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For at least a minute Broward was speechless, his gaze fixed on the speaker as if he could not believe what had come from it. Then, his face a bright red, he roared out obscenities and threats. The veins on his neck were purple columns. He shook his fist, he dredged up every foul name he could think of, and he also told Scone his true sentiments about Scone's methods and philosophies. But he did not tell Scone what he pla
That was not quite true, Broward told himself. In the first place, Scone had several times only killed one of the
birds, even if he had thought he was getting both. It was true that Broward had returned from Earth with the bomb, but Moshe Yamanuchi was alive and had an excellent future. Moreover, the Mars question was not settled, far from it Perhaps, Scone was not as clever as he thought himself to be.
Thus, Broward found moments of consolation, although these alternated with worries over what would happen to Ingrid and with rage at Scone. Deimos came into view, and he was too busy from then on to think much about Scone or Ingrid.
As he had pla
Broward then lifted himself by means of his gravpak from the fissure and shot over the nightmarish surface towards his destination. He was not worried about locating the ship again. When he wished to retrace his way, he would circle the moonlet at a distance far enough away so he could send a radio signal with the pencil-transmitter and be assured that it would cover the area. The ship, on detecting the signal, would rise up from the crevasse until it was within sight.
Outside the port at which he had left the two Argentineans, Broward pressed the activation button. The port opened, and he stepped inside. Quiroga and Saavedra, clad in their service uniforms, were waiting for him.
"I am happy that you returned," said Saavedra. "Frankly, I had my doubts..."
"Are things ready for us to take off?" Broward asked.
He walked down the corridor with the two while Saavedra talked.
"Events are working out even better than I had hoped. Almost as if somebody were helping us. Shortly after you left, we received a message from Osorno. A supply boat was coming; this we expected. But we are to send half our perso
"Did my idea to substitute me for one of your men work?"
Saavedra laughed and said, "So far. I sent my cousin and an electronic maintenance man to a remote sector with orders to repair some equipment there. Pablo knocked him out and locked him up in a room with food and water. But he took off the poor fellow's uniform and identification tags and cards. They're waiting in another room right now. Pablo will bandage your face."
They walked down several corridors, then Quiroga and Broward went into an empty barracks while Saavedra continued. Here, the Moonman took off his garments and replaced them with those of Juan Pedro Malory. Since the commandant had been thoughtful enough to pick a victim Broward's size, the uniform fitted him almost exactly.
"A little tight around the chest," said Broward. "But it'll do."
Quiroga picked up some bandages. Broward sat down in a chair and allowed the young man to wrap the windings around his face. When the job was done, Broward's face was entirely covered except for the eyes.
"You are supposed to have had an accident while repairing the equipment."
Broward grunted and said, "I know. It was my idea."
"Pardon me. I am talking from nervousness. It helps. But listen. The men going with us will be told beforehand about you, Malory, rather. During the trip, you lie down and pretend to be sick. If anyone asks you anything, just groan. Or mumble a little. Your Spanish is intelligible and fluent, but your accent would give you away as a foreigner."
"What about when we get to Osorno? Will we have any trouble contacting this General Mier you spoke of?"
"I hope not."
Saavedra entered the room. "You hope not what?"
Quiroga told him, and the colonel said, "He is the only man with enough power to help us."
"I hope so, too," said Broward, speaking in Spanish. "I may as well tell you that we have," and he glanced at his wristwatch, "twenty-four hours. If we are not back here by then, we will all be dead within a short time after that."
Saavedra walked up to Broward and seized his wrist.
"What are you doing?" said Broward. He started to rise.
"I am not attacking you," answered Saavedra. "Give me your watch. There is none like it among us. You do not want anybody to question you about it, do you?"
"Yes. What do you mean?" answered Saavedra.
"At the end of that time, the ship will automatically leave its hiding place and start on its mission to deliver the bomb."
"Dios mio! Why did you arrange that?"
Broward smiled grimly. "I owe my people that much. Also, I wanted insurance that you would carry out your bargain. By the way, don't send men out to look for it while we're gone. Its receptors are active. If anybody but me approaches it, it will take off by itself. And even I will not then be able to find it."
Stiffly, Saavedra said, "I gave you my word"
Broward shrugged and said, "Ordinarily, that would be enough, I assure you. But there is too much at stake. Shall we go?"
The colonel nodded, and they walked to his office. Here, the duffel bag of Malory was waiting. Broward picked it up, noticing the curious stares from a sergeant who accompanied them. The soldier, however, said nothing. Their arrival at the exit port was timed by the colonel to coincide with the landing of the supply boat. He did not want the other men who were to accompany them to get too close a look at Broward. After all, some of those who knew Malory well might notice a difference in Broward's walk or stance. These identified a man as much as anything.
There was an unavoidable delay. The officer commanding the supply ship had to report to the colonel. The
cargo had to be unloaded. Saavedra had to sign various reports that he had received all the goods listed. He did this quickly, so quickly that the supply officer made a joke about Saavedra's former thorough and time-consuming check of incoming materials.
"Perhaps you want to get rid of us swiftly so that you will not catch the fire of tears."
"That is not likely," replied the colonel coldly. "I am returning with you to the source of infection."
The officer's jaw dropped. He said, "Back there? I did not know you had orders to go back. Who relieves you?"