Bond nodded. "I see what you mean," he admitted. "But it could be pretty
bad." He walked over to the chair and picked up his cap.
[Illustration]
"Well," he added with a sigh, "I suppose I'd better grab these things
and take them over to Research. Have to find out all we can about them.
I've still got to report on them." Again, he looked at Graham. "You'd
better come along, too. Research people might have a lot of questions,
and I could never answer them."
* * * * *
Graham nodded and went to the hall closet. He took his coat from the
hanger, put it on, and reached for his hat, then hesitated.
"You know," he said, "we might try one experiment, right here."
"Oh?" Bond raised his eyebrows.
"There's a man out in the parking lot. I believe he's detailed to keep
watch on me. You might try him with one of the headbands. Then, see what
he'll do with one on."
"Any special reason?"
Graham twisted his face uneasily. "I can't describe it," he said almost
inaudibly. "You'd have to see for yourself."
Bond looked at him speculatively for a moment, then held out his cap and
one of the headbands.
"Here, hold these."
He put the other headband on, accepted the first, and walked out of the
apartment, followed by Graham, who still carried the cap.
As they came out and started across the parking lot, a man approached
them.
Bond looked at him, frowned, then cast a sidelong look at Graham.
"_That what you meant?_" His thought carried an undercurrent of
incredulity.
Graham nodded wordlessly, and Bond looked toward the approaching man
again. Once more, his face wrinkled distastefully, then he spoke aloud.
"Oh, Ross. Want you to try some thing." He held out the headband he was
carrying in his left hand.
Ross came up, accepted the device, and looked at it curiously. "You mean
this is the thing he's been working on?" He jerked a thumb at Graham.
"Saw his wife come out a while ago. Guess she had one of 'em on. She
went right back in again."