Beyond This Horizon by Heinlein Robert A

Author:Heinlein, Robert A. [Heinlein, Robert A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction, Adventure, Fantasy, Classics
ISBN: 9780451089663
Amazon: 0451089669
Goodreads: 540503
Publisher: New American Library
Published: 1948-01-01T08:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHT

“Thou, beside me, in the wilderness”

“FELIX! What do you mean? What’s come over you?” His expression was so completely surprised, so utterly innocent of wrongdoing, that Hamilton was momentarily disconcerted. Was it possible that Monroe-Alpha, like himself, was in it as an agent of the government and knew that Hamilton was one also?

“Wait a minute,” he said grimly. “What’s your status here? Are you loyal to the Survivors Club, or are you in it as a spy?”

“A spy? Did you think I was a spy? Was that why you grabbed my gun?”

“No,” Hamilton answered savagely, “I was afraid you weren’t a spy.”

“But—”

“Get this. I am a spy. I’m in this thing to bust it up. And, damn it, if I were a good one, I’d blow your head off and get on with my work. You bloody fool, you’ve gummed the whole thing up!”

“But…but Felix, I knew you were in it. That was one of the things that persuaded me. I knew you wouldn’t—”

“Well, I’m not! Where does that put you? Where do you stand? Are you with me, or against me?”

Monroe-Alpha looked from Hamilton’s face to the gun in his fist, then back to his face. “Go ahead and shoot,” he said.

“Don’t be a fool!”

“Go ahead. I may be a fool—I’m not a traitor.”

“Not a traitor—you! You’ve already sold out the rest of us.”

Monroe-Alpha shook his head. “I was born into this culture. I had no choice and I owe it no loyalty. Now I’ve had a vision of a worthwhile society. I won’t sacrifice it to save my own skin.”

Hamilton swore. “‘God deliver us from an idealist.’ Would you let that gang of rats run the country?”

The telephone said softly but insistently, “Someone’s calling. Someone’s calling. Someone’s—” They ignored it.

“They aren’t rats. They propose a truly scientific society and I’m for it. Maybe the change will be a little harsh but that can’t be helped. It’s for the best—”

“Shut up. I haven’t time to argue ideologies with you.” He stepped toward Monroe-Alpha, who drew back a little, watching him.

Hamilton suddenly, without taking his eyes off Monroe-Alpha’s face, kicked him in the groin. “Someone’s calling. Someone’s calling.” Hamilton holstered his gun—fast—bent over the disabled man and punched him in the pit of the stomach, not with his fist but with stiffened fingers. It was nicely calculated to paralyse the diaphragm—and did. He dragged Monroe-Alpha to a point under the telephone, placed a knee in the small of his back, and seized his throat with the left hand.

“One move is all you’ll get,” he warned. With his right hand he cut in the phone. His face was close to the pick-up; nothing else would be transmitted.

McFee Norbert’s face appeared in the frame. “Hamilton!” he said. “What in the hell are you doing there?”

“I went home with Monroe-Alpha.”

“That’s direct disobedience. You’ll answer for it—later. Where’s Monroe-Alpha?”

Hamilton gave a brief, false, but plausible, explanation.

“A fine time to have to do that,” McFee commented. “Give him these orders: he is relieved from duty.

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