(eng) Mack Reynolds - United Planets 06 by Section G

Author:Section G [G, Section]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

XII

Ross Metaxa said, "Did Ronny Bronston say anything else?"

"Yes," Li Chang Chu said. "The rest of the message was, 'Me make big talk… No more Number One.'"

Sid Jakes, who had been sitting erect in unwonted fashion, said excitedly, "He's going to address the whole planet. All of Doria. Make some sort of announcement. Free elections, after his abdication, or something."

"Impossible," Metaxa rumbled. "Fantastic." He glared at Li Chang. "How do you know it was really Ronny?"

"Who else on Doria would know Mandarin, or, even if they did, know enough to beam a message to Section G in that tongue?"

"Kidnap El Primero." Sid Jakes said in second thought. "What kind of drivel-happy curd is that? We all know he's the most security conscious dictator in United Planets. How could you ever kidnap the funker, not to speak of substituting someone in his place?"

Li Chang looked at him strangely and spoke hesitantly, as though she hated to say the words. "I can think of only one possibility. According to our dossier on Michael Ortega, he has one Achilles' heel. Remember Svetlana Alliluyeva? Or, better, Svetlana Stalin?"

Sid Jakes bothered to shake his head. Ross Metaxa merely poured himself another drink of Denebian tequila and waited for her to go on.

"The only person Josef Stalin evidently really cared for," Li Chang said. "His daughter and one of the very few relatives, friends and associates that long survived him. Well, from what I hear, Michael Ortega has the equivalent in Concha Ortega."

Metaxa growled, "What's this got to do with Bronston and his taking over the position of El Primero?"

Li Chang made a feminine gesture with her slight shoulders. "It wouldn't be the first time our quiet, unassuming Ronald has made his mark with the ladies. Remember Amazonia?"

Sid laughed suddenly. "So one of our teams tried to bribe El Primero's guards. The second troupe tried to blow him up from a distance. But Ronny turns on the Bronston charm and—" Sid Jakes ground to a halt. "Holy Jumping Zen," he yelped. "Sam Goodboy. He'll be gunning for Ronny!"

Ross Metaxa spun in his chair and blurted into his orderbox, "Irene! Sam Goodboy, a new agent. On assignment to Doria. What's his cover?"

Li Chang and Sid Jakes failed to make out the answer.

Metaxa snapped, "Find out, soonest. A mistake has been made. He's on assignment to kill Ronny Bronston."

"And… he… never… fails" Li Chang added, her voice so low as hardly to be made out.

"And he never fails," Metaxa repeated into the interoffice communicator.

For a moment, Irene Kasansky held silence, then she said, the usual rasp gone from her voice, "I didn't handle Goodboy's cover. I'll check immediately."

Metaxa looked back at his two top supervisors.

"He never fails?" he questioned sourly. "Anybody can fail, no matter how proficient. Certainly, professional killers can."

Li Chang was shaking her head. "Ross… this one doesn't use weapons. He's one of my Special Talent recruits."

Her superior looked at her in puzzlement. "You mean judo or one of those other old———"

She was still shaking her head.

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