Страница 28 из 30
Bigman's little face puckered in glee. "Hey, He
But He
"The crime," said the Space Ranger, "of a fast trip out in the direction of the Asteroids."
"Why? What for?"
"Is it not from the Asteroids that the poisoners' ultimata have come?"
"Are you accusing me of being behind the food poisoning? I deny it. I demand your proof. That is, if you think you need any proof. Perhaps you think that your masquerade can force me to admit a lie."
"Where were you the two nights before the final ultimatum was received?"
"I will not answer. I deny your right to question me."
"I will answer the question for you then. The machinery of the vast poisoning combine is located in the Asteroids, where what is left of the old pirate bands have gathered. The brains of the combine is here at Makian Farms."
Here Makian rose unsteadily to his feet, his mouth working.
The Space Ranger waved him down with a firm motion of his smoky arm and continued, "You, He
He
He said, "You bore me, Space Ranger, or whatever you call yourself. This conference, as I understand it, was for the purpose of discussing means of combating the poisoners. If it is being converted into a forum for the stupid accusations of a play actor, I am leaving."
Dr. Silvers reached across Bigman to grasp He
He
Bigman said quietly, "I'd love to see you shot, He
"Bigman is right," said Silvers. "There are armed men outside, with instructions to allow no one to leave without orders from me."
He
The Space Ranger began again, "And yet He
Benson said faintly, "You speak in contradictions."
"Only apparently. Consider the crime. You can learn a great deal about a criminal from the nature of the crime he commits. First, there is the fact that few people, comparatively, have died so far. Presumably the criminals could have gained what they wanted more quickly by begi
He
All were watching the Space Ranger now with an intentness that burned in every eye. Something of kee
The Space Ranger continued, "Most important as a clue is what followed the arrival of Williams at the farm. He was at once suspected of being a spy. His story of the poisoning of his sister was easily shown to be false. Hermes, as I have said, was for outright murder. The leader, with his softer conscience, would take another method. He tried to neutralize the dangerous Williams by developing a friendship for him and pretending to unfriendliness with He
"Let us summarize. What do we know about the leader of the poisoners? He is a man with a conscience who has seemed friendly to Williams and unfriendly to He
There was a rapid movement. A chair was thrust from the table, and a figure backed rapidly away, a blaster in his hand.
Benson rose to his feet and yelled, "Great Space. Bigman!"
Dr. Silvers cried helplessly, "But-but I was to bring him here as a bodyguard. He's armed."
For a moment Bigman stood there, blaster ready, watching each of them out of his sharp little eyes.
16. Solution
Bigman said, his high voice firm, "Don't let's draw any quick conclusions now. It may sound as if the Space Ranger is describing me, but he hasn't said so yet."
They watched him. No one spoke.
Bigman flipped his blaster suddenly, caught it by the muzzle, and tossed it onto the table where it skimmed noisily across in the direction of the Space Ranger. "I say I'm not the man, and there's my weapon to show I mean it."
The Space Ranger's smoke-obscured fingers reached for it.
"I also say you're not the man," he said, and the blaster skimmed back to Bigman.
Bigman pounced upon it, shoved it back in his holster, and sat down once more. "Now suppose you keep on talking, Space Ranger."
The Space Ranger said, "It might have been Bigman, but there are many reasons why it could not have been. In the first place, the enmity between Bigman and He
Dr. Silvers protested. "But look here. If the leader was pretending to be on the outs with He
The Space Ranger said, "Your point is well taken, Dr. Silvers. But consider this. The leader, whoever he is, must be in complete control of the gang's tactics. He must be able to enforce his own squeamish-ness about killing upon a group of what are probably the most desperate outlaws in the system. There is only one way he can do that, and that is by arranging it so that they ca
"How do you know that?" demanded Dr. Silvers.
"Because Bigman doesn't have the training that would enable him to develop and produce a new poison more virulent than any known. He doesn't have the laboratory or the botanical and bacteriological training. He doesn't have access to the food bins at Wingrad City. All of which, however, does apply to Benson."
The agronomist, perspiring profusely, raised his voice in a weak yell. "What are you trying to do? Test me as you tested Bigman just now?"
"I didn't test Bigman," said the Space Ranger. "I never accused him. I do accuse you, Benson. You are the brains and leader of the food-poisoning combine."
"No. You're mad."
"Not at all. Quite sane. Williams first suspected you and passed his suspicions on to me."