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pleasure then leaned over and switched the radio off.
"They're down and safe," he said. "Contact made with the Israelis and they
have joined forces to knock out all of the remaining resistance. We've done
our job. Now it's up to them."
Jan watched the troops fan out through the buildings until they had vanished
from sight, his thoughts going around and around and refusing to settle down.
Was this it-really it? Was the war over~or would the Earth troops continue the
fighting? They could not be stopped if they did; the defenders would be
overrun, wiped out. But the base would be destroyed. Was the threat of this
great enough to prevent the disaster...'
"Here," Skougaard said, pushing a waterglass tow~rd Jan. "We will drink to
success
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after."
It was akvavit not water that filled the glass and the Admiral drained his
with pleasure, smacking his lips. Jan took a large swallow which was more than
enough.
"Ground transportation on the way," the radio operator said. The Admiral
nodded.
"Good. We'll use the engine room lock."
The combat car was brakingto a skidding stop as they came out, the blue and
white emblem of the Earth forces still marked on its side-although it was
pierced by an ominous scatter of bullet holes. The Israeli driver threw the
door open for them.
"They want you both at HQ," she said, and the vehicle hurled itself forward as
soon as they were inside, squealing about in a tight turn and rushing toward
the exit.
They bomped through the debris where an opening had been blown in the fence
and on into the streets beyond. Smoking wreckage marked the scenes of the
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worst fighting;
crumpled bodies as well. There had been losses, heaviest around the control
building that had been the prime target. A field headquarters had been set up
in the ground floor. They entered it by the simple expedient of walking
throttgh the gaping hole that had been blown in the outer wall. General
Blonstein was talking on the radio link, but he dropped the handset when they
came in and hurried over to greet them.
"We have won here," he said. "The last defenders have just surrendered. But
there are two enemy armored columns coming this way, as well as regiments of
paratroops.
We hope to have them stopped well before they arrive. Negotiations are going
forward now and all the problems seem to be in hand." He made a gesture toward
the adjoining desk, at the man seated there and talking on the phone. Even
from the back it was easy to recognize Thurgood-Smythe. He disconnected and
turned to face them.
"Welcome back, Jan, Admiral. Things are working according to plan as you can
see."
There were smears of blood on his face and his clothing was soaked and dark
with even more blood.
"You've been injured," Jan said. The corners of Thurgood-Smytbe's mouth lifted
slightly.
"Don't sound so hopeful, Jan. The blood is not mine. It belongs to an
associate, now dead, who attempted to interfere with my plans. Auguste Blanc
t'he director-former director I should say~f this space center. He
countermanded orders of mine to the defending fleet."
"The ships that were waiting for us?" the Admiral said.
"Precisely. Though I really can't blame him since all of the orders I had sent
out were issued in his name. In case there were difficulties I preferred the
file:///F|/rah/Harry%20Harrison/Harrison,%20Harry%20-%20To%20The%20Stars%20Tri
logy%20(UC).txt (231 of 234) [5/21/03 1:29:03 AM]
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logy%20(UC).txt responsibility to be his, not mine. He found out what was
happening and chose to go along with the ruse instead of confronting me, only
countermanding my orders at the last moment. This could have been
embarrassing."
"To you," Jan said, his voice tight with anger. "We could have been dead."
"But you aren't, Jan, are you? The delay was not serious in the end. Poor
Auguste was fool enough to face up to me, to brag about what he had done.
After taking my gun away of course. Everyone seems to have a gun these days. I
tried to move away from him, but had to do it slowly in order not to startle
him." Thurgood-Smythe looked down and brushed at his blood-stained clothing.
"He was quite startled when my gun exploded. This is his blood. Stunned me a
bit. Did worse to him. I was sure he would try to arrest me on his own, that
is why I had the gun prepared. He was such a stupid man.
"Mr. Thurgood-Smythe enabled us to take over missile control without sabotage
or damage," General Blonstein said. "He had the missiles fired that took out
the ships that were attacking you. He is now negotiating the surrender. He has
been invaluable
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The sub-machinegun was leaning against the wall. Jan turned away, no one even
noticed, and walked slowly over to it. Only when he had seized it up and swung
around to face them were they aware of what he had done.
"Stand clear of him," Jan ordered. "I'll shoot anyone who is in the way in
order to be sure that he is dead."
The muzzle swung back and forth in a tight arc. The room was suddenly silent.
There were guns on all sides, but no one was expecting this, no one was ready;
they were motionless.
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"Put it down, Jan," Skougaard ordered. "This man is on our side. Don't you
understand what he has done?"
"I understand too well-not only this, but everything else that he has done. He
is a liar and a murderer and he cannot be trusted. We will never know why he
has done what he has done, but it doesn't matter. When he is dead we will be
safe."
Someone moved, stepping forward, and Jan swung the gun in that direction. It
was
Dvora.
"Jan, please," she said. "He is on our side. We need him..."
"No we don't. He wants to take over again, I am sure of that. A hero of the
revolution. And when he does it will be for his own benefit. He doesn't care
about us or the revolution, or anything else other than himself. There is only
one way to stop him"
"Would you shoot me as well?" she said, standing before him.
"If I had to," be said, slowly. "Step aside."
- She did not move-and his finger was tight on the trigger. "Don't be a fool,"
Admiral. Skougaard said. "You're dead yoursel{ if you shoot him. Is that worth
it?"
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