Then you could not be a government man. One of them would take it, and then make an arrest.
I already told you that. So what else is new?
We seem to have reached an impasse, Mister Schweitzer.
Hardly, I replied. We have simply reached the end of my preface. Since reasoning with you has failed, I must now take positive action. I apologize for this, but it is necessary.
You are really going to resort to physical violence?
I'm afraid so, I said. And don't worry. I expected a hangover this morning, so I signed for sick leave last night. I have all day. You already have a painful flesh wound, so I'll give you a break this time around.
Then I stood, cautiously, and the room swayed, but I did not let it show. I crossed to the smaller guy's chair and seized its arms and his together and raised them up from off the floor. Woozy, I was; but not weak.
I carried him off to the bathroom and set him, chair and all, in the shower stall, avoiding the forward thrustings of his head.
Then I returned to the other.
Just to keep you abreast of what is going on, I said, it all depends on the time of day. I have measured the temperature of the hot water in that stall at various times, and it can come out of there at anything from 140° to 180° Fahrenheit. Your buddy is about to get it, hot and full blast, as soon as I open his shirt and trousers and expose as much bare flesh as possible. You understand?
I understand.
I went back inside and opened him up and turned the shower on, using the hot water only. Then I went back to the main room. I studied the features of his buddy, who I then noted bore him something of a resemblance. It struck me that they might be relatives.
When the screaming began, he sought to compose his features. But I could see I was getting through to him.
He tested his restraints once again, looked at my clock, looked at me.
Turn it off. God damn you! he cried.
Your cousin? I asked him.
My half brother! Shut it down, you baboon!
Only if you've got something to say to me.
Okay! But leave him in there and close the door!
I dashed and did it. My head was beginning to clear, though I still felt like hell.
I burned my right hand shutting the thing down. I left my chosen victim slouched there in the steam, and I shut the door behind me as I returned to the main room.
What do you have to say?
Could you give me one free hand and a cigarette?
No, but you can have a cigarette.
How about the right one? I can hardly move it.
I considered, and said, Okay, picking up my gun again.
I lit the stick, stuck it in his mouth, then cut the tape and tore it off his right forearm. He dropped the cigarette when I did it, and I picked it up and restored it to him.
All right, I said, take ten seconds and enjoy yourself. After that, we talk cases.
He nodded, looked around the room, took a deep drag, and exhaled.
I guess you do know how to hurt, he said. If you are not government, I guess your file is very much off.
I am not government.
Then I wish you were on our side, because it is a pretty bad thing. Whatever you are, or do, he stated, I hope you are aware of the full implications.
... And he glanced at my clock, again.
Six twenty-five.
He had done it several times, and I had dismissed it. But now it seemed something more than a desire to know the time.
When does it go off? I asked, on chance.
Buying that, on chance, he replied, Bring my brother back, where I can see him.
When does it go off? I repeated.
Too soon, he replied, and then it will not matter. You are too late.
I don't think so, I said. But now that I know, I'll have to move, fast. So ... Don't lose any sleep over it. I think I am going to turn you in now.
What if I could offer you more money?
Don't. You'd only embarrass me. And I'd still say, 'No.'
Okay. But bring him back, please, and take care of his burns.
So I did.
You guys will remain here for a brief while, I finally said, snuffing the older one's cigarette and retaping his wrist. Then I moved toward the door.
You don't know, you really don't know! I heard from behind me.
Don't fool yourself, I said, over my shoulder.
I didn't know. I really didn't know.
But I could guess.
I stormed through the corridors until I reached Carol Deith's cabin. There I banged upon the door until I heard some muffled cursing and a Wait a minute! Then the door opened and she stared out at me, her eyes winking at the light, a slumber cap of sorts upon her head and a bulky robe about her.
What do you want? she asked me.
Today is the day indeed, I said. I've got to talk to you. May I come in?
No, she said. I'm not accustomed to ...
Sabotage, I said. I know. That's what it's all about, and it isn't finished yet ... Please ...
Come in. The door was suddenly wide open and she was standing to one side.
I entered.
She closed the door behind me, leaned back against it and said, All right, what is it?
There was a feeble light glowing, and a messed-up bed from which I had obviously aroused her.
Look, maybe I didn't give you the whole story the other day, I told her. Yes, it was sabotage, and there was a bomb, and I disposed of it. That's over and done with. Today is the big day, though, and the final attempt is in the offing. I know that for a fact. I think I know what it is and where it is. Can you help me? Can I help you? Help.
Sit down, she said.
There isn't much time.
Sit down, please. I have to get dressed.
Please hurry.
She stepped into the next room and left the door open. I was around the comer from it, though, so it should not have bothered her if she trusted me, and I guess she did, because she did.
What is it? she asked me, amidst the rustle of clothing.
I believe that one or more of our three atomic charges has been booby-trapped, so that the bird will sing a bit prematurely within its cage.
Why? she said.
Because there are two men back in my cabin, both of them taped to chairs, who tried to make me talk earlier this evening, with respect to my servicing of the J-9.
What does that prove?
They were kind of rough on me.
So?
When I got the upper hand, I got the same way with them. I made them talk.
How?
None of your business. But they talked. I think RUMOKO's igniters need another check.
I can pick them up in your cabin?
Yes.
How did you apprehend them?
They didn't know I had a gun.
I see. Neither did I ... We'll get them, don't worry. But you are telling me that you took both of them and beat some answers out of them?
More or less, I said, and yes and no, and off the record, in case this place is bugged. Is it?
She came in, nodded her head and put a finger to her lips.
Well, let's go do something, I said. We'd better act quickly, I don't want these guys fouling the project all up.
They won't. Okay. I'll give it to you that you know what you are doing. I will take you at face value as a strange creature. You did something which nobody expected of you. This does happen occasionally. We sometimes meet up with a guy who knows his job thoroughly and can see when something is going wrong, and who cares enough about it to proceed from there and damn the torpedoes. You say an atomic bomb will soon be going off aboard this ship. Right?
Yes.
You think one of the charges has been attached, and has a timer cued in?
Right, and I looked at my wristwatch and saw that it was going on seven. I'd bet less than an hour from now.
They're going down in a few m
inutes, she told me.
What are you going to do about it?
She picked up the telephone on the little table next to her bed.
Operations, she said. Stop the countdown. Then, Give me the barracks.
Sergeant, she then said, I want you to make some arrests. She looked at me. What is your room number? she asked.
Six-forty, I replied.
Six-forty, she said. Two men ... Right ... Yes ... Thank you. And she hung up.
They're taken care of, she told me. So, you think a charge might go off prematurely?
That's what I said, twice.
Could you stop it?
With the proper equipment, though I'd rather you send in a service ...
Get it, she said to me.
Okay, and I went and did that thing.
I came back to her cabin around five minutes later, with a heavy pack slung over my shoulder.
I had to sign my name in blood, I told her. But I've got what I need ... Why don't you get yourself a good physicist?
I want you, she said. You were in from the beginning. You know what you're doing. Let's keep the group small and tight.
Tell me where to go to do it, I said, and she led the way.
It was pushing seven by then.
It took me ten minutes to find out which one they had done it to.
It was child's play. They had used the motor from an advanced kid's erector set, with self-contained power unit. It was to be actuated by a standard clock-type timer, which would cause it to pull the lead shielding. The damned thing would go off while it was on the way down.
It took me less than ten minutes to disarm it.
We stood near the railing, and I leaned upon it.
Good, I said.
Very good, she said.
While you're at it, she continued, get on your guard. You are about to be the subject of the biggest security investigation I have ever set off.
Go ahead. I'm pure as snow and swansdown.
You aren't real, she told me. They don't make people like that.
So touch me, I said. I am sorry if you don't like the way I go about existing.
If you don't turn into a frog come midnight, a girl could learn to like a guy like you.
That would require a very stupid girl, I said. And she gave me a strange look which I did not really care to try interpreting.
Then she stared me straight in the eyes. You've got some kind of secret I do not quite understand yet. she said. You seem like a leftover from the Old Days.
Maybe I am. Look, you've already said that I've been of help. Why not leave it at that? I haven't done anything wrong.
I've got a job to do. But, on the other hand, you're right. You have helped, and you haven't really broken any regs ... Except with reference to the J-9, for which I'm sure nobody is going to cause you trouble. On the opposite hand, I've got a report to write. Of necessity, your actions will figure in it prominently. I can't very well leave you out.
I wasn't asking that, I said.
What do you want me to do?
Once it got into Central, I knew, I could kill it. But prior to that, it would be filtered through a mess of humans. They could cause trouble. You kept the group small and tight, I said. You could drop one.
No.
Okay. I could be a draftee, from the beginning.
That's better.
Then maybe we could let it be that way.
I see no great problems.
You'll do it?
I will see what I can do.
That's enough. Thanks.
What will you do when your job here is finished?
I don't know. Take a vacation, maybe.
All alone?
Maybe.
Look, I like you. I'll do things to keep you out of trouble.
I'd appreciate that.
You seem to have answers for everything.
Thank you.
What about a girl?
What do you mean?
Could you use one, in whatever you do?
I thought you had a pretty good job here.
I do. That's not what I'm talking about ... Do you have one?
One what?
Stop playing the stupid role ... A girl, is what I mean.
No.
Well?
You're nuts, I said. What the hell could I do with an Intelligence-type girl? Do you mean that you would actually take the chance of teaming up with a stranger?
I've watched you in action, and I'm not afraid of you. Yes, I would take the chance.
This is the strangest proposal I've ever received.
Think quick, she said.
You don't know what you're asking, I told her.
What if I like you, an awful lot?
Well, I disarmed your bomb ...
I'm not talking about being grateful ... But thanks, anyway ... The answer, I take it, is, 'No.'
Stop that! Can't you give a man a chance to think?
Okay, she said, and turned away.
Wait. Don't be that way. You can't hurt me, so I can talk honestly. I do have a crush on you. I have been a confirmed bachelor for many years, though. You are a complication.
Let's look at it this way, she told me. You're different, I know that. I wish I could do different things.
Like what?
Lie to computers and get away with it.
What makes you say that?
It's the only answer, if you're real.
I'm real.
Then you know how to beat the system.
I doubt it.
Take me along, she said. I'd like to do the same thing.
And I looked at her. A little wisp of hair was touching her cheek, and she looked as if she wanted to cry.
I'm your last chance, aren't I? You met me at a strange moment in your life, and you want to gamble.
Yes.
You're nuts, and I can't promise you security unless you want to quit the game, and I can't. I play it by my own rules, though, and they're kind of strange. If you and I got together, you would probably be a young widow ... So you would have that going for you.
You're tough enough to disarm bombs.
I will meet an early grave. I do lots of stupid things when I have to.
I think I might be in love with you.
Then, for gods' sakes, let me talk to you later. I have lots of things to think about, now.
All right.
You're a dumb broad.
I don't think so.
Well, we'll see.
After I woke up from one of the deepest sleeps in my life, I went and signed for duty.
You're late, said Morrey.
So have them dock me.
I went then and watched the thing itself begin to occur.
RUMOKO was in the works.
They went down, Martin and Demmy, and planted the charge. They did the necessary things, and we got out of there. Everything was set, and waiting for our radio signal. My cabin had been emptied of intruders, and I was grateful.
We got far enough away, and the signal was given. All was silent for a time. Then the bomb went off. Over the port bow, I saw the man stand up. He was old and gray and wore a wide-brimmed hat. He stood, slouched, fell on his face.
We've just polluted the atmosphere some more, said Martin.
Hell, said Demmy.
The oceans rose and assailed us. The ship held anchor.
For a time, there was nothing. Then, it began.
The ship shook, like a wet dog. I clung to the rail and watched. Next came a mess of waves, and they were bastards, but we rode them out.
We've got the first reading, said Carol. It's beginning to build.
I nodded and did not say anything. There wasn't much to say.
It's getting bigger, she said, after a minute, and I nodded again.
Finally, later on that morning, the whole thing that had come loose made its scene upon the surface.
The waters had been bubbling for a long while by
then. The bubbles grew larger. The temperature readings rose. There came a glow.
Then there was one fantastic spout. It was blasted into the air to a great height, golden in the morning sunshine, like Zeus when he had visited one of his girlfriends or other. It was accompanied by a loud roar. It hung there for a few brief moments, then descended in a shower of sparks.
Immediately thereafter, there was greater turbulence.
It increased and I watched, the regular way and by means of the instruments.
The waters frothed and glistened. The roaring came and went. There came another spout, and another. The waters burned beneath the waves. Four more spouts, each larger than its predecessor ...
Then an ocean-riving blast caught the Aquina in something close to a tidal wave ...
We were ready, though, built that way, and faced into it.
We rode with it, and there was no let-up.
We were miles away, and it seemed as if but an arm's distance separated us.
The next spout just kept going up, until it became a topless pillar. It pierced the sky, and a certain darkness began at that point. It began to swell, and there were fires all about its base.
After a time, the entire sky was fading over into a false twilight, and a fine dust filled the air, the eyes, the lungs. Occasionally, a crowd of ashes passed in the distance, like a covey of dark birds. I lit a cigarette to protect my lungs against pollution, and watched the fires rise.
With our early evening, the seas darkened. The kraken himself, disturbed, might have been licking our hull. The glow continued, and a dark form appeared.
RUMOKO.
It was the cone. An artificially created island. A piece of long-sunk Atlantis itself, perhaps, was rising in the distance. Man had succeeded in creating a landmass. One day it would be habitable. Now, if we made a chain of them ...
Yes. Perhaps another Japan. More room for the expanding human race. More space. More places in which to live.
Why had I been questioned? Who had opposed this? It was a good thing, as I saw it.
I went away. I went and had dinner.
Carol came into the commissary and joined me, as if by accident. I nodded, and she seated herself across from me and ordered.
Hi.
Hi.
Maybe you've done some of your thinking by now? she said, between the salad and the ersatz beef.
Yes, I replied.
What are the results?
I still don't know. It was awfully quick and, frankly, I'd like the opportunity to get to know you a little better.
My Name is Legion Page 5