The Jagged Orbit by John Brunner

Author:John Brunner
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Science Fiction
ISBN: 9780575101500
Publisher: GOLLANCZ
Published: 1972-01-02T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

« ^ »

“What shall we do first?” Waldron murmured to Greta, and her answer was

prompt.

“Go see Bennett—what else?”

He checked in midstride; they were walking down the same long corridor with

one glass wall which had been the first part of the house they saw last night. “Isn’t

that risky? We don’t want to draw Radcliffe’s attention to him.”

“We know for certain that one way or another a connection has been or will be

made between Radcliffe and Bennett. Remember he headed straight for Radcliffe

when he turned up at the City of Angels. And it’s more likely to be ‘will be’ than ‘has

been’. Unless they’ve got acquainted since Bennett last filed a report, at this

moment in time the two of them haven’t met.”

Hearing the paradoxical reality of the situation summed up so bluntly made the

blood rush and thunder in Waldron’s ears. It almost drowned out the rest of Greta’s

argument.

“No, but the free traders are never short of it. Grady Bennett gets—gets

displaced. For all we know he may already be involved in the actions which lead up

to that. We can’t miss the chance of contacting him at once just because Radcliffe

might start wondering if I’m not the person I pretend to be.”

Unanswerable logic. Waldron shrugged and came to a halt at the end of the

corridor. “Where do you imagine they put the car? And do they have proper gasoline

distribution here on the Ground?”

“Not, but the free traders are never short of it. Grady writes contracts like a

South American dictator with most of the big corporations. Look, there’s somebody

we can ask about the car.” Greta pushed open a swinging door and called to a

passing servant.

It took them nearly an hour’s search to locate the address Greta had for Bennett;

they had to give the impression of chancing on it, for fear that if they asked

directions the news might filter back to Radcliffe. It was the only one of a group of

four five-story apartment buildings to have survived the passage of the mad armies.

The sight of it, fresh with paint and all its glass sparkling, was incongruous by

contrast with the other three so similar and so close, but windowless and with

smoke-stains licking up their walls.

“You’re sure that’s it?” Waldron said in low tones as he braked the car.

“Certain. Look, someone’s coming to meet us. You better talk to him.”

Waldron nodded, feeling by reflex for the alien artifact he had again slipped into

his pocket when he dressed today. Lucky charm or not, he did find its presence

comforting, a memento of his old home and his old life.

From the main entrance of the building a tall black man in tan coveralls with an

embroidered name on the chest was emerging. He wore a Sam Browne style belt

with a holstered .45. As he came closer Waldron saw that the embroidered name

was BENNETT.

“Is—uh—is Mr. Bennett at home?” he called out, rolling down his window.

“Could be,” the man agreed warily. “Depends who’s asking, doesn’t it?”

“Would you give him this? I think he’ll see us when he’s read it.” Waldron

handed over an envelope; it contained a note scribbled by Greta which consisted of

three Scientific Service cipher groups.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.