believe me, I have not mentioned what he told me to anyone else. Perhaps you could consider what I want to show you a trade—secret for secret.”
    â€œWhat is it?” asked Rachel. An eager note had crept into her voice, for despite her cautious nature, Dr. Weiskopf had made her curious.
    â€œPatience,” said the scientist, holding up a finger. “All will be revealed in a few moments.”
    Rachel thought she was going to burst by the time they entered Dr. Weiskopf’s bungalow—one of the multitude of Air Force buildings that had been left behind when the government abandoned Anza-bora Island.
    â€œAll right,” said Dr. Weiskopf once they were standing in his living room, “stand here and watch.” Raising his whistle to his lips, he played a little tune. Though it couldn’t have been more than twelve notes long, Rachel found it oddly moving.
    â€œWhat…”
    Dr. Weiskopf held up a hand to silence her.
    Rachel heard a sound from the other room.
    The door swung open.
    To Dr. Weiskopf’s dismay, Rachel broke into gales of laughter.
    Trip Davis squirmed desperately as he tried to escape the hands that had grabbed him. I wonder if Ray got away, he thought as he slammed his right foot backward. He connected with something firm but fleshy, and the satisfying grunt of pain that followed made it clear his captor was at least human.
    Trying to remember the self-defense lessons Wendy had given him, Trip reached over his shoulder.