[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

"I'm ringing it for you," the operator said, "but they have no light there
just now, and you may encounter delays."
"Thank you."
"You have reached the Global Community Head-quarters Palace in New
Babylon. Please bear with us as technical difficulties may make it impossible
to answer your call immediately."
Page 38
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
And there came "Hail Carpathia" by the big choir again.
"Agh!"
"Global Community, how may I direct your call?"
"Krystall, please."
"In the potentate's office?"
"Of course."
"Sir, it's after hours here. Those offices are closed."
"I know that. Her quarters, please."
"Who may I say is calling?"
"I'll tell her."
"I need to know, sir, or I won't ring someone at this time of the night."
"If you have to know, it's her uncle Gregory."
"One moment."
Mac shot Rayford a look. "Uncle Gregory?"
"Long story."
"Long flight. I'll look forward to it."
"Uncle Gregory?" Krystall said, her voice thick from sleep.
"Is this line secure?" Rayford said.
"I think so. I don't know. This isn't my uncle, is it?"
"You know who it is."
"You never told me."
"You know I'm a friend."
"I'll know for sure if you can really help my uncle. I passed along your
message."
"You did? Is he following up?"
"I think he is."
"Believe me, if he makes contact, our people will get him everything he
needs."
"I'm grateful, but why are you call-"
"A favor."
"I knew it. I can't-"
"Hear me out. I had no idea I would need anything when I talked to you. I
just need information that only you can give me."
"I can't be giving you inf-"
"I'm not asking for much, but I don't want to get you in trouble."
"Oh, what's the difference?" she said. "Being in trouble is no worse than
being in his good graces around here."
"I need to know if there's been any talk of an impor-tant arrest in the
United North American States. It would be a young wom-"
"Yes! Yes! Late in the day, a couple of hours after quitting time-we were
still working because of the move tomorrow afternoon-Mr. Akbar came in excited
about some break in San Diego. Local GC there arrested someone connected with
the Judah-ites."
"Any idea whether they are planning to-"
"That's all I know. Really."
"I appreciate this more than I can say, Krystall. Is there anything I can do
for you?"
"What could you possibly do for me?"
"I just wish-"
"If you can't send me a pair of eyes, I can't think of a thing."
SIX
THE TATTOO artist snapped on her rubber gloves and asked Mainyu Mazda in an
Indian accent if he wanted anesthetic. He pulled back and looked at her.
"You never do," she said. "Head back, chin up."
Albie did not expect a meeting with this man in this part of this town to be
other than bizarre, but neither did he dream he would have to compete with a
Page 39
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
derma-tological procedure.
"Go ahead, my friend," Mainyu said, gesturing. "You come to me why?"
Albie leaned forward, forearms on the desk, and told MM of his urgent need in
Al Hillah. The woman's battery-powered applicator emitted a loud, rapid
clicking as she worked. Mainyu winced but managed to encour-age Albie with
"Uh-huhs" and "Hmms." Finally he said, "A moment, Kashmir." The woman pulled
away and busied herself with the needle in the glow of the lamp.
"It is no secret that you are not a friend of the poten-tate," MM said.
Albie smiled. "I hope it is a secret in some places." "Why do you not let me
have Kashmir give you a loyalty mark? Any number you wish."
"You know I cannot do that, Mainyu."
"Oh yes. You are now a Judah-ite and believe in the evil spirits."
"The evil sp-?"
Mainyu waved with the back of his hand. "Don't you people believe that anyone
who takes the mark of Car-pathia goes to hell, something like that?"
"More important is where our loyalty lies."
MM looked at Kashmir, then leaned back and grinned at Albie. He laughed
loudly. "You are not going to start in on me now, are you, old friend? I
wondered."
"No, you have made your choice. I am curious as to why you have a 72
and not a 216, though."
"You think I am a friend of the international regime?" "Well, I wond-"
"You think my mark is real? You know me better than that." He spat.
"But the penalty for a fake mark is worse than death," Albie said.
"Public torture, I know," Mainyu said. "But the GC is not interested in me
except in how I can benefit them. If I were to bear the mark of the one to
whom
I am loyal, it would have to be the number 1. What is it our Mexican friends
say, Albie? `Look out for numeeo uno!'
And if I was not a benefit to the GC, I would be assigned to the Plain of
Jezreel like so many millions of others. What kind of business could I do
there?"
"How do you benefit the GC?"
Kashmir dabbed at a tiny stream of blood on Mainyu's neck.
"I am a businessman, Albie. I look for the biggest profit for the smallest
expense, and right now that is bounty money."
"You-"
"Deliver the disloyal to the Peacekeepers. Of course I do. Tell me, what is
the cost of doing that kind of busi-ness? Twenty thousand Nicks a head, same
price dead or alive. I find the dead more manageable. Once the victim is
still, there is no danger, no escape attempt, nothing messy. With the right
size plastic bag, even the car stays clean. Follow?"
"So, you are a supplier-"
"To the GC, yes, of course. If low overhead and high profit is the
businessman's mantra, what better business is there than something for
nothing? They are willing to pay for something I can provide."
Albie wondered how many unmarked victims of Mainyu's were Judah-ites.
"My request, then," Albie said, "does it constitute a conflict of interest for
you?"
"Of course not, my friend! Not if you brought the money. I am not a friend of
the GC. I am merely a busi-ness associate. My interest is profit."
"I wasn't sure what such services would cost."
"Oh yes, you were. You are not out of the business that long. And surely you
didn't expect me to commit to this without all the money up front, not when it
has to be done almost immediately."
"You have the people, the hardware, the-?"
"You know I have everything. It will be done. Pro-vided you have the money."
"Such a job would have cost twenty thousand Nicks a few years ago," Albie
Page 40
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
said.
"So I assume you brought more, due to inflation and the urgent nature of the
request."
Albie hesitated.
"Sure you did, and you will not make the mistake of holding out on me, because
you know how easy it would be for me to find out how much you have with you."
"Of course. I brought thirty thousand Nicks."
"Hmm."
"Surely that's enough. Fifty percent more than before has to cover inflation
and the rush."
"It's not enough," Mainyu said. "It's twenty thousand short."
Albie assumed the deal was about to go down. They were in the haggling stage,
and anything other than a vigorous argument from both sides would show
dis-respect. "Thirty thousand is all I brought, and all I am willing to pay."
"Uh-huh. And is it all on your person or did you leave some on your bike?"
"You know better than that, Mainyu. Who leaves cash in the alley here?"
Mainyu laughed. "Sahib!"
The tall man unlocked the door and entered.
"How much is our friend paying you to watch his bike?"
"Twenty-five."
"How much does he owe?" "Ten."
Mainyu turned to Albie. "Do you have thirty thou-sand plus the ten you owe
Sahib?"
"Yes."
"Any more?"
"Spare change for the trip home."
"Let me see the thirty thousand."
Able reached inside his jacket and produced a brick of bills wrapped in
cellophane.
"Now the ten you owe Sahib." Albie slapped a ten on the table. "Now your spare
change."
From his left pocket Albie produced a wad of bills and coins. "Maybe another
fifteen-plus," he said.
Mainyu pressed his lips together and cocked his head, arching his eyebrows at
Albie. "We are still twenty thou-sand apart," he said.
"I said thirty thousand is all I'm willing to pay." "Then we have a problem. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]