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not," he observed. "But you don't."
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"Is it, then?" Basingstoke inquired politely. He didn't wait for an answer.
"In any case, let us stop this nonsensical debate. We will both go and get rid
of the boat; the children will be safe enough here. Then we will come back and
see about finding a way off this island. Then, Beaupre, while we wait until it
is time for our plane, you may entertain yourself in any fashion you like."
It had been General Beaupre Heimat who tied them up, and Sneezy acknowledged
that the old man knew what he was doing. In the few minutes they were out of
the house he strained against the ropes uselessly. He was not helped by
Harold's complaining whine: "What the dickens is the matter with you, Dopey?
You're so skinny, you should be able to slide right out of those things! Then
you could untie us and then-"
Harold stopped there, because not even he could visualize a good "and then."
In any case, the old men were back almost at once, hovering over the PV
commset.
They accessed the reservations clerk at Faa-Faa-Faa Airport at once. It was-or
looked to be-a pretty Polynesian girl in a sarong, with flowers in her hair.
She appeared both friendly and real as she gazed out of the PV tank. For a
moment Sneezy thought of crying out for help, but the hope did not justify the
risk. She was undoubtedly only a simulation, and probably a very rudimentary
one.
"Display all flights nonstop for more than two thousand kilometers departing
between now and noon," Heimat ordered.
"Oui, m 'sieur." The girl smiled and disappeared. The PV showed a list:
UA
495
Honolulu
06:40
JA
350
Tokyo 08:00
AF
781
Los Angeles 09:30
NZ
263
Auckland
11:10
QU
819
Sydney
11:40
UT
311
San Francisco
12:00
Heimat said at once, "I want the Los Angeles flight." Basingstoke sighed.
"Yes, Beaupre, I suppose you do. So do I."
Heimat looked displeased. "You could take San Francisco," he argued.
"It's only a couple hours later, and it's better if we're not on the same
flight, isn't it? Or you could go to Honolulu, or Tokyo-"
"I do not want to be on another island, or in a place where I will not speak
the language, and I don't want to wait a couple of hours. I will be on that
plane to Los Angeles."
Heimat sighed and gave in. "Very well. We can be quit of each other there.
Reservations!"
The girl reappeared, politely inquiring. 'M'sieur?"
"We want space for two on Air France 781 this morning. Mr. J. Smith and
Mr. R. Jones," Heimat improvised.
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"First class or coach, sir?"
"Oh, by all means first class." Heimat smiled. "Our dear little niece has been
good enough to fly us here for a little vacation and she is very generous. One
moment," he said, signaling to Basingstoke to bring the little girl forward.
Out of range of the PV pickup the old black man swiftly untied the girl's
hands. Then he nodded to Heimat and lifted her to the commset.
"Oniko, my dear," Heimat went on, "kindly give this nice young computer
program your credit ID."
Sneezy held his breath. Would Oniko try to call for help? She did not.
In a clear voice she gave the program her credit data and submitted her thumb
to the pickup for verification. Sneezy felt a moment's disappointment. Where
was this vaunted human courage when it was needed? And then he was ashamed of
himself; certainly if Oniko had said the wrong word, it would have been very
unpleasant for her as soon as the old terrorist could get her out of range of
the PV.
That was all there was to it. There were no questions. The Polyne sian-looking
program verified the account in a second and announced, "You have confirmed
space for two, Mr. J. Smith and Mr. R. Jones, nonstop from
Faa-Faa-Faa Airport, departing at nine-thirty for Los Angeles
Intercontinental. Will there be any continuing or return flights from there?"
"Not just now," Basingstoke said, and snapped off the commset.
"Wait a minute," Heimat protested. "What's the hurry? We will want to move on
from Los Angeles, you know!"
"But not on her credit, man, It's too risky. You'll have to find your own way
from there."
Heimat's eyes narrowed dangerously. "You take a lot on yourself, Cyril,"
he said softly. "Have you forgotten that I still have the gun?" And then,
suddenly, he yelped, "What is she doing? Stop her, Cyril!" For Oniko, with
Basingstoke's hand still on her, had reached out doggedly to the cominset once
more.
Basingstoke jerked her away. "Now, now," he chided. "This can get quite
tiresome, child!" Oniko didn't respond. She only gazed at the commset, now out
of reach.
"Tie her," Heimat ordered. Sneezy watched anxiously as Basingstoke did,
setting her down again in the row of captives along the wall. As soon as Oniko
was bound, she relaxed again, her body leaning against Sneezy's for comfort. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]