Chapter Thirty
Pencils and Crayons
“The lead in a pencil is only as good as the sharpener.” —The H-Pad 11
The secretary rubbed her arm as Operator Three closed the door to a thud of pencils hitting it.
“That thing is evil,” muttered the secretary.
The others nodded.
“Pure evil.”
“Probably connected to Hilda,” muttered a footman. “Saw her gulping like a blowfish—sure sign.”
The secretary threw him an “and you said nothing” look.
“I thought she’s on holiday,” said Operator One.
“Well she won’t be once that thing gets to her, will she? That . . . that pencil pusher has heard everything your H2 has said.”
“She’s not my H2.”
“Who cares who said what—what are we to do next?” said Operator Four.
The screen, still in operational position on the table, began to play a “connections read
