A Most Unusual Artifact (12)

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The man paused for a moment and thought.

"If you didn't invent it, why are you the one coming to me with it?"

"Well, my grandson couldn't very well have done this himself.  Would you have listened to a nine-year-old boy?"

The man made no attempt to argue.

"His parents wouldn't listen to him, either."

The other man leaned back in his chair, looked at the ceiling tiles, then examined his hands.

"Why do you believe him?" he finally asked.

"There wasn't all that much to believe.  He didn't even claim to have invented anything."

McGinty sat less stiffly now.  "I just woke up from my nap, and heard the most peculiar calm, polite talk coming from all the kids.  Got any idea how unusual that is in a group of kids?"

The other man smiled.  "I have a couple of my own."

© COPYRIGHT 1994 ROBERT WINTER.  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.