carabineers, with checkers bare, in a black form with red edgings and in the cocked hats decorated with feathers took away the arrested – the young man in a working suit, with a suntanned face on which the prison already put a grayish raid.
Having remained one, the investigator slowly lit a long sigarette, drank from a glass ice water with red wine and wearily looked in a window. The window lattice stood out on the sparkling surface of the Mediterranean Sea clearly. In the distance the Pisa hills became blue.
Minetti brushed away the flies who chose his moist forehead and annoyancely grunted.
Already two weeks as sits in this hole – Voltaire, caused here for interrogation of five defendants placed in the local prison similar to the medieval castle with chambers cages for solitary confinement.
Minetti, the inveterate theater-goer and the passionate fan of music, was upset up to the soul depth when he was called from Livorno in the heat of tours of the Milan opera here.
But, having examined business, he was consoled. Business was interesting and promised for his career in a case of a successful outcome much.
For it was already honor that charged to carry on the investigation to it. Loud political process was coming.
At journey of the Italian prime minister on the car through Siena in it the shot from crowd which did not do harm was made. The police of public safety which appeared in time on the scene arrested, on suspicion, five people and seized a material evidence – the revolver thrown on the earth. But who exactly made a shot, it was not succeeded to find out. At anybody of arrested of weapon it was not found.
It was not succeeded to establish also accessories any of them to some «criminal political organization».
It is clear, that at such provision of business it was impossible to bring charge to all five. It was necessary to get more weighty proofs by all means. But how?. Personal recognition would be best of all. However, despite all the experience, on all professional tricks and tricks, Minetti could not achieve recognition. All five arrested categorically denied the participation in attempt at life of the prime minister and at the same time watched at the investigator such innocent eyes that he flew into a rage.
– Or all of them are cunning fellows and shot five together from one revolver, or… or the sixth shot, the devil all of them a pobera!. – Minetti muttered, having remained one ambassador of interrogation.
Time went… The going on tour troupe left Livorno long ago, but the hell with her – another will arrive. The fourteenth day passed also fruitlessly, as well as thirteen previous, however, not absolutely so. This day from Rome the inquiry was sent whether Minetti will complete the investigation soon and will submit the case to Tribunal.
It is already worse. One more such inquiry, and Minetti can withdraw, and to send other investigator to his place. And then – farewell dreams of the transfer to Rome or Turin… It is good if do not transfer with decrease, to Kalta-nizetta somewhere yet or Sassari where you will be bored to death…
From one this thought of Minetti felt that he begins migraine.
It is necessary to work quickly, resolutely.
– Oh, damned flies!. – The investigator took out a red fulyarovy scarf and threw with it the head. – Idiophone!. – he spoke, smiled to some thought and negatively shook the head.
The scarf thrown over the head reminded him the story of the old inspector of prison that the local candidate for judicial positions, signor Berichi, invented the device by means of which it is possible «to listen to others thoughts» – an idiophone.
The metal cap from which go a wire to phone is put on the head…
– The nonsense is some! – spoke aloud Minetti. – And however, than I risk? Though I will have a good time a little. Grew dull absolutely! – And it, having called the inspector of prison, asked to invite signor Berichi with his device.
II
Signor Berichi did not keep itself waiting long. In half an hour the door with noise revealed, and to the room the inventor of an idiophone with a sac in hands ran in.
Minetti expected to see the silent, concentrated person, one of those maniacs who puzzle over a quadrature of a circle or invent the perpetual motion machine. But before it span cheerful, live as a monkey, the dark-haired, curly Neapolitan. Whether it is a mistake?
However the guest hurried to disseminate doubts of the investigator.
– I am very glad to get acquainted… Беричи… that!. Here mine child.
And, having strong shaken hands the investigator, smiling from ear to ear, sparkling white teeth, for a minute without stopping, Berichi began to take out «idiophone» from a sac.
– There is a metal cap… It is put on the head of the person, whose thoughts you want to learn. Very useful piece for investigators and jealous husbands. I will declare the patent and I will put to myself in a pocket one million liras!.
At the same time Berichi so derisively shchurit eyes that it was impossible to understand whether he speaks seriously or mystifies, wishing to play a cheerful joke.
Minetti did not manage to squeeze any word, and Berichi continued to crack as a record player which plate rotates with extraordinary speed.
– You probably know, signor Minetti that, on the last scientific researches, our nervous system and a brain are the transformer of electromagnetic waves. Result of work of a brain – our thought – radiates special electrowaves. It is only necessary to catch them and to make the return transformation of electrowaves in a thought, in the sounding thoughts if you want. A metal cap – the receiver. This box – the amplifier of the electromagnetic oscillations made by a thought, and this box – the return transformer. Here electrowaves are made out in a sound thought. And this reception phone. It is clear, how new moon, isn’t that so?
Minetti vaguely lowed.
– Allow to make experience… I already disposed to bring one of five arrested, by name the Sell here.
And, without expecting the answer, Berichi opened a door and shouted:
– Enter!
Carabineers entered the arrested.
Berich rushed on an office, placing furniture and fitting the device.
Minetti with a grimace of mistrust monitored all this vanity. He already regretted the invention to have a good time an idiophone.
– Take seat on this chair – Berichi addressed the arrested – we will put on to you the head this beautiful hat now and we will start up the smallest electric current.
The prisoner shuddered. His face turned pale.
– From what it a time – he answered – in Italy without court execute people electricity?.
Berich loudly burst out laughing.
– Anything similar! – And he put on to himself the head a metal cap. –
