Chapter 22
"They certainly are building a great fleet Sire, on a planet they call'Algon'," Hanlon stated crisply, and almost gave a yell of glee as, theemperor's mind fleetingly called up a picture--distorted as though ithad only been described to him--of one of the Greenies. He hurriedlycontinued punching. "I know His Highness was the guiding mind behindthat, for I was supposed to be working for him, and I've just come backfrom four months there."
The emperor started to deny it, but Admiral Hawarden stepped closer tothe desk and fixed the monarch with a stern eye.
"We don't wish to be discourteous or insolent, Sire, but we know thatyou do know something about this. Wait, please," he held up his hand asthe emperor opened his mouth, so apparently about to demand an apologyfor the _lese majeste_ of calling him a liar. "We do not believe youwere doing this of your own accord, nor that you initiated theconspiracy. But we do feel positive you know something about it. And forthe peace of the Federation we must have every possible scrap ofinformation you can give us."
The emperor became gradually less antagonistic, and as his face flushedhis eyes became pleading.
"I ... I ...", he struggled to go on, then realizing that something washolding him back, changed the subject slightly. "I hope, gentlemen, youwill forgive me. I don't know what has come over me these past years.I think you know, Hawarden, that I was always heartily in favor ofthe Federation, and did all I could to make it a force for peacethroughout the System. I know only too well how inter-planetary warwould wreck all our economies, and I do not want that. But I seem tohave ... changed ... these last years ... and I didn't want to!" It wasalmost a sob.
The admiral, as man to man, went quickly around the desk and laid hishand comfortingly on the imperial shoulder. "We all felt that, Sire. Youwere far too great a ruler to have changed so radically. It puzzled andsaddened us all, but now I believe we can begin to see the reason--andit doesn't harm you in our estimation now that we realize you couldn'thelp it."
The emperor raised puzzled eyes. "What do you mean by that?"
"May I answer that, Sire?" Hanlon stepped forward. "We know now thatGorth Bohr wasn't human--he was an alien from ..."
"An ... alien?" the emperor quavered.
"Yes, Sire, definitely. We do not yet know where he came fromoriginally, but we do know he had considerable more--ordifferent--mental powers in some ways, than most humans. You are undersome sort of a compulsion or hypnosis that prevents your speaking out.The fact that your health failed and your body deteriorated so rapidlyproves it was against your desires."
The emperor was startled by that, and his body shook as with a palsy. Herepeated his query, dully, "An alien?"
Hanlon and Hawarden nodded silently. After a moment Hanlon took a deepbreath and dared the question: "May we have permission to search Bohr'squarters and offices to see what evidence we can find that will perhapstell us more about his projects?"
His Majesty straightened with decision, and years seemed to drop fromhis face and figure. "You certainly may, I'll give orders at once, andyou can send in as many of your experts as you desire. I can sense theneed for speed."
Hanlon bowed his thanks, and the admiral voiced his. "That is verygracious, Sire. The Corps thanks you."
The emperor was gaining strength and his old shrewdness by the moment."What about that fleet you say is being built on ... on some otherplanet?"
Hanlon noticed that hesitation and guessed the reason. But for themoment he let it lie, and answered the question. "It is not yet aserious menace, Sire, but will be shortly if not taken into the Corps'hands."
Admiral Hawarden explained further that the grand fleet was beingassembled, and would cope with the problem within days.
"Good. Good. Call on us for whatever assistance we can give."
They talked over many details for some time, then the admiral rose asthough to take his leave.
But Hanlon wasn't yet ready. He wanted to pick up that matter he had letlie some minutes ago. He stepped up to the desk and looked straight intothe imperial eyes.
"Sire, please think hard with all your will. I believe you know moreabout Bohr's plans, but that the knowledge was hypnotically sealed inyour sub-conscious. Bohr had that power, we know. Please try to breakthat seal. Bohr is dead now--his _compulsion_ can no longer bind you!"
The emperor seemed doubtful, but at Hanlon's continued, assuredinsistence, finally agreed to try. He concentrated for long, long,agonizing minutes. Great beads of sweat stood out on his white, strainedface, and his hands clenched into tight balls.
Hanlon almost repented, and thought of breaking the spell and tellingthe suffering ruler it didn't matter that much, that they could get theknowledge elsewhere. But he _had_ to have those facts--and if he couldsuffer as he had done, so could others.
But just then the emperor suddenly relaxed. His features became morecomposed and natural, and he smiled in relief.
"It is coming now," he wiped his face with his silk kerchief. "Bohr didboast to me that he would one day rule the galaxy. But then he told me Imust forget what he said, and I did."
That speech seemed to release him still further from the awful tensionthat had held him for so many years. He was weary but happy. "He didn'ttell me much in detail, as nearly as I can remember. Merely that planswere being made to gain control first of this planet, then theFederation, and after that the whole Galaxy."
"Did he say who was with him in this outrageous undertaking?" Hawardengasped, and Hanlon added, "We mean, was he alone in it, or was someother planet or system backing him?"
The emperor thought steadily for some time, then shook his head. "Idon't seem to remember," he sighed sadly. Nor could he, after half anhour's more concentration. "I am sorry I cannot give you thatinformation, gentlemen. But you will soon, we trust, have reason tobelieve that we are once more desirous of doing everything possible forthe peace and well-being of the Federation."
There were tears in Admiral Hawarden's eyes and he impulsively steppedforward and grasped the emperor's hand.
"Welcome back, Sire," he said sincerely.
Back at Base, there were messages awaiting, that had come in while theywere gone. The admiral handed one of them to Hanlon. It was terse, butbrought a happy smile to his face.
_"Coming immediately, with full crew. Congratulations. NEWTON."_
* * * * *
Others were from Grand Fleet, regarding the measures being taken for thefleet rendezvous, and the part the Simonidean sector was to play.Another was from the planetographers, giving the spatial location ofAlgon, with the note that they had finally found it on a star map, andthat a survey ship was being sent there at once.
Hanlon punched a stud. "Stay away from Algon," he rapped out when thescientist's face appeared on the screen. "Don't send that ship until youget permission. Just forget all about even having heard of Algon!"
The elder looked questioningly at the youthful civilian giving him suchorders. "I don't know ..."
"Hawarden speaking," the admiral pushed Hanlon aside and glared into thescreen. "That's an order! Forget it, as you were told!"
"Yes, sir. It's forgotten."
Hanlon turned wearily to the admiral. "I'm minus on sleep and strengthright now, sir. Think I'll go get some rest. In the morning I'll comeback and we'll start searching Bohr's stuff."
"Right, I could use some caulking-off myself. A couple more orders, thenI'm going home. Do you want to bunk here at Base?"
"No, guess I'd better go back to the hotel. I can't appear here toomuch, you know--might be recognized by some Terran officer. And thatbrings up a problem. What will be my apparent status before the crewsdoing the searching?"
"Civilian specialist, called in by the Corps," Hawarden was used toquick decisions. "We often use such. I'll sign a pass for you. Betteruse a disguise and different name, hadn't you?"
Hanlon nodded. "False mustache, skin darkened, contact lenses to colormy eyes. And I'll call myself Spencer Newton."
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Hawarden looked surprised. "You pick a name fast."
The SS man grinned back. "It's the one I was born with,"--and then theadmiral really was surprised, but asked no questions. He filled in thepass with that name. "Better come directly into this private office."
* * * * *
When they met in the morning Hawarden complimented Hanlon on hisdisguise, then quickly reported he had already assembled crews and onewas working at the imperial palace and the other at the ex-PrimeMinister's own residence.
"Good," Hanlon was well-rested and his voice was crisp. "I think I'llstart at Bohr's place."
The two officers left Base, a staff car rushing them to the ministerialresidence. They entered and Hawarden led the way down a hall towardsBohr's private office.
But just as they reached the door and were turning to go in, Hanlonsuddenly pushed the admiral past it, then jumped across the openinghimself. Hawarden turned in puzzlement, but Hanlon signalled quiet andled him into a small reception room adjoining.
"There's one man in there you'll have to get rid of before I can go in,"he explained in a swift whisper. "Young junior lieutenant named DickTrowbridge. He'd recognize me even in this disguise. How'd he ever gethere to Sime?"
"Trowbridge? Oh, yes, he was sent here from Terra when we asked Primefor a code-expert."
"Umm, that's right, Dick was a code-specialist," Hanlon nodded. "He wasmy roommate all through cadet school," he explained. "It would give thewhole works away if he saw me here."
"He's our only good decoder," Admiral Hawarden frowned. "We lost ourbest man. We'll have to use him if any code shows up."
"I realize that, but send him away for now. If we get code we can sendit to him at Base."
"Right, sir, I'll fake an excuse."
Some five minutes later Hawarden returned. "All clear now, sir."
They started out, then Hanlon stopped the admiral with a hand on hisarm. "Please, sir," his face was flaming, his eyes miserable, but hisvoice was fairly steady. "Please don't call me 'Sir' all the time. Itmay be that my position as an SS man carries that distinction, but itmakes me nervous. A youngster like me has no business being called 'Sir'by a top brass like you who has worked nearly half a century to achievethe honor."
Admiral Hawarden grinned suddenly, and hugged Hanlon with a fatherlygesture. "You're all right, Son, and I'm for you. From now on you'resimply 'Newton'. Anything to make you ... hey, 'Newton'? Are you...?"
Hanlon nodded. "His son."
The admiral's eyes glowed. "Wonderful man, your dad. One of the Corps'greatest."
The young man swallowed hard. "I think so, too."
They had been working nearly a quarter of an hour, sorting through thevoluminous papers in the minister's desk and files, when another Corpslieutenant came in, his hand bandaged.
"What happened to you, Patrick?" Hawarden asked in surprise.
"That blasted toogan bit me, and I had to get my hand dressed."
"What toogan?"
"One that must have been Bohr's pet. It was flying all about the roomyelling and cussing us out. I was crossing to the corner of the room,there, when it screamed and bulleted over, slashing my hand when I threwit up to protect my face."
Another of the men spoke up. "Took three of us to capture it, and Iwanted to wring its neck, but Captain Banister wouldn't let me, so westuffed it into its cage and sent it to the Zoo."
Hanlon was intensely interested in this, but one thing puzzled him. Hesignalled Hawarden to one side, and asked in a whisper, "What's atoogan?"
"A native bird here much like your Terran parrots, but with even morebeautiful plumage, and they can talk much better than parrots. They seemto have quite a lot of intelligence."
Hanlon was instantly alert. "Get it back here for me."
Puzzled but unquestioning, the admiral went to the visiphone and dialedthe zoo. "Admiral Hawarden, Curator. I believe the Prime Minister'stoogan was just delivered to you. There was a mistake. Please send itback ... never mind, sir, what the 'why' is, just return itimmediately."
He flipped off the switch impatiently, and looked at the young SecretServiceman with wondering eyes. A toogan? What on earth did the fellowwant with ... this was the most amazing man he'd ever seen. But he suredid get results.
He turned back to his men. "Anything yet?"
"Nothing but ordinary state papers so far, sir," was the consensus.
"Keep looking. Remember, we especially want any mention of any planetswhose names you do not recognize; anything about ship-building, or aboutmining or other planets."
Hanlon handed Hawarden a note, and the admiral sent a couple of marinesoff on a run. Half an hour later a truck pulled up in front, and themarines carried in another desk. It was the one from that back room inthe Bacchus Tavern.
Hanlon himself went through this, but was quickly disappointed. Therewasn't a thing he wanted in any of the drawers. He turned the deskupside down, looking for secret compartments. Finding none, he orderedthe marines to take it to pieces. At a nod from the admiral theydismantled the desk.
But it was perfectly innocuous.
Hanlon was just turning away, disgustedly, when a man came from the zoowith the caged toogan. At sight of the familiar room the bird perked up.
"Hey, Boss!" it called out in a clear but whistling sort of voice, "I'mhome again." Hanlon had no trouble understanding its words, spoken inSimonidean, of course, but was busy examining its mind. He walked overto the messenger and held out his hand. "I'll take the bird."
The zoo attendant looked at him doubtfully. "It's a vicious thing, sir,"he said. "Be careful--it's already injured one man. They say no one butthe Prime Minister can handle it."
"It's all right," the admiral spoke. "Thank you for bringing it. Thatwill be all."
Hanlon took the cage and, giving the admiral a meaning look, walked outof the room with it.
Man of Many Minds Page 22
