The Cold Cash War

by Asprin, Robert

  His head swam with pain. When he had gotten lost, his chances of survival had been low. Now they were zero.

  But he had gotten them all. He clung to that as he worked, lying down now and covering his bloody chest.

  And by God, they weren't going to have the satisfaction of finding his body. The coming rain would wash away his trail of blood and weld the sod together again. If they ever claimed a mercenary kill, it was going to be because they earned it and not because he had been stupid enough to get lost.

  The rain was starting to fall as he lifted the last piece of sod in place over his face and shoulders.

  The Cold Cash War

  -21-

  Tidwell trudged through the darkness trying to ignore the feeling of nakedness he had without a rifle. He grinned to himself. This was a wacky idea, but if it worked it would be beautiful.

  “Okay, Steve, you're there!” Clancy's voice came to him through his earplug. “If you take another fifteen steps, you'll kick one.”

  He halted his forward progress, and covertly studied the underbrush as he fished out a cigarette. He stalled a few more seconds fumbling for a match, then grudgingly lit up. These guys are good. He slowly exhaled a long plume of smoke.

  “You can come out, gentlemen. All I want to do is talk.”

  His voice seemed incredibly loud in the darkness, even to him. He waited a few moments. The night was still.

  “Look, I don't have a white flag with me, so I'm pinpointing my position with a cigarette instead. I'd like to talk to your ranking officer or noncom.”

  There was still no response. If he didn't have absolute faith in his back-​up, he would feel silly standing there talking to himself.

  “I'd love to stand here all night, but the bugs are getting bad. Look, we know you're here. We've been tracking you through our scopes for over an hour now. If we wanted you dead, you'd be dead. If it will convince you, there are twenty of you and we know your positions. Now does that convince you or do I have to bounce a rock off a couple of you?”

  He paused again. Suddenly, there was a soldier standing ten feet from him. He hadn't seen him stand up or step out of the bushes; it was as if he had sprung from the earth itself.

  “It's about time. Want a smoke?”

  “You wanted to talk, so talk.”

  The man sounded annoyed. Tidwell grinned to himself-​probably upset that his crack team had been discovered.

  “I've got a message for you. We're asking you once politely to withdraw your men.”

  “Give me one good reason why we should pull out, wise guy?”

  “I can give you a list. First off, we found you. Right off the bat that should tell you your hotshots aren't as good as you'd like to think they are. Now, don't get me wrong, they're good-​some of the best I've seen in a government force. But you're outclassed, friend. Our troops have been at this game since the time they could walk. Stack that up against your five years' service and you've got some idea where you stand in this war. A poor third in a two-​sided fight!”

  “That's your story.”

  “Let me spell it out for you. You're the advance scout of a company of light infantry that's bivouacked about fifteen miles back. They've been out here blundering around for over two weeks and I'm the first person you've seen to put your sights on. During that time, we've penetrated your defense at will, putting BANG signs on your ammo dump, green dye in your drinking water, Mickey Mouse Club badges on your tents while you're sleeping at night. The fact that you and your force aren't dead isn't because we've never had the chance.”

  “You're the guys who have been doing all that?”

  “You want to know how many of us there are? Five, and two of us are women. A five-​member team is all that it takes to keep a company of you bozos running in circles for half a month.”

  “So how come you haven't attacked?”

  “Why? We don't want to fight you clowns. None of the corporation mercenaries do. We just want you to clear the hell out and leave us alone. Why are you out here anyway?”

  “Well...supposedly we're trying to keep you from destroying the world economy.”

  “Bullshit. You wouldn't know a world economy if it bit you on the leg. Hell, man, the corporations have been the world economy for over half a century now.”

  “So you want us to pull back to camp?”

  “No, we want you to pull out completely. The whole damn company-​tell your CO we said so.”

  “And that's supposed to convince him?”

  “No, but this might.” Tidwell pulled a bulky envelope from inside his shirt and pitched it to the soldier who caught it deftly.

  “What is it?”

  “Well, you can't see them in this light, but it's a batch of pictures of your CO.”

  “And that's supposed to convince him?”

  “They might. They were taken through a rifle scope. The cross hairs show up just swell.”

  “We'll show them to him. We were about to pull back anyway.”

  “Oh, just one more thing. If you could tell your men to leave their rifles behind when they go.”

  “What!”

  “You can come back tomorrow and pick them up, but we want to be sure you pass the message to your CO, and showing up without your rifles will make sure you don't forget to talk to him.”

  “Tell you what, fella. Why don't you come along and tell him personally. We're supposed to be looking for prisoners to interrogate and I guess you'll do just fine!”

  “You know, I get the distinct impression you think I'm bluffing. Very well; which impresses you more-​distance work or close quarters?”

  “What?”

  “Never mind, we'll give you a quick demo of each. Um, tell your men to ease off their triggers. There's going to be some noise, quite harmless of course, but I wouldn't want to see you all get wiped out because someone flinched off a shot.”

  “What are you talking...”

  The night was rent by two ear-​splitting explosions, one to their left, one to their right. Two full heart beats behind the blast came the unmistakable twin flat cracks of the rifle reports.

  “In case you're wondering, those shots were squeezed off by my partner-​the one I was telling you about who is two miles back. He's firing the mercury-​tipped bullets you've heard about. Nasty things. Blow a man open like a ripe melon.”

  “Jesus Christ!”

  “But you're a sneaky-​pete type, so you'll probably be more impressed by night movement. Hang onto yourself, sonny.”

  A shotgun blast went off into the air halfway between the two men, and one of Tidwell's teammates sat up from where he had been lying prone in the calf-​high undergrowth.

  “Now then, little man.” Tidwell's voice was hard. “Let's not hear any more crap about taking prisoners. I suggest you take your underpaid boy scouts and get the hell out of our jungle before we start playing rough.”

  Tidwell was in the blackout tent scanning the radio transcripts when Clancy burst through the double-​flap entrance.

  “Worked like a charm. They didn't stop until they got back to their camp. If they didn't wet their pants when that shotgun went off, it's only 'cause they haven't had anything to drink for twenty-​four hours.”

  “Speaking of drinks, help yourself.”

  “Thanks,” beamed Clancy, pouring himself a dollop of Irish. “What a crazy way to fight a war. I wonder who came up with this idea?”

  “'The object of war is not to destroy the enemy, but rather to destroy his will to resist.' Von Clausewitz, On War. The idea goes way back, Clancy. We're just carrying it out to the nth degree. Have you seen the latest?”

  “What? The bit about our robot planes dropping sacks of flour on the steps of the White House?”

  “No, the release about the high-​altitude reconnaissance planes.”

  “What's the gist of it?”

  “Basically the corporations sent a memo to the governments and the press citing the exact times high-​altitude re
connaissance planes had flown over the zone in the last week. They pointed out that we were tracking them easily while our own troops were protected from the infrared snoop by jamming screens, and would they kindly refrain from sending them out or we would be forced to start downing them to eliminate the nuisance.”

  “Can we do it?”

  “I don't think our force has anything that could, but that doesn't mean someone on the corporate team doesn't have a gimmick. Remember last month when the governments called a corporate bluff and we blew up one of their destroyers offshore?”

  “Yeah. You know, that kind of gets me down, though-​all the gimmick warfare. It takes the personal touch out of things.”

  “How about the 'gunsight' photos? You can't get much more personal than that. I bet a lot of governmental big mouths changed their tune when they saw themselves in the cross hairs.”

  “Tell me honestly, Steve-​do you think we're going to win?”

  “I don't see how it can go any other way. There's no way they can catch us short of saturation bombing or nukes, and public opinion is too much against them. Hell, they're having a hard time with the pressures folks are putting on over this united effort. A third of the governments have already had to pull their troops. It's only a matter of time before the rest of them have to bail out.”

  “What then?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Just that. Okay, the governments pull their troops out, effectively admitting they don't have the military power to police the corporations. What then?”

  The Cold Cash War

  -22-

  The crowds of curiosity seekers threatened to choke off the street and probably would have if not physically restrained by the lines of armed government troops holding them at bay in the shadow of the poshest hotel in Rio de Janeiro. Even so, a sizeable crowd gathered around the limousines as they drew to a halt at the curb and had to be cleared back by the bodyguards who emerged from the autos first.

  This smaller mob were members of the press who passed unhindered through the lines of troops with a wave of a media card. The troops were under strict orders not to affront the press, who had been adding volume to the already thunderous chorus of public protest against the governments' actions. Even the papers who had earlier supported the governments were now scathingly critical of the armed forces' ineffectiveness and inability to deal with the corporations. The governments did not need any more bad press.

  Three men emerged from the limousines and headed for the door of the hotel. At their appearance, the reporters surged forward again and the men stopped, apparently consenting to giving a brief statement.

  Several stories up, in a window of the hotel across the street from the activity, a machine was tracking the movements of the three men. Deeper in the room, well out of sight of the window, a small group of uniformed technicians were feverishly processing the data being collected by the combination closed-​circuit television-​shotgun mike. Their work was being closely supervised by a nervous officer.

  “Are you sure, Corporal?”

  “Positive, sir. Identification is confirmed on all three targets. A/V tapes and voice prints all match.”

  The officer squinted at the three figures in the monitor screen.

  “Becker for Communications, Wilson for Oil, and Yamada for the Zaibatsu. They actually took the bait.” He nudged the corporal.

  “Look at them, soldier. Those three fat cats are responsible for the drubbing we've been taking for the last six months. They don't look like much, do they?”

  “Some of the men are saying it doesn't take much, sir,” replied the corporal flatly, not looking at the screen.

  “Is that a fact? Well now it's our turn. Get Command on the phone and tell them the three little pigs are in the briar patch.”

  “Can I speak to you a moment, Captain?”

  “Certainly, Lieutenant, but it'll have to be quick.”

  The lieutenant stepped into his CO's office and stood before the desk, fidgeting slightly.

  “Well, sir, I think we've got a morale problem on our hands.”

  “We've had a morale problem for months, Larry. Why should today be any different?”

  “It's the executions, sir. There's a lot of bad talk going around the men.”

  “Were they informed the men executed were infiltrators? Spies for the corporations who've been selling us all out for months?”

  “Yes, sir. But...well...it's the suddenness of it all. This morning they had breakfast with those guys. Then all of a sudden...well, a lot of the men think they should have gotten a trial is all.”

  “Lieutenant, it's been explained-​the corporation men have communication devices like we've never seen. They could have had something built into their boots or woven in their uniforms. If we took the time to observe formalities, they could have gotten word out. We couldn't take that chance.”

  “Well, the men think that without a trial it could have been any one of them. Now they've got the feeling that at any moment they could be pulled out of line and shot without any chance to defend themselves against the charges.”

  “Damn it, Larry, we know those men were spies. We ran everybody through the computers. Their finances, their families' finances-​everybody got checked. You, me, everybody. Those men were on the corporations' payroll, either directly or through a front. We haven't been able to move without those guys tipping the enemy. I don't like it either, but that's the way we had to do it.”

  “Okay, Captain, I'll try to tell them...”

  “Wait a minute, Lieutenant Booth. There's more. I just got the call from HQ. Alert the men to be ready to move out in fifteen minutes. We're mounting an offensive.”

  “An off...but sir, what about the cease-​fire?”

  The captain leaned back.

  “It's all tied in together, Lieutenant. We've got their commanders tied up at the conference tables and their spies are dead. For the first time in this war, we've got a chance to catch those damn mercenaries napping.”

  “But...”

  “Lieutenant, we don't have time to argue. This is coordinated with all the other forces. Our troops are making a world-​wide push to try to finish the war in one fell swoop. Now alert the men!”

  Wilson was clenching and unclenching his fists nervously out of sight under the table. It was clear to Yamada that the Oiler wanted to speak, but it had been agreed in advance that Yamada would do the talking and Wilson held his peace. As a solid front, the three men sat staring levelly down the table at government representatives facing them, ignoring the guns leveled at them by the guards.

  “We cannot help but notice, gentlemen, that there are no civilians in your number.” Yamada's voice was, as always, patiently polite.

  “Are your governments sanctioning your action or is this a purely military decision?”

  The American officer who seemed to be doing the talking for the government forces smiled wickedly as he mimicked Yamada's speech.

  “The military is, as always, carrying out the orders of our governments. You may therefore assume that this is the governments' official stance on negotiating a truce with the corporations.”

  “Then perhaps you could clarify for us what exactly it is you mean when you say we are under arrest?”

  “It means you are detained, incommunicado, bagged. It means that we're sick of being blackmailed. We don't bargain with extortionists; we arrest them. When the corporations pull their troops out, we let you go. Until then, you sit here and rot. Only one thing-​you don't get a phone call. Your troops will just have to get along without your golden tones.”

  Even though he kept his face impassive, Yamada's thoughts turned to the transmitter in his belt. By now the news of their arrest would be en route to the home offices...and to the mercenaries.

  “Your usual, gentlemen?”

  The petite waitress smiled fetchingly.

  “Only if you'll join us, Tamia,” leered the older of the three men seated at the table,
beckoning to her.

  The girl rolled her eyes in exasperated horror.

  “Oh, nooo! If the boss saw me...” She rolled her eyes again. “I'd lose my job like that.” She clicked her fingers. “Then where would I work?”

  “You could come and live with me.”

  “Oh!” She giggled and laid a hand on his shoulder. “You're terrible!”

  One of the other men leaned forward conspiratorially as she disappeared through the beaded curtains into the kitchen.

  “Sir, I don't think it's wise to...”

  “Relax, Captain.” The older man waved him silent.

  “That's why we're in our civvies-​so we don't have to keep looking over our shoulders all the time. Nobody recognizes us out of uniform. I've been flirting with that little number for over a month now. Sooner or later she's bound to give in.”

  “But sir...”

  “If anything was going to happen, it would have by now. Look, she doesn't even know my name, so relax.”

  But Tamia knew his name, and a good deal more. General Thomas Dunn was the main reason she was working at this shabby restaurant, an assignment that ended this evening when she received a phone call. The general stopped here nightly for a bowl of won ton soup, and tonight there would be a special surprise in it. Tonight she would include the special noodles she had been carrying for a month.

  Actually, the basis for the idea was Eskimo, not Japanese, but the Japanese were never a group to ignore a good idea just because someone else thought of it first. The Eskimos would kill polar bears by freezing coiled slivers of bone inside a snowball flavored with seal blubber and leaving it on the ice floes. A bear would eat the snowball, and his body heat would melt the snow, releasing the bone sliver to tear, at his insides.

  The Japanese had improved on the concept. Instead of bone slivers, they were using a substance more like ground glass, guaranteed to cause a painful and irreversible death. In addition, they added a special touch of subtlety especially for the general. Instead of ice and seal blubber, they imbedded their lethal surprise in a special gel. Tamia would serve the general and his aides out of the same large bowl openly at the table. The gel would pass completely through the human digestive tract without dissolving. In fact, it would only dissolve if it came into contact with alcohol.