第13节

genuine, a true

and loyal friend of the Plainfolk, he still wasn't prepared to let his

clanfolk be killed trying to rescue my kin-sister. It was a no-win

situation." Steve shrugged. 'From then on it went downhill, and as he

was trying to put a knife in me, we were hit by the Skyhawk."

'So what the hell are we doing talking about setting up a dummy

take-over of Red River? 'demanded Nevill. His eyes searched out the

other members of the task force then fixed on Steve. 'If this piece of

lump-shit wasn't prepared to involve his clan in an attack on the

wagon-train then, why in the name of the Family is he going to want to

do it now?!" Steve tried to appear patient and reasonable. 'Because

the situation has changed. Clearwater is on the train!" Nevill

grinned. 'Boy - I wish I could be there when you break the news. I'd

love to see you wriggle out of that one."

'I'll manage..."

'What will you say to him?" enquired Wallis.

'I'll tell him he was right. My idea of trying to spring Roz from Red

River was absolutely crazy. And the same goes for Clearwater. There

is no way anyone can get on board that wagon-train and rescue her. He

just has to be grateful she's alive and accept that she is now a

prisoner of the Federation."

'And what's his reaction likely to be?" asked Wallis.

Steve smiled. 'I know this guy like the back of my hand. If I say she

can't be rescued, he's gonna want to prove me wrong. And he'll buy the

idea of attacking the train because it won't come from me but from

Malone. He's the guy who has to sell it to him. And he has to do it

cleverly, so that Cadillac thinks it's all his own work."

Wallis mulled over the idea. 'Sounds as if it might fly.

Anyone spot any holes?"

'Yeah,' said Hannah, the mex sitting between Roz and Nevill on the

other side of the table. 'I believe our friend here has got these

lumps figured but we can't set up an attack on Red River without the

approval from the man at the top. Okay, let's say we get that -'

Nevill interrupted again. 'Can't see CINC-TRAIN agreeing to put Red

River on the line - and Fargo ain't gonna be too happy either."

'If Mother and the P-G give the go-ahead, CINC-TRAIN and Fargo won't

have any choice in the matter,' said Wallis with a sudden hint of steel

in his voice. 'Carry on, Ray. Assume we've got the green light..."

Hannah resumed: 'Okay. Let's say we then come up with a workable

plan.

One which has a reasonable chance of success from the Mute's point of

view, but which we can turn around when the time comes to spring the

trap. The question is - how can we be sure that the lumps will (a)

swallow it and (b) follow it."

'That's where I come in,' said Steve. 'The moment I get wind that

Cadillac is serious about rescuing Clearwater, I'm going to oppose the

whole idea. That will only make him more determined to go through with

it. But to play my part properly, I will have to know exactly what the

plan is."

'Point taken,' said Wallis. 'If we manage to get this thing off the

ground Malone will be in touch."

Steve shook his head. 'Too risky. He and I have got to stay at arm's

length. Malone must take his cue from Cadillac and appear to mistrust

me. Nothing heavy otherwise his boys will wonder why he hasn't put a

bullet through my throat. He just needs to display a reluctance to let

me in on what they're planning. It'll encourage Cadillac and Mr Snow

to believe he is totally genuine."

'So how do we reach you?" asked Wallis.

'Through Roz."

Nit-picker Nevill came off the sidelines. 'What's wrong with the

normal channels of communication?"

'You mean a radio-knife? Too risky,' said Steve. 'I was caught out

once before. If we're going to nail this bunch I have to win their

absolute trust. I'm well on the way to doing that. Cadillac is a

separate problem.

A personality clash. We're rivals. Anything I can do, he wants to do

better. I don't have this trouble with Mr Snow. He's razor-sharp and

he's shrewd but I've managed to establish what you might call a

"working relationship". He likes me - and that's another reason why

Cadillac has this down on me. He's jealous."

'How is Mr Snow going to react to the news that you've lost

Clearwater." asked Parsons. He was the mex sitting.