第21节
Malone laughed dismissively. 'I'll believe it when I see it! You've
got what it takes, Brickman, but like a lot of guys who are fast on
their feet, you're full of bullshit!" 'Yeah, I know it sounds that
way.
If we have time, I'm hoping to convince you you're wrong."
Malone jerked a thumb at Cadillac. 'This is the guy you've got to work
on. Know what your so-called friend here. thinks you are? An
undercover Fed!" Steve met this news with a dry laugh. 'Does he...
?"
Cadillac, who was totally unprepared for this embarrassing disclosure,
stammered: 'Now, uhh - w-wait a minute! I didn't put it exactly like
that -' 'That's okay,' said Steve amiably. 'I should have expected you
to try and get even." He turned back to Malone. 'We have a few
personal problems that need ironing out."
'Yeah, so I gather,' chuckled Malone. 'Somethin' to do with you
jackin' up his beaver."
The use of that word riled Steve but there was little he could do about
it. Malone was too big and too mean and Steve needed his wholehearted
cooperation. 'It's a long story . . ."
'Save it,' said Malone. 'I'm all smoked out." It was a phrase, coined
by users of rainbow-grass, which meant they'd had a surfeit of
psychedelic fantasies.
As Malone turned on his heel, Steve put a hand to his forehead. 'Wait
a minute! Roz is coming through!" The renegade paused with evident
irritation. Cadillac rose from the rock he'd been sitting on.
'It's a message for you. From Clearwater." He frowned as he mouthed
the next few phrases, then repeated them to Cadillac. 'She wants you
to rescue her from the wagon-train ' 'From Red River? Nothin' to
it!"
scoffed Malone.
'- Roz too. She wants to join us." A pregnant pause then - 'The
wagon-train has been ordered to stay in Nebraska... and patrol
westwards. along the line of the Platte River."
'Are you sure they are going to keep Clearwater aboardT' 'Yes." Steve
concentrated again. 'It's too risky to fly her out and. they can't
off-load her because. all the other wagon-trains are committed
elsewhere."
Malone decided to ask an awkward question. He had to pick at Steve's
story in order to enhance his own credibility and also to build up
Steve's. 'There's something fishy about all this. I know this
kin-sister of yours is working both sides of the track but why would
Red River waste time on a wounded Mute? One more, one less - what does
it matter to them? Why are they keeping her alive? Is there something
you haven't told met Steve appealed to Cadillac and received his
permission to speak. 'They're keeping her alive because they know
she's important to the Clan m'call. She's a summoner.
A very powerful one. And that's not bullshit. She is dynamite."
'How do they know that? Did you tell 'emT' 'No. I told Roz when we
met in Grand Central early last year. I found out later our
conversation was bugged."
'So...?"
Steve closed his eyes again and worked his fingers across his brow.
'Roz says the decision has come from Grand Central. They think that if
they leave Clearwater on board Red River, the Clan M'Call will try and
rescue her."
'Nahh,' said Malone. 'They ain't gotta hope in hell."
'On the face of it, no. But the clan is led by another summoner called
Mr Snow. He's old but he's still big trouble. I was on board The Lady
from Louisiana when he almost wrecked her in 2989."
Malone looked suitably impressed. 'You mean that Battle of the Now and
Then River? Even I've heard of that. Jeer! Was that him?"
'Yes it was!" exclaimed Cadillac. 'And I took part in that battle
too!" Malone looked at the Mute with new respect. 'Is that so? Well,
I've gotta tell you. It's no secret I've never been overly fond of you
people, but that's something' to be proud of. It's not often the
Federation gets a hiding like that. Hell, I wish I'd been there."
Cadillac squared his shoulders. 'The Plainfolk fight their own
battles!" 'Sure. But that's no reason why we couldn't put our heads
together. I know how those goddam things work.
Fact is, quite a few of the boys put in time on the trains.