“This is your new backpack. It contains a number of items you will probably need-and here’s a printout of what’s inside it. I assume that you have a good deal of illegal and possibly deadly items in your old pack which you can transfer after I leave. Aida is assembling another tachyometer and I’m going to get it now. Floyd will join you shortly-and here is Madonette, welcome, welcome.”
Steengo made as graceful an exit as he could on crutches. Madonette, a picture of good cheer, swept in and took both of my hands in hers. Then discovered that this wasn’t an enthusiastic enough greeting so she kissed me warmly on my cheek. My arms embraced her in automatic response, but closed on empty air since she had already whirled away and dropped onto the couch.
“I wish that I were coming with you, Jim-but I know that it’s impossible. Still, I’m not looking forward to getting back to the stuffy old office.”
“I’m going to miss you,” I said. Meaning it to be a calm statement but listening to myself in horror as it came out all dewy-eyed and smarmy. “All of us will miss you, of course.”
“Same here. There were some hairy moments-but you took care of everything, didn’t you?” The warmth and appreciation were such that I could feel myself blushing. “All in all I think it was an experience of a lifetime. And I am definitely not going back to all those files and staff meetings and sealed windows. It’s field work from now on. Out in the fresh air? Isn’t that a good idea?”
“Wonderful, yes indeed,” I said, missing her already. I don’t know where all this might have ended if Floyd hadn’t made a disgustingly cheerful entrance.
“Morning all. Good day for the expedition. Hi and unhappily good-by Madonette, companion of many an adventure. It has been fun working with you.”
“Could you teach me unarmed defense?”
“My pleasure. Easy enough if you work at it.”
“Then I could train to be a field agent?”
“Probably not. But I’ll sure look into it.”
“Would you! I’d be ever grateful. I was telling Jim that I don’t want to work in an office anymore.”
“Nor should you! A girl with your talents can find much better occupation.”
They smiled at each other from opposite ends of the couch, knees almost touching, wrapped up in each other. I was forgotten. I hated Floyd’s guts. Was more than happy to hear the thud of crutches and the dragging footsteps approaching.
“All here,” Steengo said. “Very good. The tachyometer is ready.”
The thing that was following him now trotted forward. Walking, stiff-legged, was the ugliest fake dog that I had ever seen in my life. It was covered in black artificial fur with handfuls missing, had beady black eyes like buttons, stuck out a dry red tongue as it barked.
“Bow-wow.”
“What do you mean `bow-wow’?” I gasped aloud. “What is this repulsive object?”
“The tachyometer,” Admiral Steengo said.
“Bow-wow,” it barked again. “And for convenience sake the tachyometer is mounted within this mobile terminal.”
“Aida?” I said.
“None other. Do you like this disguise?”
“I have never seen a more artificial artificial dog in my life! ”
“Well don’t get too insulting about it. Fido is state of the art-and that is modern art if you are thinking something nasty. For one thing the dear little doggy communicates with me by gravimetric waves which, as I am sure you know, cannot be blocked like radio waves. They penetrate the most solid buildings, cut through the most gigantic mountain ranges. So we are always in communication, always in touch. Admittedly Fido here has seen better days. But you know what they say about beggars?”
“I do. But we’re choosers without being beggars and I choose a better mobile terminal.”
“Your choice, handsome. Give me two days and you can have whatever you want.”
Two days? And I had like maybe six and a half to live unless the antidote arrived. I took a deep breath and whistled.
“Here Fido. Nice doggie. Let’s go walkies.”
“Bow-wow,” it said and began to pant most artificially.
“This is the plan,” Admiral Steengo said. “I will monitor this operation from the orbiting spacer along with Captain Tremearne. Jim and Floyd will head north in the direction taken by the missing artifact. Aida will be in contact with this terminal, that will also be searching for a tachyon emission source.” He appeared to run out of words and rubbed his jaw.