按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
he gave a shuddering start and popped his eyes。 No doubt an ex…relative； brother…in…law or something。 I imagined he hadn't believed that the Radebrechen family would really go through with their threats of revenge。
A certain uneasiness about the guard sergeant gave me my first cue that I was imagining wrong。 The sergeant glanced back and forth from the corpse to the Count and I wondered what thoughts were going through his shaven and thick…skulled military head。 There were wheels within wheels here and I would like to have known what was going on。 I made a mental note to have a buddy…to…buddy talk with sarge at the first opportunity。 The Count chewed his cheek and cracked his knuckles over the bodies； and finally ordered them dragged out。
〃Stay here。 Bent；〃 he said as I started to leave with the others。 I dropped into a chair while he locked the rest out。 Then he made a rush for the bar and choked down about a waterglass full of the local spirits。 Only when he was working on his second glass did he remember to offer me some of this potable aqua regia。 I wasn't saying no； and while I sipped at it I wondered what he was so upset about。
First the Count checked the locks on all the doors and sealed the single window。 His ring key unlocked the bottom drawer of his desk and he took out a small electronic device with controls and an extendible aerial on top。
〃Well look at that！〃 I said when he pulled out the aerial。 He didn't answer me； just shot a long look at me from under his eyebrows； and went back to adjusting the thing。 Only when it was turned on and the green light glowed on the top did he relax a bit。
〃You know what this is？〃 he asked； pointing at the gadget。
〃Of course；〃 I said。 〃But not from seeing them on Freibur。 They aren't that mon。〃
〃They aren't mon at all；〃 he mumbled； staring at the green light which glowed steadily。 〃As far as I know this is the only one on the planetso I wish you wouldn't mention it to anybody。 Anybody；〃 he repeated with emphasis。
〃Not my business；〃 I told him with disarming lack of interest。 〃I think a man's entitled to his privacy。〃
I liked privacy myself and had used snooper…detectors like this one plenty of times。 They could sense electronic or radiation snoopers and gave instant warning。 There were ways of fooling them； but it wasn't easy to do。 As long as no one knew about the thing the Count could be sure he wasn't being eavesdropped on。 But who would want to do that？ He was in the middle of his own buildingand even he must know that snooper devices couldn't be worked from a distance。 There was distinct smell of rat in the air； and I was beginning to get an idea of what was going on。 The Count didn't leave me any doubt as to who the rat was。
〃You're not a stupid man； Grav Diebstall；〃 he said； which means he thought I was a lot stupider than he was。 〃You've been offplanet and seen other worlds。 You know how backward and suppressed we are here； or you wouldn't have joined with roc to help throw off the yoke around our planet's neck。 No sacrifice is too great if it will bring closer this day of liberation。〃 For some reason he was sweating now and had resumed his unpleasant habit of cracking the knuckles。 The side of his headwhere Angela had landed the bottlewas covered with plasti…skin and dry of sweat。 I hoped it hurt。
〃This foreign woman you have been guarding〃 the Count said； turning sideways but still watching me from the corners of his eyes。 〃She had been of some help in organizing things； but is now putting us in an embarrassing position。 There has been one attempt on her life and there will probably be others。 The Radebrechen are an old and loyal familyher presence is a continued insult to them。〃 Then he pulled at his drink and delivered the punch line。
〃I think that you can do the job she is doing。 Just as well； and perhaps better。 How would you like that？〃
Without a doubt I was just brimming over with talentor there was a shortage of revolutionaries on this planet。 This was the second time within twelve hours that I had been offered a partnership in the new order。 One thing I was sure of thoughAngelovely's offer had been sincere。 Cassi Duke of Rdenrundt's proposition had a distinctly bad odor to it。 I played along to see what he was leading up to。
〃I am honored； noble Count；〃 I oozed。 〃But what will happen to the foreign woman？ I don't imagine she will think much of the idea。〃
〃What she thinks is not important；〃 he snarled and touched his fingers lightly to the side of his head。 He swallowed and got his temper back under control。 〃We cannot be cruel to her；〃 he said with one of the most insincere smiles I have ever seen on a human being's face。 〃We'll just hold her in custody。 She has some guards who I imagine will be loyal； but my men will take care of them。 You will be with her and arrest her at the proper time。 Just turn her over to the jailers who will keep her safe。 Safe for herself； and out of sight where she can cause no more trouble for us。〃
〃It's a good plan；〃 I agreed with winning insincerity。 〃I don't enjoy the thought of putting this poor woman in jail； but if it is necessary to the cause it must be done。 The ends justify the means。〃
〃You're right。 I only wish I was able to state it so clearly。 You have a remarkable ability to turn a phrase。 Bent。 I'm going to write that down so I can remember it。 The ends justify 。 。 。〃
He scratched away industriously on a note plate。 What a knowledge of history he hadjust the man to plan a revolution！ I searched my memory for a few more old saws to supply him with； until my brain was flooded with a sudden anger。 I jumped to my feet。
〃If we are going to do this we should not waste any time； Count Rdenrundt；〃 I said。 〃I suggest 1800 hours tonight for the action。 That will give you enough time to arrange for the capture of her guards。 I will be in her rooms and will arrest her as soon as I have a message from you that the first move has succeeded。〃
〃You're correct。 A man of action as always。 Bent。 It will be as you say。〃 We shook hands then and it took all the will power I possessed to stop from crushing to a pulp his limp； moist； serpentine paw。 I went straight to Angelina。
〃Can we be overheard here？〃 I asked her。
〃No； the room is pletely shielded。〃
〃Your former boy…friend。 Count Cassi； has a snooper…detector。 He may have other equipment for listening to what goes on here。〃
This thought didn't bother Angelic in the slightest。 She sat by the mirror； brushing her hair。 The scene was lovely but distracting。 There were strong winds blowing through the revolution that threatened to knock everything down。
〃I know about the detector；〃 she said calmly； brushing。 〃I arranged for him to get itwithout his knowledge of courseand made sure it was useless on the best frequencies。 I keep a close watch on his affairs that way。〃
〃Were you listening in a few minutes ago when he was making arrangements with me to kill your guards and throw you into the dungeons downstairs？〃
〃No； I wasn't listening；〃 she said with that amazing self…possession and calm that marked all her a