Code Duello by Mack Reynolds

Author:Mack Reynolds [Reynolds, Mack]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Life on Other Planets
Publisher: Ace Books
Published: 1968-07-07T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

IF HE HAD suddenly levitated to the ceiling, Zorro Juarez couldn't have set them further aback.

Zorro said, "I thought this alien intelligent life, the Dawnmen, were supposed to be a big United Planets secret."

Dom Horsten, his face registering complete disbelief, made his way over to one of the room's overstuffed comfort chairs and sank down, dwarfing it.

"Supposedly they were," he said unhappily. "Helen and I didn't tell you the whole story. Neither of us were with Section G at the time, but we were briefed on the situation. It seems that when the Dawnworlds were first contacted, Ross Metaxa, along with the President of United Planets and the Director of the Commissariat of Interplanetary Affairs, brought together some two thousand of what they evidently thought were the most dependable chiefs of state of United Planets and laid the-situation in their laps. I suppose they expected the conference to lead to greater cooperation among the member worlds."

"And…" Zorro prompted.

The scientist shrugged huge shoulders. "Evidently, the attempt proved successful with some. Metaxa tried to swear them all to secrecy. He should have known better. How can you swear two thousand highly individualistic men and women to secrecy?"

"They blabbed?"

"It would seem some of them did, from what you say. Otherwise, how would the man in the street, here on Firenze, know about even the existence of the Dawn-worlds?"

Helen said in disgust, "Just how much were they aware of?"

Zorro made a gesture of discomfort. "Remember, I only spent a few hours in the place. But they knew that the aliens live on a small confederation of planets located somewhere out beyond Phrygia. And they'd got the rumor that the Dawnmen had fabulous discoveries that would make any human unbelievably rich and powerful if he could get his hands on them."

Horsten removed his glasses and ran a weary hand over his face. "Well," he said, "it's not our immediate problem. We're here to upset the Engelist applecart, and get Firenze back on the road to progress."

Zorro said, "Shouldn't we get in touch with Sid Jakes and let him know about this development?"

The big man shook his head. "They're too confoundedly conscious of all the paraphernalia involving communications, bugs, eavesdropping and such, here on Firenze. The police probably have every device known in U.P. to tap any signals we might send to Earth."

"Even a Section G communicator?" Jerry said. "I thought they were beyond tapping."

"There is no such thing as being beyond tapping," Horsten told him. "Our laboratories come up with something today, supposedly perfect, but in a year or so, or even a week or so, and some stute, somewhere, figures out a method of listening in. Whether or not the security people on Firenze have a way of cracking our communications with Earth, we don't know, but I don't think we ought to take any chances, particularly with nothing more important than this. Let's wait until we have something big, and well mention it, too, at the same time."

"It seems to me this is pretty big," Zorro said.

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