“He had called the number in Pittsburgh that had been left for him at Casino Royale’s message desk. He said just one word when it answered: “13.” After a click that sounded like someone aligning false teeth before speaking, he heard: “Information Requests N.N. 13. “What are the known values of oil rights in the area of Ada, Texas? “Response: negligible.” “Ach,” muttered Flynn. “Bein’ talked to by a machine, I am. Not a hello or a how-are-you this fine day do I get.” “Are there valuable oil or na...tural-gas rights in the area of East Frampton, Massachusetts, including offshore? “Response: yes; all such rights have been secured by the Mobil and Exxon corporations.” “How are you yourself,” Flynn muttered, “and your mother, the vacuum cleaner?” The machine continued: “Has any U.S. agency considered the area of Ada, Texas, as a nuclear-waste-materials dump? “Response: no.” “And your father, the Broadway taxi?” Flynn asked. And the machine continued: “State whereabouts of world’s ten top counterfeiters.MoreLessRead More Read Less
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