CHAPTER XIIThe Metal Brain
JOHN LUX had been so busy with these lines of thought that he had almost lost touch with his physical surroundings. Now he became aware that his flight up the transparent cylinder was slowing to a halt. A panel opened before him; he stepped from the shaft into a luxurious foyer. His feet sank into lush carpeting; the City Master, it seemed, preferred something a bit less utilitarian as his floor covering. No resilient plastic for the enigmatic Malaire!
The foyer was sourcelessly illuminated with a soft golden glow. Precious metals glistened about the foyer, the luster of pure gold, the sheen of silver, the dull glisten of platinum. Gems flashed in abundance. It was like the entrance way to a palace, Lux thought amusedly.
He crossed the thick carpets to a tall
