Party man swiveled slightly and punched out a code on aseries of buttons. Almost immediately, an area of approximately onesquare foot sank down from the upper right-hand corner of his desk, torise again bearing two chilled glasses.
Jankez snorted his anger but took up one of the glasses. "Theseeverlasting gadgets from the West," he growled. "One of these days,this confounded desk of yours will give you an electric shock thatwill set me to looking for a new assistant." He threw the contents ofthe glass back over his palate. "If I don't start looking before thattime," he added ominously.
However, he savored the drink, then put down the glass, pursed hislips and rumbled, "Where do you get this excellent slivovka,Aleksander?"
Kardelj sipped part of his own drink. He said lightly, "That is theonly secret I keep from you, Zoran. However, I will give you thishint. Its proper name is sljivovica, rather than slivovka. It doesnot come from Slovenia. I am afraid, once you know its origin, I willno longer be of use to you."
He laughed again. "But what is it that young Josip has done?"
His superior's face resumed its dark expression. He growled, "You knowVelimir Crvenkovski, of course."
Kardelj raised scanty eyebrows. "Of course, Vice chairman of theSecretariat of Agriculture."
Zoran Jankez had lowered his clumsy bulk into a chair. Now he saidheavily, his voice dangerous. "Velimir and I were partisans together.It was I who converted him to the Party, introduced him to the worksof Lenin while we squatted in foxholes in Macenegro."
"Of course," the other repeated. "I know the story very well. A goodParty man, Comrade Crvenkovski, never failing to vote with you inmeetings of the Executive Committee."
"Yes," Jankez growled ominously. "And your precious Josip Pekic, yourexpediter, has removed him from his position as supreme presider ofagriculture in Bosnatia."
Aleksander Kardelj cleared his throat. "I have just been reading theaccount. It would seem that production has fallen off considerably inthe past five years in Bosnatia. Ah, Comrade Crvenkovski evidently hadbrought to his attention that wild life in the countryside,particularly birds, accounted for the loss of hundreds of thousands oftons of cereals and other produce annually."
"A well-known fact," Jankez rasped. He finished what remained of hisdrink, and reached forward to punch out the order for a fresh one."What has that got to do with this pipsqueak using the confoundedpowers you invested him with to dismiss one of the best Party men inTransbalkania?"
His right-hand man had not failed to note that he was now being givenfull credit for the expediter idea. He said, still cheerfully,however, "It would seem that Comrade Crvenkovski issued top priorityorders to kill off, by whatever means possible, all birds. Shotguns,poison, nets were issued by the tens of thousands to the peasants."
"_Well?_" his superior said ominously. "Obviously, Velimir was clearminded enough to see the saving in gross production."
"Um-m-m," Kardelj said placatingly. "However, he failed to respond tothe warnings of our agriculturists who have studied widely in theWest. It seems as though the balance of nature calls for the presenceof wildlife, and particularly birds. The increase in destructiveinsects has more than counterbalanced the amount of cereals the birdsonce consumed. Ah, Zoran," he said with a wry smile, "I would suggestwe find another position for Comrade Crvenkovski."
* * * * *
The secretary-receptionist looked up at long last at the very averagelooking young man before him. "Yes," he said impatiently.
The stranger said, "I would like to see Comrade Broz."
"Surely you must realize that the Commissar is one of the busiest menin Transbalkania, Comrade." There was mocking sneer in the tone. "Histime is not at the disposal of every citizen."
The newcomer looked at the petty authority thoughtfully. "Do you soaddress everyone that enters this office?" he asked mildly.
The other stared at him flabbergasted. He suddenly banged upon abutton on the desk.
When the security guard responded to the summons, he gestured curtlywith his head at the newcomer. "Throw this fool out, Petar," herapped.
Josip Pekic shook his head, almost sadly. "No," he said. "Throw _this_man out." He pointed at the secretary-receptionist.
The guard called Petar blinked at each of them in turn.
Josip brought forth his wallet, fidgeted a moment with the contents,then flashed his credentials. "State expediter," he said nervously."Under direct authority of Comrade Zoran Jankez." He looked at thesuddenly terrified receptionist. "I don't know what alternative workwe can find to fit your talents. However, if I ever again hear of youholding down a position in which you meet the public, I will ... will,ah, see you imprisoned."
The other scurried from the room before Josip thought of more to say.
Josip Pekic looked at the guard for a long moment. He said finally,unhappy still, "What are you needed for around here?"
"Why yes, Comrade. I am the security guard."
Petar, obviously no brain at the best, was taken aback.
"You didn't answer my question." Josip's hands were jittering so hejammed them into his pockets.
Petar had to think back to remember the wording of the question inquestion. Finally he came up triumphantly with, "Yes, Comrade. I guardComrade Broz and the others from assassins. I am armed." He proudlydisplayed the Mikoyan Noiseless which he had holstered under his leftshoulder.
Josip said, "Go back to your superior and inform him that I say youare superfluous on this assignment. No longer are commissarsautomatically to be guarded. Only under special circumstances. If ...well, if our people dislike individual commissars sufficiently to wishto assassinate them, maybe they need assassination."
Petar stared at him.
"Oh, get out," Josip said, with attempted sharpness. But then, "Whatdoor leads to Comrade Broz's office?"
Petar pointed, then got out. At least he knew how to obey orders,Josip decided. What was there about the police mentality? Were theylike that before they became police, and the job sought them out? Ordid the job make them all that way?
He pushed his way through the indicated door. The office beyond heldbut one inhabitant who stood, hands clasped behind his back, while hestared in obvious satisfaction at a wall of charts, maps and graphs.
The average young man looked at some of the lettering on the chartsand shook his head. He said, his voice hesitant, "Commissar Broz?"
The other turned, frowning, not recognizing his caller and surprisedto find him here without announcement. He said, "Yes, young man?"
Josip presented his credentials again.
Broz had heard of him. He hurried forth a chair, became expansive inmanner. A cigar? A drink? A great pleasure to meet the ComradeExpediter. He had heard a great deal about the new experimentinitiated by Comrade Jankez and ably assisted by Aleksander Kardelj.Happily, an expediter was not needed in the Transbalkanian SteelComplex. It was expanding in such wise as to be the astonishment ofthe world, both East and West.
"Yes," Josip began glumly, "but--"
Broz was back on his feet and to his wall of charts and graphs. "Seehere," he beamed expansively. "This curve is steel production. See howit zooms? A veritable Sputnik, eh? Our statistics show that we arerapidly surpassing even the most foremost of the Western powers."
Josip Pekic said, almost apologetically in view of the other'senthusiasm. "That's what I came to discuss with you, Comrade. You see,I've been sitting around, ah, in the local wineshops, talking it overwith the younger engineers and the men on the job."
The other frowned at him. "Talking what over?"
"This new policy of yours." Josip's voice was diffident.
"You mean overtaking the steel production of the West, by utilizing_all_ methods of production?" The commissar's voice dropped. "I warnyou Comrade, the germ of this idea originated with Zoran Jankezhimself. We are old comrades and friends from back before therevolution."
"I'm sure you are," Josip said pessimistically, and suppressing anurge to bite at t
he skin of his thumb. "However ... well, I'm not sosure Number One will admit your program originated with him. At least,it hasn't worked out that way in the recent past when somethingsoured."
The other bug-eyed. He whispered, "That approaches cynical treason,Comrade."
Josip half nodded, said discouragedly, "You forget. By ComradeJankez's own orders I ... I can do no wrong. But so much for that.Now, well, this steel program. I'm afraid it's going to have to bescrapped."
"Scrapped!" the Commissar of the Transbalkanian Steel Complex staredat his visitor as though the other was rabid.
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