Read 19 - The Power Cube Affair for Free Online Page A

to pass the information along to those who can deal with it."
    "Like Captain Barnett?"
    "Not at all. Roger is just one of thousands. He happens to be in the services. Many are. Many others are not. All are hand picked to be loyal, reliable, observant. They report. That's all. Anything odd and unusual, out of line, suspicious, it comes back to me. That is all they do. Mary was one such. Her reports went to Roger; his reports to me. Of himself he knows nothing else, so can't give anything away. But I have other people, rather special people, who deal with things. That's why I am upset about Mary. It should not have happened. There will be other people to deal with that side of it."
    "Permission to kill?" Solo queried, and the old man snorted gently.
    "I deal in information. Sometimes, when necessary, I help. I can pull some very long strings. As a rule we operate to whittle the opposition down to the point where the law can step in. Sometimes we are—more drastic than that."
    "So what are you offering?"
    "Cooperation. Tell me what you know. Pass the message you had from Mary. Give me time to get some positive lines on the people concerned. Keep in touch with Nan here, and as soon as I have it I will pass it on. Well?"
    "I'll make a deal," Solo said carefully. "We want the people who pulled this particular job. That's all. It's personal, nothing to do with the Command this time. You can have the message, and all the data we've got." He took the cassette from his pocket and slid it across the table, went on to explain how it had been garnered. He filled in details of events since, particularly the fracas outside their hotel. "Barnett's beautiful gopher girl could do with a little probing. And that technique for rounding up juvenile delinquents to order!"
    "Yes!" The old man sounded thoughtful. "Damnably easy to do, too. In any shiftless mob it only needs one or two persuasive voices to sway the whole thing. I must say Absalom Green is new to me. Mary was especially interested in the drug business, these infernal psychotoxics and hallucinogens. The yacht will be easy enough to watch, but they'll be too smart to use it openly."
    "A question," Kuryakin spoke up. "Your special people— do I take it Miss Perrell is a sample?"
    "You may take it so, why?"
    "She's female. So was Mary Chantry."
    "Hah! A dove and a hawk are both birds, but there's a world of difference between them, you must admit. Very well, gentlemen. Nan will take you away again, and I will be in touch with you as soon as there's anything to pass on."
    As they followed her out there was something about her footfall that betrayed the mood she was in. In the car she said nothing at all until they were well clear of the rendezvous. Then, pulling into the roadside and canceling the blacked out windows, she half-turned to glare.
    "Overblown trollop, eh? Smell, do I?"
    "You should be flattered," Kuryakin said innocently. "You were acting a part. You fooled us completely."
    "I am not acting any part right now," she said, through very white teeth. "Understand this much. Charles put you in my charge, so you will do as I say. Or you can get out and walk, right now!"
    "That's fair," Solo approved. "We'll get out, and you'll have to go back to Charles and tell him exactly how you lost us. Ready, Illya?"
    For one moment he thought she was going to scream; then she drew a deep breath and swiveled forward.
    "All right!" she muttered. "Yours today. Where do I drop you?"
    Smothering a grin, Solo gave her the address and the car stormed away. In a while Kuryakin sighed and leaned forward.
    "What are the terms for a truce, Miss Perrell?"
    "Overblown trollop!" she repeated savagely. "Talk about pearls before swine! Overblown!"
    "I too was acting a part," he said placatingly. "That was merely corroborative detail, intended to lend artistic verisimilitude to an otherwise bald and unconvincing narrative!"
    "Good grief!" The car did an involuntary swerve as she twisted her head to stare back