Robert Silverberg by Shadow on the Stars

Author:Shadow on the Stars
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2011-08-28T01:05:50+00:00

fact of all! Hastily he darted back into the weapons shop. The proprietor came to attention, lips quivering. "Y-yes. "

"All I want is some information," Ewing said. "What day is today?"

"What day? Why-why, Twoday, of course. Twoday, the eleventh."

Ewing crowed triumphantly. Twoday on the nose! He burst from the store a second time. Catching the arm of a passerby, he said, "Pardon. Can you direct me to the Sirian Consulate?"

"Two blocks north, turn left. Big building. You can't miss it."

"Thanks," Ewing said.

Two blocks north, turn left. A current of excitement bubbled in his heart.

He began to walk briskly toward the Sirian Consulate, hands in his pockets. One clasped the coolness of the stun-gun, the other rested against the privacy mask.

Ch

ap

ter

11

Ewing had to push his way through a good-sized crowd at the Consulate--Sirians all, each of them bound on some private business of his own. Ewing was surprised that there were so many Sirians in Valloin.

The Consulate was a building of imposing dimensions; evidently one of the newest of Valloin's edifices, its architecture was out of key with that of the surrounding buildings. Clashing planes and tangential faces made the Consulate a startling sight.

Ewing passed through the enormous lobby and turned left to a downramp. He gave only passing thought to the question of how he was going to reach the subterranean dungeon., where at this moment another version of himself was undergoing interrogation. He knew that he had been rescued once, and so it could be repeated.

He made his way down, until a sergeant stationed at the foot of the last landing said, "Where are you going?"

"To the lowest level. I have to see Vice-Consul Firnik on urgent business."

"Firnik's in conference. He left orders that he wasn't to be disturbed."

"Quite all right. I have special permission. I happen to know he's interrogating a prisoner down below, along with Byra Clork, Sergeant Drayl, and Lieutenant Thirsk. I have vital information for him, and I'll see to it you roast unless I get in there to talk to him."

The sergeant looked doubtful. "Well ..."

Ewing said, "Look--why don't you go down the hall and check with your immediate superior, if you don't want to take the responsibility yourself? I'll wait here."

The sergeant grinned, pleased to have the burden of decision lifted from his thick shoulders. "Don't go away," he said. "I'll be right back."

"Don't worry," Ewing said.

He watched as the man turned and trudged away. After he had gone three paces, Ewing drew the stunner from his pocket and set it to low intensity. The weapon was palm-size, fashioned from a bit of translucent blue plastic in whose glittering depths could dimly be seen the reaction chamber. Ewing aimed and fired. The sergeant froze.

Quickly, Ewing ran after him, dragged him back to his original position, and swung him around so he seemed to be guarding the approach. Then he ducked around him and headed down toward the lower level.

Another guard, this one in a lieutenant's uniform, waited there. Ewing said quickly, "The sergeant sent me down this way.

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