This is episode twenty-two of the novel, From Here To 1137.
Brain's Humor
Shortly after stepping into the alley, Tom was back in the pod. He sat in the captain’s chair.
“Brain.”
“Yes,” Brain replied.
“Remove the MAS. I know it’s not supposed to bother me, but I feel funny.”
There was silence for a moment.
“It has been done,” Brain said.
“I’m going to relax for a while and then go get Edgar. I need some cash for a car and other expenses. I hate to ask the Replicator to provide me with money. Technically, it’s counterfeit.”
“May suggest confiscating more of Grasso’s money,” Brain said. “Either from his safe deposit box or the storage unit on Long Island.”
“I don’t want to go back to either of those places,” Tom said. “I know it can be done safely, but it is tense no matter what.”
“If you want,” Brain said, “the money can be transported without you visiting either location.”
“You mean I didn’t have to go either time?” Tom said.
“No,” Brain said.
“Do you have any idea the stress I was under?” Tom asked harshly.
“Your breathing and pulse were elevated, but still in the range that it was nothing to worry about,” Brain said.
“Why didn’t you at least hold that out as an option?” Tom said.
“You never inquired,” Brain said.
“You should know those things!” Tom said.
“My ability to make decisions on certain matters is limited,” Brain said. “There are occasions when I can offer alternative strategies or suggestions, but not in every case.”
“Now you tell me,” Tom said. “All I have to say is that somebody has to be the brains of this outfit, and it sure can’t be you.”
“Was that an attempt at humor?” Brain asked.
“Yes, it was.”
“Ha, ha,” Brain said.
“You’re killing me,” Tom said. “And let’s work on sincerity while I’m thinking about it.”
“Let’s see,” Brain said, “‘You’re killing me,’ that’s an idiom for ‘are you exasperated or amused?’”
“Let’s just call this a draw,” Tom said.
“I must be winning,” Brain said. “Ha, ha.”
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