by Perry Rhodan
"A trump!" Mercant raised his head and questioned Rhodan with his eyes.
"Yes, he still has a final card up his sleeve—a mutant, unknown to us and whose special talents are still a mystery. This much we could find out from his liberated colleagues. Nobody knows what his speciality is but it seems to be something ghastly. I'm convinced the Supermutant won't be long in playing his last card. That will mean another chance for us—if we're lucky."
Bell made a face and joined the two men who were sitting at a table. "So I'm supposed to be your guinea pig again. When do I start?"
"In a week. Tell me, Reggie, what did the presidents think of the parade in their honor?"
"They were duly impressed," Bell said with satisfaction. "I'm quite sure they'll suggest starting next week their negotiations for unification of the world. This way you'll have something to do, Perry, while I'm busy off in the solar system searching for the firehead." He rose to leave.
"Firehead?" Mercant was puzzled.
Rhodan explained: "Bell's a fiend for nicknames. Calls you, for instance, the Terranian Sherlock Holmes, if I'm not mistaken." The usually imperturbable Mercant cracked up. But when he recovered from his laughter and flattery, 'Firehead' was still on his mind and he wanted to know what Bell, who had in the meantime departed, had meant by the expression.
"One of his names for the Supermutant," Rhodan said. "Sometimes he also calls him Mad Head—"
"Meat head? Mad Head. Or Super Sven, short for Svengali. Or Bad Eyes. But I must admit Firehead's the first time I've heard him use that one."
No one knew at that moment how appropriate to the future 'firehead' was. How fiery the path ahead would be. How prophetic the term 'firehead'—with a powered twin-headed mutant under the thrall of Hypno!
Mutants vs Mutants
Copyright © Ace Books 1972,
Ace Publishing Corporation
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