Read The Green Brain for Free Online Page B

like sharp cries, the snatches of sentences—“Like a monster beetle!” “Have you heard the report from the waterfront?” “The whole region could be infested!” “ … at the Monte Ochoa Convent … orphanage …”
    Through it all came the same question repeated from all sides of the Plaza: “What was it?” “What was it?” “What was it?”
    Martinho felt someone at his right, jerked around to see Chen-Lhu standing there, eyes intent on the place where the beetle shape had disappeared. There was no sign of Rhin Kelly.
    â€œYes, Johnny,” Chen-Lhu said. “What was it?”
    â€œIt looked like a giant stag beetle,” Martinho said, and he was surprised at how calm his voice sounded.
    â€œIt was taller than a man by half,” Vierho muttered. “Jefe … those stories about the Serra dos Paresis …”
    â€œI heard the crowd talking about Monte Ochoa and the waterfront, something about an orphanage,” Martinho said. “What was that?”
    â€œRhin has gone to investigate,” Chen-Lhu said. “There are some disturbing reports. I’m having the crowd cleared out of the Plaza. People are being ordered to disperse and go to their homes.”
    â€œWhat are the disturbing reports?”
    â€œThat there has been some sort of tragedy at the waterfront and again at the Monte Ochoa Convent and orphanage.”

    â€œWhat sort of tragedy?”
    â€œThat is what Rhin’s investigating.”
    â€œYou saw that out there on the lawn,” Martinho said. “Now will you believe what we’ve been reporting to you these many months?”
    â€œI saw an acid-shooting automaton and a man in the costume of a stag beetle,” Chen-Lhu said. “I’m curious to know if you were party to this deception.”
    Vierho cursed under his breath.
    Martinho took a moment to put down his sudden anger, said only, “It didn’t look to me like a man in costume.” He shook his head. This was no time to let emotion cloud reason. Insects could not possibly grow that large. The forces of gravity … Again, he shook his head. Then what was it?
    â€œWe should at least get samples of the acid off the lawn there,” Martinho said. “And that hole will have to be investigated.”
    â€œI’ve sent for our Security Section,” Chen-Lhu said. He turned away, thinking of how he would have to compose the reports on this—the one for his superiors in the IEO and the special report for his own government.
    â€œDid you see how it appeared to dissolve downward into the hole when I hit it with the spray?” Martinho asked. “That poison can be painful, Travis. A man would’ve screamed.”
    â€œA man in protective clothing,” Chen-Lhu, speaking with out turning. But he began to wonder about Martinho. The man seemed genuinely puzzled. No matter. This whole incident was going to be useful. Chen-Lhu saw that now.
    â€œBut it came back out of the hole,” Vierho said. “You saw that. It came back.”
    An abrupt growling sound came from the people being
pushed out of the Plaza. It passed through them like a wind—voice to voice to voice.
    Martinho turned, studied them. “Vierho,” he said.
    â€œJefe?”
    â€œGet blast-pellet carbines from the truck.”
    â€œAt once, Jefe.”
    Vierho trotted across the lawn toward the truck which stood now in an open area with only a scattering of bandeirantes around it. Martinho recognized some of the men—those of Alvarez seemed most numerous, but there were bandeirantes also of the Hermosillo and Jun-itza.
    â€œWhat do you want with blast-pellet weapons?” Chen-Lhu asked.
    â€œI am going to look in that hole.”
    â€œMy Security men will be here soon. We’ll wait for them.”
    â€œI am going now.”
    â€œMartinho, I’m telling you that …”
    â€œYou are