Universe Twister - Keith Laumer [224]
There was an electrical chatter, and a new voice spoke:
"Hello? This is Inspector Nicodaeus. To whom as I speaking, please?"
"Nicodaeus! Am I glad to hear from you! When did you get back?"
"Kindly identify yourself!"
"Identify myself? Oh, you mean because of the voice. Don't let that bother you—it's Lafayette. Just think of me as a little hoarse—"
"A little what? Look here, they told me there was a chap claiming to be O'Leary in another form, but nothing was said about this!"
"My voice," O'Leary said, striving for calm. "Not me. Listen, Nicodaeus—there's a serious emergency here in Artesia—"
"One moment," interrupted the voice on the line. "Tell me: what were the first words you ever said to me—assuming you are, as you claim, Sir Lafayette?"
"Look, is this necessary—"
"It is," Nicodaeus said in a tone of finality.
"Well—ah—I think you asked me where I was from, and I told you."
"Eh? Hmmm. Maybe you're right. I was thinking—but never mind. Now then: what was the object I showed you which first aroused your suspicions that I might be more than a mere Court magician?"
"Let's see. A . . . a Ronson lighter?"
"By Jove, I believe you're right! Is that really you, Lafayette?"
"Of course! Let's stop wasting time! How soon can you have a couple of platoons of Special Fields Agents in here to arrest this imposter who's rampaging around kicking cats and sleeping in my bed?"
"That's what I'm calling about, Lafayette. When I heard someone representing himself as you had been here at Central, I immediately looked into the situation—and what I've turned up isn't good—"
"I already knew that! The question is—"
"The question is more complicated than you know, Lafayette. Have you ever heard of a man named Quelius?"
"Quelius? Commissioner Quelius?"
"The same. Well, it seems that Quelius has run amok. He was Chief of Research, you know—"
"No, I didn't know—but I've already heard about him. Glad you confirmed what my friend Lom told me about him. But can't this discussion wait until after we've cleaned up this mess?"
"That's what I'm trying to tell you, Lafayette! Quelius, it now appears, has absconded with the entire contents of the Top Cosmic Lab, including our top researcher, Jorlemagne. From bits and pieces of evidence, we've learned that he has perfected a device with which he plans to seal off the Artesia continuum from any further contact with Central—to shift the entire Locus, in effect, into a new alignment, rendering himself forever safe from apprehension—and placing Artesia forever under his domination!"
"I never heard of any such gadget! That's impossible!"
"Not at all; in fact, it's quite easy, it appears, once given the basic theory. You remember a device called a Suppressor?"
"How could I forget? If it hadn't been for that, I wouldn't be in the fix I'm in now! How about lifting it, so I can go into action?"
"I'm afraid that's already been taken out of our hands," Nicodaeus said grimly. "Phase one of Quelius' plan has already gone into effect. The first step was to erect a Suppressor barrier around the entire Locus, cutting off all physical contact. This went into action only minutes ago. Our sole link is now this telephone connection—"
"You mean—you can't send any more men in?"
"Or out. Now it's up to you, Lafayette. Somehow, you must locate this man Quelius and lay him by the heels before his second phase is activated and Artesia is cut off forever!"
"How . . . how much time have I got?"
"Not much, I fear. Minutes, perhaps; hours at best. I suggest you go into action with all haste. I needn't remind you what's at stake!"
"And there's nothing Central can do to help?"
"Candidly, Lafayette—if more than a single obscure Locus were involved—if there were an actual threat to Central—certain extraordinary measures might be taken. But as it is, only my personal, sentimental interest in Artesia caused me to attempt this call. The simplest solution for Central, you must understand, is to let the matter solve itself. No doubt that's precisely the policy on which Quelius is counting for immunity. Well,