第80节
the
problem of the paperwork. He had also discovered the small problem
that Side-Winder had omitted to mention: slaves weren't allowed to
carry money. The only dink who could procure their tickets was the
Herald, but Steve was not about to reveal the planned escape route to
anyone he was not totally sure of. And now, the Herald would not be
needed. Steve pictured the whole thing in his mind. Yeah . . . it
was brilliant. Cadillac could do it all.
Seated cross-legged at the low table, Cadillac pulled the stopper on a
fresh bottle of sake and filled their cups to the blue line painted
round the rim. He took one and toasted Steve. 'To the daring young
man in his flying machine."
'Very funny." Steve raised his cup in response, then took a
heart-warming swallow. 'Next time, I want something with real wings
on. Otherwise you can get yourself a new assistant."
'You shall have it,' said Cadillac. He examined the inside of his cup
thoughtfully, as if he was trying to work out why it was empty. 'Look,
I know you took a tremendous risk, but it worked perfectly. I know how
these people's minds work. When they saw that cart take off it really
made their day."
'Glad to hear it. It almost put paid to mine."
'Yeah. For a minute I thought it was going to flip right over,
but..."
Cadillac replenished Steve's cup and refilled his own.
Steve couldn't figure out why he didn't just drink it straight from the
bottle.
'... you got away with it yet again. You're the luckiest man I know.
Cheers."
It sounded more like a reproach than a compliment.
'Don't lose heart,' said Steve. 'After a few more stunts like that it
may run out on me." He downed some more sake. He'd put on an air of
bravado when he'd waded ashore, but his insides had been shaking like a
Seamster working a jackhammer. The sake brought almost instant
relief.
He'd have to watch it. A guy could get to like this stuff. He laid
his cup firmly on the table and held it there.
'So... what next?"
'That's easy. You helped me design that two-seater.
I'm going to teach you to fly it."
Steve stared at him for a moment, then laughed. 'That should be an
interesting experience, but do you really think it's necessary?"
'Absolutely. You're going to take up the rocketpowered prototype.
After all, it was your idea."
'Yes, but ' 'It's very simple. Apart from myself, there are only two
other people here with flight experience. Kazan and Kelso. I'm not
going to put their lives at risk until the system's been properly
tested - in the air."
'And that's where I come in."
'Exactly. I hate to say it, but you're the best man for the job.
That's why I want you to take it up."
'Okay, but why the pretence?"
It was Cadillac's turn to laugh. 'You're not usually this slow to
catch on. Must be the sake." Cadillac tipped his head back, drained
his cup in one gulp, then banged it down on the table. 'You're a grass
monkey, Brickman.
Endowed with a certain, limited intelligence but basically an
unskilled, untutored savage. Never mind. I have decided to take you
under my wing - so to speak and as part of your education I am going to
teach you to fly."
'Smart move,' said Steve. 'How many crack-ups am I allowed?"
'None. You're a fast learner." Cadillac refilled his cup and toasted
Steve for the third time.
'The average at the academy is ten hours. Better make it fifteen."
'We'll make it twenty. You're not that clever."
Steve raised his cup with a rueful smile and started to empty it a sip
at a time. The ground tests had only used a short burn. The rockets
they planned to fit to the flying-horses would last twice as long.
But, unlike a normal power plant, there was no throttle and no
cut-out.
Once they ignited that was it. You just had to sit there and ride it
out. Provided the acceleration didn't rip the wings off, he did not
foresee any insurmountable problems. Not with the aircraft, anyway.
'This is all fine with me, but how about the dinks? Are they going to
let you do this?"
'Do what?" Cadillac's voice was starting to slur.
'Teach me to fly. As you just reminded me - I'm a Mute."