by Merseians and hypnoprobed in a random-pattern search for
information.”
Rax hunched forward. “Let me make the proposition quite specific,” it
continued. “If Wayland turns out to be worthless, you simply report to
Ammon as ordered. When it is safe, you seek me and tell me the details.
I want especially to know as much about Flandry as you can extract from
him. For example, has he anything more in mind concerning this mission
than earning his bribe? You see, my organization may well have uses of
its own for a buyable Navy officer. Since this puts you to no special
effort or hazard, your compensation will be one hundred thousand
credits.”
Plus what I’ve already got in my purse, she exulted, plus Leon’s
payment!
“And if the moon is valuable?” she murmured.
“Then you must capture the boat. That should not be difficult. Flandry
will be unsuspicious. Furthermore, our agents will have seen to it that
the crates supposed to contain impellers do not. That presents no
problem; the storage cave is unguarded.”
Djana frowned. “Huh? What for? How can he check out the place if he
can’t flit around in his spacesuit?”
“It will not be considered your fault if his judgment proves erroneous,
for this or any other cause. But he should be able to do well enough; it
is not as if this were a xenological expedition or the like. The reason
for thus restricting his mobility is that he–young and reckless–will
thereby be less likely to undertake things which could expose you, our
contact, to danger.”
“Well!” Djana chuckled. “Nice of you.”
“After Flandry is your prisoner, you will steer the boat through a
volume whose coordinates will be given you,” Rax finished. “This will
bring you within detection range of a ship belonging to us, which will
make rendezvous and take you aboard. Your reward will go to a million
credits.”
“Um-m-m … ” Check every angle, girl. The one you don’t check is sure
to be the one with a steel trap in it. Djana flinched, recalling when
certain jaws had punished her for disobedience to an influential person.
Rallying, she asked: “Why not just trail the scout?”
“The space vibrations created by an operating hyper-drive are
detectable, instantaneously, to a distance of about one light-year,” Rax
said, patient with her ignorance of technology. “That is what limits
communications over any greater reach to physical objects such as
letters or couriers. If our vessel can detect where Flandry’s is, his
can do likewise and he may be expected to take countermeasures.”
“I see.” Djana sat a while longer, thinking her way forward. At last she
looked up and said: “By Jesus, you do tempt me. But I’ll be honest, I’m
scared. I know damn well I’m being watched, ever since I agreed to do
this job, and Leon might take it into his head to give me a narcoquiz.
You know?”
“This has also been provided for,” Rax pointed. “Behind yonder door is a
hypnoprobe with amnesiagenic attachments. I am expert in its use. If you
agree to help us for the compensation mentioned, you will be shown the
rendezvous coordinates and memorize them. Thereafter your recollection
of this night will be driven from your consciousness.”
“What?” It was as if a hand closed around Djana’s heart. She sagged back
into her chair. The cigarette dropped from cold fingers.
“Have no fears,” the goblin said. “Do not confuse this with
zombie-making. There will be no implanted compulsions, unless you count
a posthypnotic suggestion making you want to explore Flandry’s mind and
persuade him to show you how to operate the boat. You will simply awaken
tomorrow in a somewhat disorganized state, which will soon pass except
that you cannot remember what happened after you arrived here. The
suggestion will indicate a night involving drugs, and the money in your
purse will indicate the night was not wasted. I doubt you will worry
long about the matter, especially since you are soon heading into
space.”
“I–well–I don’t touch the heavy drugs, Rax–”
“Perhaps your client spiked a drink. To continue: Your latent memories
will be buried past the reach of any mere narcoquiz. Two alternative