Universe Twister - Keith Laumer [220]
"Listen," O'Leary invited. From the stairwell, sounds were rising: sounds of alarm.
"They've found that chap we dealt with down below," Lom said. "We should have hidden him—"
"They'd have noticed he was missing. They'll be here in a minute or two."
"Trapped! You treacher, I should have known better—"
"Shhh! Clarence won't understand," Lafayette said softly as the guardsman arrived, breathing hard. "Anyway, we're not trapped—not if we hide in there." He hooked a thumb at the door.
"What's in there? Why did you lead me into a cul-de-sac—"
"It's Nicodaeus' old lab. He was an Inspector, sent in here by Central to investigate a Probability Stress. It's full of special equipment. We'll find everything we need—"
"Well, for heaven's sake, get it open, man!" Lom cut in as the sounds of ascending feet rang clearly from below.
"First, the zap gun, Lom. Just so you aren't tempted to use it on me."
"And what's to keep you from using it on me?"
"I won't—unless you make a false move. Make up your mind. We have about thirty seconds."
"Blackmail," Lom muttered, and handed over the weapon.
"Once inside we're home safe," O'Leary said. "Let's see, now. It's been a long time since I used this combination . . ." He twirled the dial; the feet pounding below came closer. The lock snicked and opened. O'Leary pushed the door wide.
"Clarence—inside, quick!"
The harquebusier stepped through hesitantly; Lom ducked after him. O'Leary followed, closed the door and set the lock.
"Full of equipment, eh?" Lom rasped behind him.
He turned; in the dim light filtering down through dusty clerestory windows, Lafayette stared in dismay at blank stone walls and a bare stone floor.
"Stripped!" he groaned.
"Just as I thought," Lom said in a deadly tone. "Betrayal. But I'm afraid you won't live to complete your plans, traitor!" Lafayette turned, was looking down the barrel of a slim, deadly-looking pistol.
"Another of your inventions?" he inquired, backing away.
"Quite correct. I call it a disaster gun, for reasons which you'll, alas, not survive to observe. Say your prayers, my boy. At the count of three, you die."
4
Outside, boots clumped on the landing. Someone rattled the door.
"Geez, where could they of went?" a querulous voice inquired.
"Maybe t'rough duh door," another replied.
"Negative, it's locked, and nobody but King Lafayette don't know the combination."
"Nuts, Morton. Let's bust it down—"
"I say negative, Irving! They didn't go that way! You must of give us a bum steer. They never come up here—"
"Where else could they of went? They gotta of went t'rough duh door!"
"They din't!"
"How do you know?"
"They din't because they cun't, rum-dum!"
The door rattled again. "Yeah—I guess yez'r right. Like you said, nobody but King Lafayette could spring dat latch."
The booted feet withdrew.
Lafayette swallowed hard, his eyes on the gun. "Well—what are you waiting for? They're gone. Nobody will hear you killing me. And I deserve whatever happens for being dumb enough to forget to search you."
Lom was frowning thoughtfully. "That fellow said . . . that only King Lafayette knew the combination. That being the case—how did you open it—"
"We've been all over that, remember? You didn't believe me."
"You could have shouted whilst the men were outside. It might not have saved your life, but it would have cooked my goose. Yet—you failed to. Why?"
"Maybe I have a goose of my own."
"Hmmm. My boy, I'm inclined to give you one more chance—in spite of your having led me into this dead end. Just what did you intend to accomplish in this vacant chamber?"
"It shouldn't have been vacant," O'Leary snapped. "That lock is a special Probability Lab model, unpickable. But—somebody picked it." He frowned in deep thought. "I've noticed that there are residual traits that seem to stay with the flesh, even when the minds are switched. As Tazlo Haz, I could almost fly. And I mastered merging, with a little concentration." He looked at his hands. "And it would never have occurred