“Yes, Doctor.” His way led him past the school armorer, who had set up a booth outside the door. The old chap was wiping off a noiseless Summerfield. Rod caught his eye. “Howdy, Guns.”
“Hi, Jack. Kind of late, aren’t you? What’ll it be?”
Rod’s eye ran over the rows of beautiful weapons. Maybe just a little needle gun with poisoned pellets .
He wouldn’t have to use it .
Then he realized that Dr. Matson had answered his question, with a very broad hint. “Uh, I’m already heeled, Guns. Thanks.”
“Okay. Well, good luck, and hurry back.”
“Thanks a lot.” He went into the gate room.
The seminar had numbered more than fifty students; there were about twenty waiting to take the examination. He started to look around, was stopped by a gate attendant who called out, “Over here! Draw your number.”
The lots were capsules in a bowl. Rod reached in, drew one out, and broke it open. “Number seven.”
“Lucky seven! Congratulations. Your name, please.”
Rod gave his name and turned away, looking for a seat, since it appeared that he had twenty minutes or so to wait. He walked back, staring with interest at what his schoolmates deemed appropriate for survival, any and all conditions.
Johann Braun was seated with empty seats on each side of him. The reason for the empty seats crouched at his feet a big, lean, heavilymuscled boxer dog with unfriendly eyes. Slung over Braun’s shoulder was a General Electric Thunderbolt, a shoulder model with telescopic sights and coneoffire control; its power pack Braun wore as a back pack. At his belt were binoculars, knife, first aid kit, and three pouches.
Rod stopped and admired the gun, wondering how much the lovely thing had cost. The dog raised his head and growled.
Braun put a hand on the dog’s head. “Keep your distance,” he warned. “Thor is a one-man dog.”
Rod gave back a pace. “Yo, you are certainly equipped.”
The big blond youth gave a satisfied smile. “Thor and I are going to live off the country.”
“You don’t need him, with that cannon.
“Oh, yes, I do. Thor’s my burglar alarm. With him at my side I can sleep sound. You’d be surprised at the things he can do. Thor’s smarter than most people.”
“Shouldn’t wonder.”
“The Deacon gave me some guff that the two of us made a team and should go through separately. I explained to him that Thor would tear the joint apart if they tried to separate us.” Braun caressed the dog’s ears. “I’d rather team with Thor than with a platoon of Combat Pioneers.”
“Say, Yo, how about letting me try that stinger? After we come out, I mean.
“I don’t mind. It really is a honey. You can pick off a sparrow in the air as easily as you can drop a moose at a thousand meters. Say, you’re making Thor nervous. See you later.”
Rod took the hint, moved on and sat down. He looked around, having in mind that he might still arrange a survival team. Near the shuttered arch of the gateway there was a priest with a boy kneeling in front of him, with four others waiting.
The boy who had been receiving the blessing stood up and Rod stood up hastily. “Hey! Jimmy!”
Jimmy Throxton looked around, caught his eye and grinned, hurried over. “Rod!” he said, “I thought you had ducked out on me. Look, you haven’t teamed?”
“Still want to?”
“Huh? Sure.”
“Swell! I can declare the team as I go through as long as you don’t have number two. You don’t, do you?”
“No”
“Good! Because I’m”
“NUMBER ONE!” the gate attendant called out. “‘Throxton, James.'”
Jimmy Throxton looked startled. “Oh, gee!” He hitched at his gun belt and turned quickly away, then called over his shoulder, “See you on the other side!” He trotted toward the gate, now unshuttered.
Rod called out, “Hey, Jimmy! How are we going to find” But it was too late. Well, if Jimmy had sense enough to drive nails, he would keep an eye on the exit.
“Number two! Mshiyeni, Caroline.” Across the room the big Zulu girl who had occurred to Rod as a possible team mate got up and headed for the gate. She was dressed simply in shirt and shorts, with her feet and legs and hands bare. She did not appear to be armed but she was carrying an overnight bag.