Universe Twister - Keith Laumer [130]
"Shall I, er, convey your Highness's invitation to lunch?"
"Don't bother, just see that she has whatever she wants served in her room. Keep her as content as possible. I don't want her developing frown lines or chapped knuckles while in my care."
"Of course, Highness." Footsteps, a closing door; a few bars of under-the-breath whistling; then sudden silence, with heavy breathing.
"Damn!" the voice muttered. "Could those little—?" The voice broke off. There were loud, rasping sounds, then a dull clunk! followed by total silence.
"Oh-oh," Lafayette said. "He's stopped transmitting."
The others listened in turn. "He must have realized something was amiss," Pinchcraft said. "Probably stuffed the ring in a box and closed the lid. So much for counterintelligence."
"Too bad," O'Leary said brightly. "Just as it was getting interesting."
"Yes; well, let's be going, fellow," Flimbert said. "The treadmill is waiting."
"Well—good-bye, Roy," O'Leary said. "I wouldn't want to default on my debt to society, of course—but I certainly will hate missing all the excitement."
"Oh, life around the Ajax Works is pretty quiet, Slim; you won't be missing much."
"Just the invasion," Lafayette said. "It ought to be quite spectacular when Krupkin arrives with his army, navy, and air force."
"What's that?" Flimbert snapped. "What are you talking about?"
"Oh—I forgot I was the only one who heard him. But never mind. Maybe he was only fooling."
"Who?"
"Prince Krupkin. He was closeted with his War Cabinet, laying on the strategy for the takeover. He cut off just as he was about to announce the timetable for the three-pronged assault."
"Nonsense! Krupkin wouldn't attack Ajax!"
"Probably not. Just his idea of a joke. Of course, he didn't know we were listening—but then maybe he's an eccentric and was just reading off logistical schedules for the fun of it."
"He couldn't be so base as to use our own equipment against us?" Flimbert inquired, aghast.
"I wouldn't put it past him!" Pinchcraft said.
"Well, I'd better get started treading that mill," Lafayette said. "You gentlemen will be pretty busy for the next twenty-four hours, I suppose, making out wills and burying your valuables—"
"Just a moment. What else did he say? When does he plan to hit us? How many troops has he under arms? What will his primary objectives be? What kind of armaments—"
"Sorry, that was the part he was just coming to."
"Drat it! Why couldn't we have tuned in sooner!"
"Look here—can't you rig up something else, Pinchcraft?" Flimbert demanded. "We have to know what's going on over there!"
"Not without a pickup planted at that end, I can't."
"What about sending over a robot bird to scatter a few bugs around the premises?"
"Useless. The range on these micro-micro jobs is very short. The pickup has to be planted on or near the person of the subject to do us any good."
"We'll have to send a man in."
"Nonsense. None of our boys are as tall as those beanpoles; anyone we sent would be spotted instantly. Unless—"
All eyes turned to O'Leary.
"What, me stick my head in the lion's den?" he said with raised eyebrows. "Not a chance. I'm on my way to a nice, safe treadmill, remember?"
"Now, now, my boy," Flimbert said with a smile like the father of a pauper's bride, "don't worry about the treadmill. You can always serve out your sentence after you get back—"
"Forget the sentence," Pinchcraft said. "This is more important. Don't you want to do your bit, fellow, to assist the forces of righteousness?"
"What have the forces of righteousness done for me lately?" O'Leary inquired rhetorically. "No, thanks, men, you can just carry on without me as you did before I came along."
"See here, Slim," Roy said. "I didn't think you were the kind of fellow who'd let the side down when the pinch came."
"The pinch came half an hour ago, remember? You did the pinching."
"Sir," Pinchcraft spoke up, "we appeal to your nobler instincts! Assist us now, and earn our undying gratitude!"
O'Leary patted back a yawn. "Thanks—I'm overstocked on gratitude."
"Possibly some more negotiable