"My mistake. Just a foreign particle on my contact lenses." Retief
leaned on the car. "On the other hand, Sozier, most murderers are
sneaky about it. I think making a public announcement is a nice gesture
on your part. The Monitors won't have any trouble deciding who to hang
when they come in to straighten out this mess."
Sozier scrambled back onto his seat. "Monitors?" he snarled. "I
don't think so. I don't think you'll be around to do any blabbering
to anybody." He raised his voice. "Jake! March this spy over to the
sidelines. If he tries anything, shoot him!" He gave Retief a baleful
grin. "I'll lay the body out nice and ship it back to your cronies.
Accidents will happen, you know. It'll be a week or two before they get
around to following up--and by then I'll have this little problem under
control."
Jake looked at Retief uncertainly, fingering his empty rifle.
Retief put his hands up. "I guess you got me, Jake," he said. "Careful
of that gun, now."
Jake glanced at Sozier, gulped, aimed the rifle at Retief and nodded
toward the car. As Retief moved off, a murmur swept across the crowd.
Retief glanced back. A turret on the station roof was rotating slowly.
A shout rose; men surged away from the building, scuffling for way;
Sozier yelled. His car started up, moved forward, horns blaring. As
Retief watched, a white stream arced up from the turret, catching the
sun as it spanned the lawn, plunged down to strike the massed men in a
splatter of spray. It searched across the mob, came to rest on Sozier's
car. Uniformed men scrambled for safety as the terrified driver gunned
the heavy vehicle. The hose followed the car, dropping a solid stream
of water on Sozier, kicking and flailing in the back seat. As the car
passed from view, down a side street, water was overflowing the sides.
"The corporal will feel all the better for an invigorating swim in
his mobile pool," Retief commented. "By the way, Jake, I have to be
going now. It wouldn't be fair to send you back to your boss without
something to back up your story that you were outnumbered, so--"
Retief's left fist shot out to connect solidly with Jake's jaw. Jake
dropped the gun and sat down hard. Retief turned and headed for the
pumping station. The hose had shut down now. A few men were standing,
eyeing the building anxiously. Others watched his progress across the
square. As Retief passed, he caught scattered comments:
"--seen that bird before."
"--where he's headed."
"--feller Sozier was talking to...."
"Hey, you!"
Retief was on the grass now. Ahead, the blank wall loomed up. He walked
on briskly.
"Stop that jasper!" a shout rang out. There was a sharp whine and a
black spot appeared on the wall ahead. Near it, a small personnel door
abruptly swung inward. Retief sprinted, plunged through the opening
as a second shot seared the paint on the doorframe. The door clanged
behind him. Retief glanced over the half dozen men confronting him.
"I'm Retief, CDT, acting Charge," he said. "Which of you gentlemen is
Manager-General Corasol?"
* * * * *
Corasol was a tall, wide-shouldered man of fifty, with shrewd eyes, a
ready smile, capable-looking hands and an urbane manner. He and Retief
sat at a table at one side of the large room, under a maze of piping,
tanks and valves. Corasol poured amber fluid into square glass tumblers.
"We spotted you by the blazer," he said. "Baby blue and gold braid
stand out in a crowd."
Retief nodded. "The uniform has its uses," he agreed. He tried the
drink. "Say, what is this? It's not bad."
"Sugarweed rum. Made from a marine plant. We have plenty of ocean here
on Glave; there's only the one continent, you know, and it's useless
for agriculture."
"Weather?"
"That's part of it. Glave is moving into what would be a major
glaciation if it weren't for a rather elaborate climatic control
installation. Then there are the tides. Half the continent would be
inundated twice a year when our satellite is at aphelion; there's
a system of baffles, locks and deep-water pumps that maintain the
shore-line more or less constant. We still keep our cities well inland.
Then there are the oxygen generators, the atmosphere filtration
complex, vermin control and so on. Glave in its natural state is a
rather hostile world."
"I'm surprised that your mines can support it all."
"Oh, they don't." Corasol shook his head. "Two hundred years ago, when
the company first opened up Glave, it was economical enough. Quintite
was a precious mineral in those days. Synthetics have long since
taken over. Even fully automated, the mines barely support the public
services and welfare system."
"I seem to recall a reference in the Post Report to the effect that a
company petition to vacate its charter had been denied...."
Corasol nodded, smiling wryly. "The CDT seemed to feel that as long
as any of the world's residents desired to remain, the Company was
constrained to oblige them. The great majority departed long ago, of
course. Relocated to other operational areas. Only the untrainables,
living off welfare funds--and a skeleton staff of single men to operate
the technical installations--have stayed on."
"That explains the mechanics of the recent uprising," Retief said.
The bottle clinked against glasses for a second round. "What about the
good corporal?" Retief asked. "Assuming he's a strong swimmer, you
should be hearing from him soon."
Corasol glanced at his finger watch. "I imagine he'll be launching his
gas attack any minute."
"The prospect doesn't seem to bother you."
"Sozier is a clever enough chap in his own way," Corasol said. "But he
has a bad habit of leaping to conclusions. He's gotten hold of a tank
of what someone has told him is gas--as indeed it is. Hydrogen, for
industrial use. It seems the poor fellow is under the impression that
anything masquerading as gas will have a lethal effect."
"He may be right--if he pumps it in fast enough."
"Oh, he won't be pumping it. Not after approximately five minutes from
now."
"Hmmm. I think I'm beginning to see the light. 'Power off at sunset.'"
Corasol nodded. "I don't think he realizes somehow that all his
vehicles are operating off broadcast power."
"Still, he has a good-sized crowd of hopefuls with him. How do you plan
to get through them?"
"We don't. We go under. There's an extensive system of service ways
underlying the city; another detail which I believe has escaped the
corporal's notice."
"You'll be heading for the port?"
"Yes--eventually. First, we have a few small chores to see to. Sozier
has quite a number of our technical men working at gun point to keep
various services going."
Retief nodded. "It won't be easy breaking them out. I made a fast tour
of the city this afternoon. Locked doors, armed guards--"
"Oh, the locks are power-operated, too. Our fellows will know what to
do when the power fails. I think the sudden darkness will eliminate any
problem from the guards."
The lights flickered and died. The whine of the turbines was suddenly
noticeable, descending. Faint cries sounded from outside.
Corasol switched on a small portable lantern. "All ready, gentlemen?"
he called, rising. "Let's move out. We want to complete this operation
before dawn."
* * * * *
Four hours later, Retief stood with Corasol in a low-ceilinged tunnel,
white-tiled, brilliantly lit by a central glare strip, watching as the
last of the column of men released from forced labor in the city's
utilities installations filed past. A solidly-built man with pale blond
hair came up, breathing hard.
"How did it go, Taine?" Corasol asked.
"They're beginning to catch on, Mr. Corasol. We had a brisk time of it
at Station Four. Everybody's clear now. No one killed, but we had a few
injuries."
Corasol nodded. "The last few crews in have reported trouble. Ah--what
about--"
Taine shook his head. "Sorry, sir. No trace. No one's seen them. But
they're probably at the port ahead of us, hiding out. They'd know we'd
arrive eventually."
"I suppose so. You sent word to them well in advance...."
"Suppose I stand by here with a few men. We'll patrol the tunnels in
case they show up. We have several hours before daylight."
"Yes. I'll go along and see to the preparations at Exit Ten. We'll make
our sortie at oh-five-hundred. If you haven't seen anything of them by
then...."
"I'm sure they're all right."
"They'd better be." Corasol said grimly "Let's be off, Retief."
"If it's all the same to you, Mr. Manager-General, I'll stay here with
Taine. I'll join you later."
"As you wish. I don't imagine there'll be any trouble--but if there is,
having a CDT observer along will lend a certain air to the operation."
He smiled, shook Retief's hand and moved off along the tunnel. The
echo of feet and voices grew faint, faded to silence. Taine turned to
the three men detailed to him, conversed briefly, sent them off along
branching corridors. He glanced at Retief.
"Mr. Retief, you're a diplomat. This errand is not a diplomatic one."
"I've been on a few like that, too, Mr. Taine."
Taine studied Retief's face. "I can believe that," he said. "However, I
think you'd better rejoin the main party."
"I might be of some use here, if your missing men arrive under fire."
"Missing men?" Taine's mouth twisted in a sour smile. "You fail to
grasp the picture, Mr. Retief. There'll be no missing men arriving."
"Oh? I understood you were waiting here to meet them."
"Not men, Mr. Retief. It happens that Corasol has twin daughters, aged
nineteen. They haven't been seen since the trouble began."
V
Half an hour passed. Retief leaned against the tunnel wall, arms
folded, smoking a cigar in silence. Taine paced, ten yards up the
corridor, ten yards back....
"You seem nervous, Mr. Taine," Retief said.
Taine stopped pacing, eyed Retief coldly. "You'd better go along now,"
he said decisively. "Just follow the main tunnel. It's about a mile."
"Plenty of time yet, Mr. Taine." Retief smiled and drew on his cigar.
"Your three men are still out."
"They won't be back here. We'll rendezvous at Exit Ten."
"Am I keeping you from something, Taine?"
"I can't be responsible for your safety if you stay here."
"Oh? You think I might fall victim to an accident?"
Taine narrowed his eyes. "It could happen," he said harshly.
"Where were the girls last seen?" Retief asked suddenly.
"How would I know?"
"Weren't you the one who got word to them?"
"Maybe you'd better keep out of this."
"You sent your men off; now you're eager to see me retire to a safe
position. Why the desire for solitude, Taine? You wouldn't by any
chance have plans?"
"That's enough," Taine snapped. "On your way. That's an order!"
"There are some aspects of this situation that puzzle me, Mr.
Taine. Mr. Corasol has explained to me how he and his Division
Chiefs--including you--were surprised in the executive suite at
Planetary Central by a crowd of Sozier's bully-boys. They came in past
the entire security system without an alarm. Corasol and the others put
up a surprisingly good fight and made it to the service elevators--and
from there to the sub-station. There was even time to order an
emergency alert to the entire staff--but somehow, they were all caught
at their stations and kept on the job at gun point. Now, I should think
that you, as Chief of Security as well as Communications, should have
some ideas as to how all this came about."
"Are you implying--"
"Let me guess, Taine. You have a deal with Sozier. He takes over,
ousts the legal owners, and sets himself up to live off the fat of the
land, with you as his technical chief. Then, I imagine, you'd find it
easy enough to dispose of Sozier--and you'd be in charge."
* * * * *
Without warning Taine put his head down and charged. Retief dropped
his cigar, side-stepped and planted a solid right on Taine's jaw. He
staggered, went to his hands and knees.
"I suppose you'd like to get word to Sozier that his work force is
arriving at the port at oh-five-hundred," Retief said. "Of course,
he'll want to have a good-sized reception committee on hand as they
come out."
Taine plunged to his feet, threw a vicious left that went past Retief's
ear, then abruptly dropped, clamped a lock on Retief's leg, twisted--
The two men rolled, came to rest with Taine on top, Retief face-down,
his arm bent back and doubled. Taine, red-faced and puffing, grunted as
he applied pressure.
"You know a lot about me," he grated, "but you overlooked the fact that
I've been Glavian Judo champion for the past nine years."
"You're a clever man, Taine," Retief said between clenched teeth. "Too
clever to think it will work."
"It will work. Glave's never had a CDT mission here before. We're too
small. Corasol invited your Embassy in because he had an idea there
was something in the wind. That forced my hand. I've had to move
hastily. But by the time I invite observers in to see for themselves,
everything will be running smoothly. I can even afford to let Corasol
and the others go--I'll have hostages for his good behavior."
"You've been wanting to boast about it to someone who could appreciate
your cleverness, I see. Sozier must be an unappreciative audience."
"Sozier's a filthy pig--but he had his uses."
"What do you plan to do now?"
"I've been wondering that myself--but I think the best solution is to
simply break your arm for now. You should be easy to control then. It's
quite simple. I merely apply pressure, thus...."
"Judo is a very useful technique," Retief said. "But in order to make
it work, you have to be a pretty good man...." He moved suddenly,
shifting his position. Taine grabbed, holding Retief's arm by the wrist
and elbow, his own arm levering Retief's back, back.... Retief twisted
onto his side, then his back. Taine grunted, following the movement,
straining. Slowly, Retief sat up against Taine's weight. Then, with a
surge, he straightened his arm. Taine's grip broke. Retief came to his
feet. Taine scrambled up in time to meet a clean uppercut that snapped
him onto his back--out cold.
* * * * *
"Ah, there you are," Retief said as Taine's eyes fluttered and opened.
"You've had a nice nap--almost fifteen minutes. Feeling better?"
Taine snarled, straining against the bonds on his wrists.
"Gold braid has its uses," Retief commented. "Now that you're back,
perhaps you can answer a question for me. What's the Birthday Cake?"
Taine spat. Retief went to stand over him.
"Time is growing short, Mr. Taine. It will be dawn in another two
hours. I can't afford the luxury of coaxing you."
"You won't get away with this."
Retief looked at the glowing end of his cigar. "This won't be subtle, I
agree--but it will work."
"You're bluffing."
Retief leaned closer. "In my place--would you hesitate?" he asked
softly.
Taine cursed, struggled to break free, eyes on the cigar.
"What kind of diplomat are you?" he snarled.
"The modern variety. Throat-cutting, thumb-screws, poison and stiletto
work were popular in Machiavelli's time; nowadays we go in more for the
administrative approach--but the cigar-end still has its role."
"Look, we can come to an agreement--"
"What's the Birthday Cake?" Retief snapped.
"I'm in a position to do a lot for you!"
"Last chance--"
"It's the official Residence of the Manager-General!" Taine screeched,
writhing away from the cigar.
"Where is it? Talk fast!"
"You'll never get close! There's a seven-foot wall and by this time the
grounds are swarming with Sozier's men."
"Nevertheless, I want to know where it is--and the information had
better be good. If I don't come back, you'll have a long wait."
Taine groaned. "All right. Put that damned cigar away. I'll tell you
what I can...."
* * * * *
Retief stood in the shadow of a vine-grown wall, watching the relief
of the five-man guard detail at the main gate to the Residence
grounds. The bluish light of the Glavian satellite reflected from the
rain-pocked street, glinted from the leaves of a massive tree ten yards
from the gate. The chill in the air cut through Retief's wet clothes.
The men at the gate huddled, hands in pockets, coat collars turned up,
backs to the wind--and to Retief. He moved silently forward, caught a
low branch of the tree, pulled himself up.
The men at the gate exchanged muttered remarks. One lit a cigarette.
Retief waited, then moved higher. The guards talked in low voices,
edged closer to the shelter of the gate-house. Retief lowered himself
onto the wall, dropped down onto the sodden lawn, crouched, waiting.
There was no alarm.
Through the trees the dark shape of the house loomed up, its top storey
defiantly ablaze with lights. Retief moved off silently, from the
shadow of one tree to the next, swinging in an arc that would bring
him to the rear of the great round structure. He froze as the heavy
footfalls of one of Sozier's pickets slogged past five yards from him,
then moved on. The glow of a campfire flickered near the front of the
house. Retief could make out the shapes of men around it--a dozen or
two, at least. Probably as many more warmed themselves at each of the
other fires visible on the grounds--and most of the rest had doubtless
found dryer shelter in the lee of the house itself.
Retief reached the conservatory at the rear of the house, studied the
dark path leading to the broad terrace, picked out the squat shape of
the utilities manifold behind a screen of shrubbery. So far, Taine's
information had been accurate. The next step was to--
There was a faint sound from high above, followed by a whoosh! Then
with a sharp crack! a flare appeared overhead, rocking gracefully,
floating down gently under a small parachute. Below it, inky shadows
rocked in unison.
In the raw white light, Retief counted eighteen men clinging to
handholds on the side of the house, immobile in the pitiless glare.
Above them, a face appeared, then a second, peering over the edge of
the fourth-storey gallery. Both figures rose, unlimbering four-foot
bows, fitting arrows to strings--
_Whok! Whok!_ Two men lost their holds and fell, yelling, to slam into
the heavy shrubbery. A second flight of arrows found marks. Retief
watched from the shadows as man after man dropped to flounder in the
wet foliage. Several jumped before the deadly bows were turned on
them. As the flare faded, the last of the men plunged down to crash
among their fellows. Retief stepped out, ran swiftly to the manifold,
forcing his way among the close-growing screen, scrambled to its top.
His hand fell on a spent arrow. He picked it up.
It was a stout wooden shaft twenty inches long, terminating in a rubber
suction cup. Retief snorted, dropped the arrow and started up.