The Green Brain Read Online Free PDF Page A

meters in diameter with the fluted cup of the fountain in the center. Between tile and fountain the lawn showed yellow splotches of dead grass. Martinho’s pointing finger picked out these patches one by one.
    â€œAcid,” Vierho whispered.
    The searchlights centered abruptly on a shifting movement within the spray at the fountain’s rim. A hissing passed through the crowd like a sudden wind.
    â€œAnd there it is,” Martinho said. “Now, will the so-suspicious official of the IEO believe?”
    As he spoke, a scintillant spray arched from the creature at the fountain and out onto the lawn.
    â€œ Eeee-ahhhh, ” the crowd said.
    Martinho grew conscious of a low moaning off to his left, turned to see a doctor being directed there along the inner rim of the crowd. The doctor turned into the crowd on the other side of the Hermosillo truck, lifting
his bag over his head as he entered the press of people.
    â€œWho was hurt?” Martinho asked.
    One of the police behind him said, “It is Alvarez. He tried to get that … thing, but he took only a handshield and a sprayrifle. The shield was not proof against a’chigua’s quickness. It got Alvarez in the arm.”
    Vierho tugged at Martinho’s sleeve, pointed into the crowd behind the policeman. Rhin Kelly and Chen-Lhu were being passed through the onlookers there, space being made for them as people recognized the IEO insignia.
    Rhin waved, called, “Senhor Martinho—that thing is impossible! It’s at least seventy-five centimeters long. It must weigh three or four kilos.”
    â€œDo they not believe their own eyes?” Vierho asked.
    Chen-Lhu came up to the policeman who’d described the injury to Alvarez, said, “Let us through, please.”
    â€œEh? Oh … yes, sir.” The line of guards parted.
    Chen-Lhu stopped beside the bandeirante leader, glanced down at Rhin, back to Martinho. “I don’t believe it, either. I’d give a pretty to get my hands on that … thing.”
    â€œWhat is it you don’t believe?” Martinho asked.
    â€œI think it’s some kind of automaton. Not so, Rhin?”
    â€œIt has to be,” she said.
    â€œHow much of a pretty would you give?” Martinho asked.
    â€œTen thousand cruzados.”
    â€œPlease keep the lovely Doctor Kelly back here out of range,” Martinho said. He turned to Vierho. “What’s keeping Ramon and that truck? Find them. I want our magna-glass shield and a modified sprayrifle.”
    â€œJefe!”
    â€œAt once. Oh, yes—and get a large specimen bottle.”
    Vierho sighed, turned away to obey.

    â€œWhat do you say that thing is?” Chen-Lhu asked.
    â€œI don’t have to say.”
    â€œDo you imply it’s one of the things which none but bandeirantes appear to see in the interlands?”
    â€œI don’t deny what my own eyes see.”
    â€œWhy have we never seen specimens, I wonder?” Chen-Lhu mused.
    Martinho swallowed to suppress an angry outburst. This fool safe back here in the Green! He dared to question what the bandeirantes knew for fact!
    â€œIsn’t that an interesting question?” Chen-Lhu asked.
    â€œWe’ve been lucky to get out with just our lives,” Martinho growled.
    â€œAny entomologist will tell you that thing’s a physical impossibility,” Rhin said.
    â€œThe material won’t support such structure through that sort of activity,” Chen-Lhu said.
    â€œI can see the entomologists must be correct,” Martinho said.
    Rhin stared up at him. The angry cynicism surprised her. He attacked and did not remain on the defensive. He acted like a man who believed that impossibility out there at the fountain actually was a giant insect. But in the night club he’d argued the other side.
    â€œYou’ve seen such things in the jungle?” Chen-Lhu asked.
    â€œDid you not see the scar on Vierho’s