第11节

'I wish you'd stopped saying that,' snapped Nevill.

'You're switching sides so fast I've lost track of who's getting

shafted!" Steve looked at his kin-sister then said: 'Roz is only

pretending to work for you." Their eyes met again. The message she

had beamed into his mind was so astonishing, none of the others would

realise he was telling the truth.

He glanced round the table and tried not to smile at his audacity.

'That's what I told Cadillac when he challenged me about her role in

the strike on the wheel-boat. And when I discovered she was on Red

River, it reinforced my claim that she was a secret ally who, having

gained Mother's confidence, had persuaded him to put her on board the

wagon-train because she intended to go over the side and join up with

me at the very first opportunity."

Steve's gaze returned once more to his kin-sister. 'A claim that

Clearwater confirmed because Roz had already got inside her head and

was doing a number on her."

Wallis' eyes narrowed. In briefing him, Karlstrom had never even

suggested such a bizarre possibility. But in 'emphasizing the need to

keep her safe and secure at all times, he had warned him to be braced

for the unexpected. Which was why the task-force had been sticking to

her like shit to a blanket.

'Go on . . ."

'The next step is to convince Cadillac and Mr Snow that if we can find

a way of getting aboard Red River - maybe with the help of Malone's

renegades - then we can rescue both Roz and Clearwater. And perhaps

even capture the train."

Torn Watkins, the mex on Steve's right broke his silence with a dry

laugh. 'D'you really think they'd suck on that?"

'If the plan Malone put forward was good enough, yes."

Wallis looked perplexed. 'But in the time-frame you're talking about,

Roz has said that ALPHA-BRAVO will still be too ill to be moved."

'I know that, and you know that,' said Steve. 'But they don't. And

I'm not going to tell them."

'Let's run through this again." Wailis placed his hands together in a

prayer-like gesture in front of his mouth and collected his thoughts.

'You're suggesting we let your two remaining targets and a group of

Mutes gain access to the wagon-train then we spring some kind of

trap."

'Right..."

'And once Cadillac and Mr Snow have been captured, and the other lumps

have been neutralized, We make it look as if' the attack has

succeeded.

All right so far?" enquired Wallis.

'Perfect,' said Steve.

'At which point the rest of the clan will rush the wagontrain to get

their share of the pickings and ' 'Get it right in the kisser,' said

Nevill.

Wallis contained his annoyance at being interrupted.

'It's going to require meticulous planning. I mean, we want these

lumps on the train but we don't want them running wild..."

'That's why we need time,' said Steve. '(a) to set it up and (b) for

Malone to sell the idea to Cadillac."

'Why can't you do that?" asked Nevill.

'Because of these personality problems I mentioned.

He doesn't wholly trust me. But then, neither do you, major."

The challenge brought a smile to Nevill's face. 'I wouldn't go as far

as to say that. I've read up on what you did at the Heron Pool and

I've got to hand it to you.

That was a first class operation. And don't think I'm put off by that

paint-job you're wearing. I've been down to the dye-works a couple of

times myself. But I'm always a little wary about mexicans who get so

deep into their covers they end up bouncing beaver."

Steve controlled his anger. 'Go downstairs and take a look at her,

major. Take a long, hard look then come and tell me, hand on your

heart how - if you didn't know already - you could tell she was a

Mute."

Nevill laughed. 'By the skin colours, of course."

Steve pushed his left sleeve halfway up towards his elbow and displayed

his hand and arm.