Michael Moorcock - The Winds of Limbo by Moorcock Michael

Author:Moorcock, Michael [Moorcock, Michael]
Language: pol
Format: epub
Published: 2018-02-28T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIX

ALAN was astounded. For a moment his mood of cynicism held and he was aware of a cool feeling of disbelief as the House, hushed for a second, began to murmur.

Helen suddenly looked frightened. She stared rapidly around the House then up at Powys, whose stern manner could not disguise his triumph.

"Acting on my information, the police have discovered a cache of plutonium war-heads. . . ." he continued.

"War-heads!" someone shouted. "We haven't got any! They were outlawed in forty-two!"

"Presumably the Fireclown or some of his friends manufactured them. It is well known that several scientists have been aiding him with his peculiar experiments with fire."

"But he would need fantastic resources!" - Simon Powys spread his hands, aware that his moment of power had come.

"Presumably," he said, "the Fireclown has them. I told you all that he was more than a mere irritation. His power is even more extensive than I at first guessed."

Helen sat down, her face pale. She made no attempt to question Powys' statement. She was baffled, yet as convinced of the truth as everyone else in the House.

The crowd in the public gallery was muttering and shoving to get a closer look at Simon Powys.

The old man's leonine head was raised. Evidently he no longer felt the need for oratory. The House was his.

"If the police discover the war-head cache we shall hear the news in a few moments." He glanced towards the towering central doorway and sat-down.

As the tension built up, Alan felt he could take no more of it. He was preparing to turn back into the crowd behind him when a uniformed figure appeared at a side door and made his way down the tiers towards the platform.

It was Chief Sandai, his brown-yellow face shiny with sweat. Watched by everyone, he climbed up the few steps of >the platform and approached President Benjosef respectfully.

The microphone picked up his voice and relayed it throughout the House:

"Mr. President, it is my duty to inform you that, acting upon my own initiative, I have declared a state of emergency in the City of Switzerland. A cache of plutonium war-heads equipped with remote control detonators of a type used for setting off bombs from space has been found hidden on the first level. My men have impounded them and await orders."

Benjosef glanced at Powys. "Are you sure you have found all the bombs?" he said.

"No, sir. All we know of are those we found. There could be others. These were stored in a disused war-house cavern."

"You are certain that there was no oversight when the war-house was cleared of its armaments in the past?"

"Perfectly certain, sir. These are new additions. They were being kept in containers previously used for the same purpose, that is all." Benjosef sighed.

"Well, Minister Powys, this is really your department now, isn't it? How did you find out about the bombs?"

"My secretary, Eugene Junnar, first reported his suspicions to me two days ago. Later investigations proved them to be true. As soon as I knew I informed the police.

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