TW08 The Dracula Caper NEW Read Free Page A

ideas with you and when circumstances brought us to England, we thought we would try to look you up."
    Wells shook his head and chuckled. "Metaphysics? I am afraid that I cannot be of much help to you people in your ... uh. researches. I have some slight scientific training, true, but the idea of traveling through time is ludicrous, of course. Only a crank would take such a thing seriously."
    He paused for a moment and cleared his throat uneasily. "Of course, I am not suggesting for a moment that you are cranks, you understand. Who is to say what strange courses will not lead to scientific knowledge? Science is a match that man has just got alight. And it is a curious sensation, now that the preliminary sputter is over and the flame burns up clear, for us to see only our hands illuminated and just a glimpse of ourselves and the patch we stand on visible, and all around us . . . darkness still."
    Wells smiled. "A slight paraphrase from my own 'Rediscovery of the Unique.' "
    “Has anyone else, that is, besides Mr. Cast at the
Gazette,
spoken to you of such matters?" said Andre. "Glimpses into the future of scientific endeavor such as traveling through time or biological experimentation?"
    "What manner of biological experimentation?" Wells said, frowning faintly.
    "Well, purely fictional, of course," said Andre. "The sort of thing one might make a story of. Examining the social implications of scientific discoveries, for example."
    “Ah. I see. How very fascinating that a woman should be interested in such things. You are, I perceive, one of these progressive women. Mind you, I entirely approve. Above all. I respect intelligence in women. Especially the intelligence to strive for social reform. I regard the idea of women in the work force, treated equally, as absolutely essential to our progress. But then I perceive that I am straying from your question. No. I do not recall discussing such ideas with anyone in particular. Such things as traveling through time I regard as useful fictional devices, tricks whereby one might pretend to look ahead and see where our present course may lead. as you suggest. However, I must confess that I am still somewhat at a loss as to what your specific interest in all of this may be."
    "Well, there is a . . . colleague of ours," said Steiger, "a Mr. Nikolai Drakov, who has been pursuing some rather, well, I suppose you would think them farfetched experiments in the physical sciences. We thought perhaps you might have met him. "
    "Drakov. A Russian gentleman?"
    Delaney leaned forward intently. "You have met him?"
    "No, no. I was merely commenting upon the name," said Wells. "No, it is entirely unfamiliar to me. Do you mean to tell me that I have inadvertently touched upon an actual topic of scientific research? With a story such as 'The Chronic Argonauts’? It seems truly difficult to believe."
    "Well, not specifically, Mr. Wells." said Delaney. "Let us say that you have strayed close to a somewhat peripheral field of study that our colleague is engaged in. However, it seems to have been purely coincidental."
    "Indeed! How very odd! And how very intriguing. Tell me, is it possible that I might meet this Mr. Drakov?"
    "Regrettably," said Delaney. "we have no idea of his current whereabouts. You see, Mr. Wells, it is a somewhat delicate matter and, well, if we may speak quite confidentially . ."
    "By all means," said Wells. puzzled.
    "Professor Drakov has been pursuing research that is quite esoteric and frankly, more than a little dangerous. It has not been very well received and it has caused him some difficulties that resulted in his disappearance. He had been working very hard, you see, and we have some reason to suspect that he has suffered some distress, a lapse, if you will, which caused him to feel persecuted and well— "
    "You are concerned about your missing colleague. about his health, and you are seeking information as to his whereabouts," said Wells. "And something in what I have