Citizen in Spase. Stories / Гражданин в Космосе. Рассказы. Книга для чтения на английском языке

But why had he stolen?

The theft of his invention was an understandable motive, but Eldridge felt certain it was not the right one. Stealing from Viglin would not make him feel any better nor would it right the wrong. His reaction would be either to fight or to withdraw, to retire from the whole mess. Anything except stealing.

Well, he would find out. He would hide in Sector Two, perhaps find work. Bit by bit, he would —

Two men seized his arms from either side. A third took the Traveler away from him. It was done so smoothly that Eldridge was still gasping when one of the men showed a badge.

“Police,” the man said. “You’ll have to come with us, Mr. Eldridge.”

“What for?” Eldridge asked.

“Robbery in Sectors One and Two.”

So he had stolen here, too.

He was taken to the police station and into the small, cluttered ofifce of the captain of police. The captain was a slim, balding, cheerful-faced man. He waved his subordinates out of the room, motioned Eldridge to a chair and gave him a cigarette.

“So you’re Eldridge,” he said.

Eldridge nodded morosely.

“Been reading about you ever since I was a little boy,” the captain said nostalgically. “You were one of my heroes.”

Eldridge guessed the captain to be a good fifteen years his senior, but he didn’t ask about it. After all, he was supposed to be the expert on time paradoxes.

“Always thought you got a rotten deal,” the captain said, toying with a large bronze paperweight. “Still, I couldn’t understand a man like you stealing.

“Was it?” Eldridge asked hopefully.

“Not a chance. Checked your records. You just haven’t got the potentiality. And that makes it rather dififcult for me. For example, why did you steal those particular items?”

“What items?”

“Don’t you remember?”

“I – I’ve blanked out,” Eldridge said. “Temporary amnesia.”

“Very understandable,” the captain said sympathetically.

“Here’s the list.”

ITEMS STOLEN BY THOMAS MONROE ELDRIDGE

Taken from Viglin’s Sporting Goods Store,

Sector One:

Credits

4 Megacharge Hand Pistols ............10,000

3 Lifebelts, Inflatable....................100

5 Cans, Ollen’s Shark Repellant...........400

Taken from Alfghan’s Specialty Shop,

Sector One:

2 Microflex Sets, World Literature . . . . . . .