“You’re defying lawful authority. I’m in charge here now.” Miss Meuhl stepped to the local communicator.
“I’m going to report this terrible thing to the Groaci at once, and offer my profound—”
“Don’t touch that screen,” Retief said. “You go sit in that corner where I can keep an eye on you. I’m going to make a sealed tape for transmission to Headquarters, along with a call for an armed Task Force. Then we’ll settle down to wait.”
Retief, ignoring Miss Meuhl’s fury, spoke into the recorder.
The local communicator chimed. Miss Meuhl jumped up and stared at it.
“Go ahead,” Retief said. “Answer it.”
A Groacian official appeared on the screen.
“Yolanda Meuhl,” he said without preamble, “for the Foreign Minister of the Groacian Autonomy, I herewith accredit you as Terrestrial Consul to Groac, in accordance with the advice transmitted to my Government direct from the Terrestrial Headquarters. As Consul, you are requested to make available for questioning Mr. J. Retief, former Consul, in connection with the assault on two Peace Keepers, and illegal entry into the offices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”
“Why . . . why,” Miss Meuhl stammered. “Yes, of course, and I do want to express my deepest regrets—”
Retief rose, went to the communicator, and assisted Miss Meuhl aside.
“Listen carefully, Fith,” he said. “Your bluff has been called. You don’t come in and we don’t come out. Your camouflage worked for nine years, but it’s all over now. I suggest you keep your heads and resist the temptation to make matters worse.”
“Miss Meuhl,” Fith replied, “a Peace Squad waits outside your Consulate. It is clear you are in the hands of a dangerous lunatic. As always, the Groaci wish only friendship with the Terrestrials, but—”
“Don’t bother,” Retief cut in. “You know what was in those files I looked over this morning.”
Retief turned at a sound behind him. Miss Meuhl was at the door reaching for the safe-lock release.
“Don’t!” Retief jumped . . . too late. The door burst inward, a crowd of crested Groaci pressed into the room, pushed Miss Meuhl back, and aimed scatter guns at Retief. Police Chief Shluh pushed forward.
“Attempt no violence, Terrestrial,” he said. “I cannot promise to restrain my men.”
“You’re violating Terrestrial territory, Shluh,” Retief said steadily. “I suggest you move back out the same way you came in.”
“I invited them here,” Miss Meuhl spoke up. “They are here at my express wish.”
“Are they? Are you sure you meant to go this far, Miss Meuhl? A squad of armed Groaci in the Consulate?”
“You are the Consul, Miss Yolanda Meuhl,” Shluh said. “Would it not be best if we removed this deranged person to a place of safety?”
“Yes,” Miss Meuhl said. “You’re quite right, Mr. Shluh. Please escort Mr. Retief to his quarters in this building.”
“I don’t advise you to violate my diplomatic immunity, Fith,” Retief said.
“As Chief of Mission,” Miss Meuhl said quickly, “I hereby waive immunity in the case of Mr. Retief.”
Shluh produced a hand recorder. “Kindly repeat your statement, madam, officially,” he said. “I wish no question—”
“Don’t be a fool, woman,” Retief said. “Don’t you see what you’re letting yourself in for? This would be a hell of a good time for you to figure out whose side you’re on.”
“I’m on the side of common decency!”
“You’ve been taken in. These people are concealing—”
“You think all women are fools, don’t you, Mr. Retief?” She turned to the police chief and spoke into the microphone he held up.
“That’s an illegal waiver,” Retief said. “I’m Consul here, whatever rumors you’ve heard. This thing’s coming out into the open, in spite of anything you can do; don’t add violation of the Consulate to the list of Groacian atrocities.”
“Take the man,” Shluh said. Two tall Groaci came to Retief’s side, guns aimed at his chest.
“Determined to hang yourselves, aren’t you?” Retief said. “I hope you have sense enough not to lay a hand on this poor fool here.” He jerked a thumb at Miss Meuhl. “She doesn’t know anything. I hadn’t had time to tell her yet. She thinks you’re a band of angels.”
The cop at Retief’s side swung the butt of his scatter gun and connected solidly with Retief’s jaw. Retief staggered against a Groacian, was caught and thrust upright, blood running down onto his shirt. Miss Meuhl yelped. Shluh barked at the guard in shrill Groacian, then turned to stare at Miss Meuhl.
“What has this man told you?”
“I—nothing. I refused to listen to his ravings.”
“He said nothing to you of . . . some alleged . . . involvement.”
“I’ve told you,” Miss Meuhl said sharply. She looked at the expressionless Groaci, then back at the blood on Retief’s shirt.
“He told me nothing,” she whispered. “I swear it.”
“Let it lie, boys,” Retief said, “before you spoil that good impression.”
Shluh looked at Miss Meuhl for a long moment. Then he turned.
“Let us go,” he said. He turned back to Miss Meuhl. “Do not leave this building until further advice.”
“But . . . I am the Terrestrial Consul.”
“For your safety, madam. The people are aroused at the beating of Groacian nationals by an . . . alien.”
“So long, Meuhlsie,” Retief said. “You played it real foxy.”
“You’ll . . . lock him in his quarters?” Miss Meuhl said.
“What is done with him is now a Groacian affair, Miss Meuhl. You yourself have withdrawn the protection of your government.”
“I didn’t mean—”
“Don’t start having second thoughts,” Retief said. “They can make you miserable.”
“I had no choice. I had to consider the best interest of the Service.”
“My mistake, I guess. I was thinking of the best interests of a Terrestrial cruiser with three hundred men aboard.”
“Enough,” Shluh said. “Remove this criminal.” He gestured to the Peace Keepers.
“Move along,” he said to Retief. He turned to Miss Meuhl.
“A pleasure to deal with you, Madam.”
* * *
The police car started up and pulled away. The Peace Keeper in the front seat turned to look at Retief.
“To have some sport with it, and then to kill it,” he said.
“To have a fair trial first,” Shluh said. The car rocked and jounced, rounded a corner, and puffed along between ornamented pastel facades.
“To have a trial and then to have a bit of sport,” the Peace Keeper said.
“To suck the eggs in your own hill,” Retief said. “To make another stupid mistake.”
Shluh raised his short ceremonial club and cracked Retief across the head. Retief shook his head, tensed—
The Peace Keeper in the front seat beside the driver turned and rammed the barrel of his scatter gun against Retief’s ribs.
“To make no move, outworlder,” he said. Shluh raised his club and carefully struck Retief again. He slumped.
The car, swaying, rounded another corner. Retief slid over against the police chief.
“To fend this animal—” Shluh began. His weak voice was cut off short as Retief’s hand shot out, took him by the throat, and snapped him down onto the floor. As the guard on Retief’s left lunged, Retief uppercut him, slamming his head against the door post. Retief grabbed the guard’s scatter gun as it fell, and pushed it into the mandibles of the Groacian in the front seat.
“To put your pop-gun over the seat—carefully—and drop it,” he said.
The driver slammed on his brakes, then whirled to raise his gun. Retief cracked a gun barrel against the head of the Groacian.
“To keep your eye-stalks on the road,” he said. The driver grabbed at the tiller and shrank against the window, watching Retief with one eye, driving with another.
“To gun this thing,” Retief said. “To keep moving.”
Shluh stirred on the floor. Retief put a foot on him, pressing him back. The Peace Keeper beside Retief moved. Retief pushed him off the seat onto the floor. He held the scatter gun with one hand and mopped at the blood on his face with the other. The car bounded over the irregular surface of the road, puffing furiously.
“Your death will not be an easy one, Terrestrial,” Shluh said in Terran.
“No easier than I can help,” Retief said. “Shut up for now, I want to think.”
The car, passing the last of the relief-encrusted mounds, sped along between tilled fields.
“Slow down,” Retief said. The driver obeyed.
“Turn down this side road.”
The car bumped off onto an unpaved surface, then threaded its way back among tall stalks.
“Stop here.” The car stopped, blew off steam, and sat trembling as the hot engine idled.
Retief opened the door, taking his foot off Shluh.
“Sit up,” he ordered. “You two in front listen carefully.” Shluh sat up, rubbing his throat.
“Three of you are getting out here. Good old Shluh is going to stick around to drive for me. If I get that nervous feeling that you’re after me, I’ll toss him out. That will be pretty messy, at high speed. Shluh, tell them to sit tight until dark and forget about sounding any alarms. I’d hate to see you split open and spill all over the pavement.”