Universe Twister - Keith Laumer [182]
" . . . really mustn't!" Lom's voice faded back in. Lafayette was back on the cot, blinking away the obscuring haze. "I can't be responsible for the results!"
"Guess I'm . . . little weaker . . . than I thought," Lafayette panted.
"Indeed, yes. Now about the message: what did you wish me to say?"
"This is noble of you, Lom," Lafayette said weakly. "But you won't regret it. Go directly to Princess Adoranne—or, no, better if you see Daphne first. That's Countess Daphne O'Leary. The poor girl will be frantic. Tell her where I am, and that—" O'Leary paused. "That, ah, there are certain artifacts—"
"What sort of artifacts?" Lom murmured.
"Sorry, I can't tell you. But anyway, there are these artifacts; tell her they're items Nicodaeus would be especially interested in. And they're hidden . . ."
"Yes?" Lom prompted.
"Well, I can't tell you where. It's sensitive information, you understand. But if she'll get in touch with a . . . a certain party, he can show her where."
"May I ask the name of the certain party?"
"Classified," O'Leary said. "That's about it. Can you remember all that?"
"I think so," Lom said. "Something's hidden somewhere, and someone can tell her where to find it."
"Hmmm. When you put it that way, it doesn't sound like much."
"My boy, face the facts: it sounds like gibberish."
"In that case—I'll have to go myself, ready or not."
"If you'd just be a trifle more explicit . . ."
"Impossible."
"It's equally impossible for you to set out on a journey until you're regained your strength."
"Nevertheless, I'm going."
Lom stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Hmmm. See here, my boy—if you're determined . . . and I see you are . . . of course I wouldn't dream of standing in your way. Now, why don't you give yourself another few minutes' rest—time for your breakfast to digest, can't have you getting stomach cramps—and then I'll speed you on your way."
"All right. I admit I feel a little rocky . . ." Lafayette leaned back and closed his eyes.
"Can't afford to go to sleep," he told himself. "The dizziness will pass as soon as I get on my feet and start moving. Can't be far—should reach a farmhouse in an hour or two—get a ride—be at the palace by early afternoon . . . put a call through . . ."
"Yes?" said the operator. "Central here. Your report, please."
"This is Lafayette O'Leary. I'm calling from Artesia—Locus Alpha Nine-three—"
"I'm sorry, sir. No such locus is listed in the Central Directory. Kindly re-dial—"
"Wait a minute! Don't ring off! It might take me years to get through to you again! There's an emergency here! It involves a cache of illegal equipment, stolen from Central—"
"No report of missing equipment has been filed, sir. I must now ask you to hang up; the circuits are needed—"
"I've seen it! There's a thing called a Focal Referent—and something else, labeled Stasis Pod! And I have a report of a whole cave full of more of the same!"
"Highly unlikely, sir. You must have made a mistake—"
"I tell you I saw it! In fact, I have the Mark III tucked in a secret pocket inside my coat right now! I know what I'm talking about! I'm an accredited part-time agent of Central! If you don't believe me, talk to Nicodaeus! He'll tell you!"
"Our records indicate no one of that name in the service."
"Then your records are wrong! He's the one who helped me uncover Goruble's plot to take over the country!"
"Indeed, sir? And what is your name?"
"O'Leary! Lafayette O'Leary! Sir Lafayette O'Leary!"
"Ah, yes. I have a record of that name . . . But your voice does not agree with the coded pattern listed for Mr. O'Leary—and a visual scan indicates that your face doesn't match the photo of Mr. O'Leary in our files. I must therefore conclude that you are an imposter. The penalty—"
"I'm not an imposter! I just look like one! I can explain!"
"Very well. Explain."
"Well—I can't actually explain, but—"
"If you have