第81节

本章字数：6503字·更新时间：2026-11-09

of the first proving flights. The fair-haired grass-monkey was a

sacrificial victim who, if things did not work out, could end up as a

burnt offering.

The modified glider was powered by five slim rockets' attached to the

underside of a metal tray mounted beneath the fuselage pod. The

trolley was fitted with two short-burn boosters ignited, as before, by

means of a length of safety fuse; those under the aircraft were fired

in succession by an ingenious trigger system which detonated a wad of

the same paper caps used to fire bullets from the rifles which Lord

Yama-Shita had supplied to the M'Calls.

The glider was to be launched from a redesigned three-wheeled trolley

based on the one used by Steve.

This new model had a low, ground-hugging profile to give extra

stability during the take-off run and four quick-release shackles that

kept the trolley attached to the glider until it was jettisoned by the

pilot.

Since the Iron Masters did not possess the precise measuring devices

and the computer-modelling techniques employed by the Federation,

Cadillac's flying-horse had been constructed using the simplest

calculations.

The same applied to the rockets. Using the mathematical formulae

transmitted by AMEXICO, Steve was able to make a guesstimate of the

foot/pounds of thrust generated during the burn. But the figures

didn't mean much when your employers didn't measure in feet and inches,

or calculate weights in pounds and ounces.

In his guise as errand boy, Steve shadowed Cadillac throughout the

assembly process to make sure that everything was done to his own

exacting standards. At his suggestion, Jodi and Kelso were picked to

work with Cadillac behind closed doors through the night prior to the

launch, enabling him to take an active part in the final adjustments.

By first light, they had tested and checked every joint and attachment

and passed them A-OK. One big question mark remained. The tests with

the weighted ground trolleys had shown the rockets were powerful enough

to move it through the air - but just how fast was this silk-winged

coffin going to travel?

In a few hours Steve was due to get the answer. The flight, which was

to be staged before the same high-ranking delegation of Iron Masters,

was scheduled for mid-morning, and it was rumoured that the

Consul-General of Ro-diren and Masa-chusa might grace the occasion with

his presence. The cadre of Japs who ran the Heron Pool drafted in an

extra squad of cleaners and gardeners and hung out some banners and

bunting, but they did not work themselves into a frenzy.

They were required to treat the Shogun's permanent representative with

due deference, but they weren't government employees like the

post-master and his quivering clerks. The Consul-General only

exercised absolute power within the borders of his estate. The Heron

Pool formed part of the domain of Lord Min-Orota, and everyone who

worked there was subject to his rule - and under his protection.

Steve didn't return to his shack until four in the morning, but since

it was his big day he was allowed to skip the obligatory quota of yard

work. Around 0500 he felt like getting up and strangling the cockerel,

but he managed to fall asleep again, and did not wake until one of the

servants banged on the door three hours later.

As a Mute, Steve wasn't allowed to use the bath-house, only a tub in

the yard, but on this occasion Cadillac summoned him into the section

reserved for the house-owner and invited him to take the plunge. Steve

slipped off his work-stained clothes and jumped in. Since the deep tub

was already occupied by Cadillac and two of his body-slaves, things

were a little crowded at first, but they eventually managed to

disentangle themselves and proceed with the serious business of getting

clean.

The two dark-eyed Thais, wearing nothing but polite smiles and

headscarves, were somewhat disconcerted to find themselves sharing the

same tub as a Mute, but hunting the elusive bar of soap proved a real

ice-breaker.

After a memorable scrub back and front, Steve attempted to climb out,

but the girls, egged on by Cadillac, hauled him back in and started to

give him a second going-over just for luck. Ordinarily, Steve would

have been more than happy to co-operate, but at that moment he had