“Well,” Firebrass said, “I don’t suppose Hacking wants anybody who isn’t willing to live in Soul City, no matter how black that person is.”
“What about the shipments of minerals?” Sam said. “Will those be discontinued during the negotiations?”
“I really couldn’t say,” Firebrass replied. “I doubt it, but I’d have to confer with Hacking. Of course, you’ll have to keep up your present rate of ore and weapons to us before the price is raised.” “I notice you said is, not might be,” Sam said.
“Anything I say is subject to confirmation or negation from Soul City,” Firebrass said, smiling.
It was then agreed that Cawber would go to Soul City as Parolando’s ambassador of the Carta could be changed to arrange it. Everything else was still up in the air. Sam Clemens received the impression that Firebrass did not intend to speed things up. Quite the contrary. He was willing to let things drag on or even to put his own foot on the brake if things showed signs of accelerating. He wanted to remain in Parolando, and Sam could only think that he wished to do so in order to spy. Perhaps, he also wanted to stir up trouble.
Later, he discussed the meeting with John. John agreed that Firebrass was a spy, but he could not see why Firebrass would stir up trouble.
“He would want the boat to be built as swiftly as possible. The sooner it’s completed, the sooner Hacking will try to seize it. Do you think for one moment that Hacking doesn’t intend to get the boat? Do you think for one moment that we have a single neighbor who doesn’t intend to try for the boat? Arthur made the abortive attempt to take us over because of his hatred for me. He should have waited until the boat was nearly completed and then, with Kleomenes and the Ulmaks, launched all the force they could mount in an all-out attack. As things worked out, he and Kleomenes were killed and Iyeyasu has invaded their countries while their successors are fighting among themselves.” “According to our spies, he’s winning, too,” Sam said.
“If he consolidates his state with the other two, then he’ll be a very formidable enemy.”
And so will you be John Lackland, Sam thought. Of all the people I’ll have to watch after the boat is built, you’ll bear the closest watching …
Firebrass announced that he and his delegation would remain as Soul City’s embassy while the negotiations went on.
“It’s nice to have you,” Sam said. “But Soul City has its own industries. I know it’s been using our ore to make weapons and several things our spies can’t find out about.”
Firebrass looked surprised and then he laughed uproariously. “You twist my stick, stymate!” he said in English. Then, in Esperanto, “Well, why shouldn’t we be frank? I like that. Yes, we know you have spies among us—just as you know we have ours here. Who doesn’t have his spies in his neighbors’ lands? But what are you getting at?”
“You’re the most technically trained man Hacking has. You’re a PhD. You’re in charge of the factories and of research and development. So why does Hacking send you here when he needs you there?” “I’ve set everything up to run smoothly. Soul City
oesn’t need me right now, and I was bored. I wanted to come here, where it’s at.”
“So you can see what we’ve got, like our Mark I handguns and our airplane and the amphibian and its steam cannon?”
Firebrass grinned and nodded. “Yes. Why not? If I don’t see these things, someone else will.”
Sam relaxed. He said, “Have a cigar. You can look all you want. We’re not doing anything you wouldn’t have figured out for yourself, except for the steam cannon maybe. That, by the way, is my invention. Come along with me. I’m very proud of it and want you to see it. It’s almost finished.”
Firedragon I rested inside its supporting framework of timbers. It was silvery gray and shaped like a flatbottomed boat but had seven huge metal wheels with plastic tires on each side. Twin screws protected by a screen protruded from its rear. Its length was thirty feet, its beam was ten feet, and its height was twelve feet. Three turrets stuck out from the upper deck. One held the pilot, captain and radio operator, though at the moment Parolando had no radios. The center turret was higher than the others, and the barrel of a short stubby weapon encased in wood projected from it. The rear turret was designed for gunners who would be armed with Mark I handguns and perhaps rifles.