The Spy and the Atom Gun by Ronald Seth

Author:Ronald Seth [Seth, Ronald]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Ariel Books
Published: 1958-03-13T09:27:37+00:00

CHAPTER TWELVE

The Real Jo

It was after four o'clock when at last the alarm bells sounded the end of the check and I went down to the basement again to Juri.

"It went well?" he asked.

"Yes, it went well," I answered. "But I had one unpleasant moment."

I told him about the Tortoise.

"Ah, that will be that conceited little whippersnapper Quarter-liter Fred Makanes," he said. "Like all little men, he thinks far too much of himself. Now, what are you going to do? What's your name, by the way?"

I introduced myself and he shook my hand warmly.

"What are you going to do now?" he asked again.

"I am to meet Dr. Paranu at his house at half past nine tonight," I answered. "I shall go to a cinema until then. It will be safer than walking about the streets."

"Have you eaten today?"

"Not since breakfast."

"Then you must come home to supper with me!" he answered.

"I can't put you in any danger," I said. "I have money. I can go to a restaurant."

"And risk your life every minute you are there? No, captain. We can't offer you much, but what we have you are very welcome to share. I will not take no. Don't you realize that Gombroch believes you are in Tredentz? Every policeman will be on the lookout for you and the streets will be full of L.P.R. agents. Besides, how will you find your way to Dr. Paranu's house? I will take you there when the time comes."

I appreciated the truth of what he said but still felt reluctant to get him involved in my trouble. But he would not listen to me.

"If we go now we shall get caught in the rush hour," he said. "They will never find you in the crowds. Please, don't let us argue, captain. I may never have another chance of doing anything for Gallia and what I can do is so little, even to help you."

Apart from involving him in danger, it would be a great relief for me to be out of public sight in Juri's flat. Perhaps I was selfish? I don't know. But I did not protest any longer and followed him out of the basement door into crowded Karl II Square and into an even more crowded streetcar, from which we disembarked a few minutes later under the wall of the city, but still inside it.

Without talking, he led me to a quiet street in what I could see, even in the darkness, was a poor quarter of the city. Great tenement houses reared up on either side, so that we seemed to be passing through a high, narrow mountain pass. We passed two or three of these blocks on our right, and as we came to the third Juri took my arm and spoke to me.

"I will go in first, captain. Give me three minutes. I live on the fourth floor. The door faces you on the landing, but it has my name on it. There is no elevator. If the porter wants to know whom you want, say Zinkas.

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