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virtual-reality AI in real life . . . if you could call that real. Or life for that matter. How many of them were there? I saw five, Peter said. Um-hm. Now, this is very important, sir. We intercepted a remark made by one of the raiders to the effect that a new weapon was being used. Do you have any knowledge of such? Peter grinned; he couldn t help it. A new weapon? he asked. Yes, sir. He said it was, I quote, wrecking his sensors. Peter started to chuckle. I suppose it was a new weapon in this context. About thirty thousand years old in another. It s not funny, sir. The youngster s face was stern. If the Merchant Marine companies have some unknown weapon at their disposal, and they aren t willing to contribute it to the war effort, it s a serious matter. Are you suggesting they d use it against Space Command? Raeder asked incredulously. No, sir, of course not. But they may be withholding it from us, and it certainly sounds like something Space Command could use. There s a lot of Page 36 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html bitterness against us from that quarter, Clark said confidentially. And if they re withholding vital information like this . . . he leaned forward, at the very least it s inappropriate. At worst . . . treason. Oh, come on! I know paranoia is an occupational requirement for spooks, Peter thought, but this is ridiculous. It was me, Raeder said. And I used a hammer. Not the most high- tech equipment you ll run across, I grant you, but effective nonetheless. You? Clark said. He looked at Raeder as though he d suddenly started speaking in tongues. Peter nodded. Would you mind telling me how you accomplished that, sir? So Raeder did. I see, Clark said when Peter finished. He gave the commander a measuring look. You drove around on the surface of the raider s ship beating on its sensor pickups with a hammer. The Intelligence Officer s lips pursed. Yes. Peter could imagine Clark wondering what he was hiding, why he was sympathetic to the Merchant Marine. What vile plots were being hatched, what faithless alliances made. Because it was as plain as the snub nose on his bland face that the lieutenant hadn t believed a word of Peter s story. Thank you, sir, Clark said suddenly. Standing, he gathered the notebook he d brought with him. Someone will be along shortly to show you back to the lobby. We re not quite finished, Lieutenant, Raeder said in a soft, even tone that implied sit down quite loudly. I have something to say, for the record. Though you can bet I ll back it up with a written report. The Merchant Marines have good reason to be bitter toward Space Command. They re virtually unarmed out there. To the raiders it s like some kind of game where there s no penalty, just prizes. How many ships have we lost in the last month to these pirates? he demanded. That s classified. Clark snapped, his expression puzzled. It was plain he couldn t understand why Peter was stating the obvious. Without commerce the Commonwealth will evaporate, Raeder said. If we re not going to defend what we re fighting for, why bother to have the war? A stupid question, of course, but he also had a point. And if you re talking to the dense or distracted, sometimes a stupid question will get their attention. We don t have enough ships, or fuel, Clark said slowly and carefully, to provide heavier escort for the convoys. We are literally doing all we can. I disagree, Peter said. We can t send more ships, there you re right. But we have unused weapons in storage, we have trained gun crews waiting for assignment. How much antihydrogen would it expend to put those resources together with the freighters themselves? he asked. If you send them out heavily armed and in convoy you may not even need the escorts. Clark looked like he d been hit by a two-by-four. He nodded slowly. You may have a point, he conceded. Of course I have a point, you donkey. Do you really think so? Raeder asked, as though genuinely surprised. Yes. It could work. I ll leave it in your hands, then. Like hell. Peter rose and offered his hand. The more directions the idea is heard from, the more likely it is to be heard at all. Page 37 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html Glory won behind the controls of a Speed was one thing, a victory a man could [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ] |
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