by Simon Hawke
“It’s become too dangerous for you,” said Moffat. “You must leave at once, for your own safety.”
“Leave?” said Drakov, raising his eyebrows. He chuckled. wouldn’t dream of it.”
“But why? There is no need to take unnecessary chances. I can carry on for you here.” Moffat said. “From what you’ve told me of the time Commando units, they won’t rest until they had you. The risk to you is far too great-”
“What is life without the spice of risk’?” said Drakov, interrupting him. “Besides, the risk to me is negligible. They do not know where I am and now that I have been forewarned. I will not be so careless as to frequent public places. The advantage is still mine. I can still act anytime I choose.”
“Then let’s kill Adams and have done with it,” said Moffat. “We can wipe out the entire leadership of the Sons of Liberty in one quick stroke and completely change the course of history. They will be helpless to do anything about it and we can all make our escape.”
“No.” said Drakov, firmly. “I will choose the precise moment when to strike, so that the damage will have the greatest impact. I have planned this operation down to the final minute detail and I will not cheat myself of the opportunity to settle an old score. This time, the odds are on my side. The horseman and his followers are the obvious temporal anomaly that they must deal with first and in doing so, they are certain to reveal themselves. And while they have their hands full with the horseman and our Hellfire Club, thinking that is the main focus of the disruption. I will be free to make my move at the appropriate time. Their presence here changes nothing. Let us see what happens at the meeting tomorrow night.” He smiled. Who knows, we may even have visitors. We shall have to do our best to make them welcome.”
“I don’t like it.” Lucas said after Andre had finished giving her report. “This boy could cause us real problems if he talks.”
“I don’t think he will,” said Andre. “I think we can trust him to keep quiet about me.”
“What makes you so sure?” Lucas asked.
“He’s infatuated with me,” Andre said.
“I see. And you’re willing to trust him on the basis of a kiss and a quick feel?” Lucas said.
Andre gave him a hard look. “I’m just going to pretend I didn’t hear you say that.”
Lucas shook his head. “I’m sorry. That was out of line. But the fact remains that Johnny Small has become a complication. An infatuated seventeen-year-old is completely unpredictable.”
“I can handle him,” said Andre.
“Can you?” Lucas said. “How much experience do you have with teenager: having a crush on you? A seventeen year-old boy with his hormones in full roar can be one hell of a handful, especially if he’s got something to hold over you. What’ll you do if he decides to pursue this infatuation to its logical conclusion?”
“I don’t know,” said Andre, “he’s a cute kid. Maybe I’ll let him.”
“Very funny,” Lucas said. “But suppose he makes a pass. At his age, he probably won’t handle rejection very well. What happens if he threatens to expose you unless you accept his advances?”
“Well, then maybe for the sake of the mission. I’ll just have to make the sacrifice and go to bed with him.” said Andre.
“For Christ’s sake, Andre, I’m serious!”
“What do you want me to do. Lucas?” she said angrily. “You want me to take him out because he’s jeopardizing the security of the mission?”
“No, of course not, but-”
“What then?”
Lucas sighed in exasperation. “Hell, I don’t know. But we’ve got to do something.
“Why?” said Delaney.
“What do you mean, why?”
“Just that. Why?” Delaney said. “So what if he tells the Sons of Liberty that Andre is a woman? How does that jeopardize our mission? What’s the worst that could happen? We might encounter some 18th-century sexism’? I’m not sure it would even be a problem. The American colonies are fairly progressive for this time period. Women here own and operate their own businesses; on the frontier, they share in the work, hunt and help defend the homestead. The Sons of Liberty might raise a few eyebrows if they found out that Andre was passing as a male, hull hardly think it would cause any serious problems. Are you sure that’s what’s really bothering you?”
“Just what is that supposed to mean?” said Lucas.
“You tell me.” Delaney said. “Are you quite certain that your apprehensions aren’t based on a more personal reason?”
“Such as?”
Delaney stared at him. “We’ve known each other for a long time, partner.” he said. “I don’t really have to say it, do I’?”
“Yes, I think you do.” said Lucas. “Spit it out.”
“Stop it, both of you!” Andre said. “This isn’t getting us anywhere. Our personal problems can wait until the mission is completed. I don’t want to talk about this anymore. Finn’s right. If Johnny talks, it might do some damage, but it won’t be very serious. Anyway, I don’t think it will come to that. I said I could handle him. It’s my responsibility. Let me worry about it, okay?”
“Okay by me.” Delaney said.
“Lucas?”
“Yeah, yeah, all right. I just hope you know what you’re doing.”
“Are you questioning my judgment?” she said.
Lucas shook his head. “No. it isn’t that, it’s just… hell, forget it. It’s your call. Do what you think best.”
“All right, then,” she said. Now that that’s settled, the question is what do we do about Hunter’?”
“How much did you tell him’?” asked Delaney.
“Everything, except I left out the pan about Steiger, of course. In light of what Creed said, I think we have to assume that he could be double-dealing us. It’s possible. There’s still too much we don’t know.”
“Creed’s been a spook so long, paranoia is a way of life with him,” said Lucas. But frankly, I feel better knowing that he’s keeping tabs on Hunter. It’ll make our job a lot easier. I think we should keep Hunter on a ‘need-to-know’ basis; use him as a liaison with Adams and the Sons of Liberty, but don’t tell him anything that could affect the outcome of the mission. What he doesn’t know can’t hurt us.”
“Hunter’s not stupid.” Andre said. “He’s liable to figure out we’re holding out on him and he isn’t going to like it.”
“That’s his problem. Lucas said. “He doesn’t have to like it. But if he’s being on the level with us, he’ll have to do things our way or he doesn’t get to go back home.”
“ Does he get to go back home?” said Andre.
“Forrester gave his word,” said Lucas.
“I know,” she said, “but Steiger didn’t like it.”
“Creed’s not stupid enough to go against Forrester’s orders.” said Delaney
“Maybe not,” said Andre, “but I’ve been thinking about it and knowing Creed. I wouldn’t, put it past him to find a loophole. Such as the fact that Forrester didn’t say when Hunter would get to go back home. Creed just might decide to put him through interrogation first and find out if he was bluffing about those subliminal triggers.”
“Are you saying we should try to stop him if he does?” said Lucas.
“Are you saying that we shouldn’t?”
“Hunter is the opposition. Andre.” Delaney said.
“That’s not the point.” said Andre, “If Hunter doesn’t play straight with us. okay, all bets are off. but if he lives up to his end of the bargain. I think we ought to live up to ours.”
“Steiger might not see it that way,” Lucas said.
“That’s exactly what I’m talking about.” she said. “I just want to know what we’re going to do about it if it comes to that.”
“Let’s just make sure we understand each other here.” said Finn. “If Creed decides to take Hunter back when this is over and put him through the wringer before sending him back home, are you saying we sh
ould try to stop him? Lose the chance of gaining valuable intelligence and take the enemy’s side against one of our own people?”
“We made a deal: Andre said.
“Things aren’t always that simple. Andre,” Lucas said.
“They’re simple enough for me.” she said. “I’m sorry if I’m not sufficiently modern to compromise my integrity for political expediency, but when I give my word, I keep it. We made a deal with that man and we all shook hands on it. That may not mean a lot to Steiger, but it means a lot to me and I’ve always believed it meant a lot to you. Or was I wrong?”
“No. you weren’t wrong: said Lucas, “But I don’t think Creed will understand.”
“What about it. Finn?” she said, looking at him anxiously.
“Well, I guess we’ll just have to make him understand, won’t we?” said Delaney. There was a soft knock at the door. They exchanged quick glances. Delaney reached for his laser and held it out of sight. Lucas and Andre both took out their dueling pistols.
“Who is it?” Lucas said.
“A friend,” came a soft voice from beyond the door.
Lucas glanced at Andre. “Let him in, but stand clear the moment you open the door.”
Andre went to the door and slipped the bolt, then quickly opened it and stepped out of the way. The man who came in with his hands held out to his sides and slightly raised was Carruthers, the Tory who’d been sitting with John Hewitt.
“Easy,” he said. “I’m unarmed.”
Andre closed the door behind him, then quickly patted him down.
“He’s clean.”
“Lt. Paul Carruthers. Col. Priest, I presume?” Carruthers said, looking at
Lucas.
“Who sent you?” Lucas said, still covering him with the pistol.
“Col. Steiger,” he said. “It is all right if I put my hands down?”
Lucas nodded. “Steiger sent you from H.Q.?” he said.
Carruthers frowned. “No, this is my permanent post. Col. Steiger’s here in Boston. You didn’t know?”
Lucas loward his gun. “Yeah I knew. But you can’t he too careful.”
“I understand. I reported a temporal anomaly and was told that a team had already been dispatched. Steiger briefed me about Hunter. Unusual situation.”
“Yes, it certainly is.” said Lucas.
“I’m sorry to come so late, but I just got my orders.” Carruthers said. “Col. Steiger told me to report to you.”
“Why did Steiger know there was an Observer stationed here and we didn’t?” said Delaney.
“Because my commission’s not in the Observer Corps.” Carruthers said. “I’m Temporal Intelligence, section chief in this sector.”
“Section chief?” said Lucas “That implies you have a fully staffed field office here.”
“That’s right.” Carruthers said, sitting down in one of the chairs. “I’m in charge of thirty field agents spread throughout the thirteen colonies.”
“How come we didn’t know about it?” Lucas said. “There was nothing in the briefing tapes about a field office here.”
“That’s because we’re deep cover,” said Carruthers. “The C.I.S. has already raided our data banks once, so the I.S.D. established undocumented, deep-cover units in a number of high risk temporal scenarios. Besides, there’s also another reason. We’ve discovered that the Network has a very active branch here.”
“Terrific.” said Delaney. “Steiger sets up his own deep. cover operation and doesn’t even tell Forrester about it. Anyone else involved in this scenario that we don’t know about? The Girl Scouts, maybe?”
“What about the Network?” Lucas said. “What’ve you got on them?”
“Not very much,” Carruthers admitted. “We know they’ve infiltrated the East
India Company and we have good reason to believe they have some influence in the British Parliament, as well. They’re involved in the colonial smuggling trade, but we haven’t been able to establish exactly how or with whom. There are so many smugglers in the colonies that it’s been difficult to get a line on their activities. But we know they’re here.”
“And so is Drakov,” Delaney said. “Or maybe the C.I.S. Or maybe both Drakov and the C.I.S. And we’ve got a temporal disruption going down in the middle of the whole damn thing. Jesus, what a mess.”
“Yes, it could get a little sloppy,” Carruthers agreed. “That’s why Col. Steiger ordered me to put my entire section at your complete disposal. We can’t predict what the Network’s going to do, but by now, they probably know that an anomaly is taking place in Boston. The question is, how will they respond? A temporal disruption threatens them as much as it threatens us. The trouble is, they’re not very likely to offer us their help, for obvious reasons.”
“In other words, we could easily wind up working at cross purposes.” said Lucas. “That’s just wonderful. If Drakov is behind this, he couldn’t have picked a more ideal situation.”
“What are your plans’,” Carruthers asked. “We’re supposed to be patriots from New York, working undercover as Tories for the Sons of Liberty,” said Andre. Your friend, John Hewitt, promised to take us to a meeting of some kind of secret Tory organization that’s behind this headless horseman.”
“The Hellfire Club.” Carruthers said. “I know about it.”
“I seem to reall something about the Hellfire Club.” Delaney said. “Wasn’t that-”
“A society of sexual libertines, in England, headed by Sir Francis Dashwood and John Wilkes,” Carruthers finished for him. “This isn’t quite the same thing. though it’s apparently modeled on that group. I’ve managed to get a few people on the inside, but it hasn’t helped much.”
“What do you mean?” said Andre.
“Nobody seems to know who started it or who’s behind it.” Carruthers said. “It’s almost as it’ it all sprang up spontaneously, practically overnight. Ask too many questions and you get frozen out, suspected of being a radical. They meet at a small abandoned church outside of Boston. The property belongs to a local Tory. They all know one another and the times of meeting are passed informally by word of mouth. It’s impossible to track down the source. They put on black robes and masks and have themselves an orgy with booze and naked women, also wearing masks. It’s a nice touch. You know who’s there, but because everyone is masked, you can’t tell just who is doing what to whom. I suppose it keeps their Puritan sensibilities from being offended. And at some point during the festivities, they receive their orders from the horseman.”
“You mean he actually shows up?” said Finn.
Carruthers shook his head “No. only his voice is heard. With the dim candlelight and the weird acoustics in that place, there’s no way of telling where it comes from We’ve searched that chapel after they all left, but we didn’t find anything unusual. Whoever he is, he’s probably among the crowd, wearing a robe and mask, and he leaves with them.”
“What about the women’?” Lucas said. “It’s widely assumed that they’re all prostitutes,” said Carruthers. “but we’ve found out that a good number of them are young local girls from good families and even a few prominent Boston wives. Makes things rather interesting. In that dim light and with all those robes and masks, they could be doing it with their neighbors’ wives or their own daughters and not even know it. Swinging Boston. eh? And it gives them all something in common. Booze, politics, and sex. Half the Sons of Liberty are liable to defect just to join the party.”
“Well, so much for my attending the meeting,” Andre said.
“Yeah. I guess that leaves you out.” said Lucas.
“But you and Finn are still going. I suppose.” she said dryly.
“I’m afraid we’ll have to,” Lucas said. But you’ll try to bear up under the strain.” she said sarcastically.
“Very funny,” Lucas said.
“I wonder if Johnny Small is busy tomorrow night,” she said.
Lucas gave her a wry look, but said nothing.
“Exactly how many of your people are in Boston at the moment?” asked Delaney.
“An even dozen, myself included.” said Carruthers. “Six are stationed in New York, three in Virginia, three in Rhode Island, three in Pennsylvania, and three in Carolina. I can mobilize the entire section at any time. Want me to bring them all here?”
Not yet.” Delaney said. “For all we know, the opposition could have disruptions planned in the other colonies, as well. Leave your men where they are for the time being. Don’t take this the wrong way. Carruthers, but how certain are you of your men?”
“I picked them all myself and every one of them has been cleared,” Carruthers said. “Col. Steiger has personally taken charge of the section. He’s assigned two of my men to keep Hunter under surveillance so he could have maximum mobility. He just left to brief the rest of my people. He said to tell you he’ll be difficult to get in touch with, so my orders are to coordinate things at this end. I’m to report directly to you. I’ve already established my cover as a Tory sympathizer, so under the circumstances, our being seen together shouldn’t raise any suspicions.”
“Where can we get in touch with you’?” asked Lucas. “It’ll be easier for me to get in touch with you,” Carruthers said. “You can leave word with the bartender downstairs, a man named Horace Stedwell. He’s not one of my men, he’s a local, but I pay him under the table to can”, messages for me. I’ve been infiltrating the smuggling trade here in Boston, trying to get a line on the Network. But if an emergency comes up and you need me in a hurry, you can get in touch with my men in that apartment Steiger rented to keep an eye on Hunter. Just don’t go clocking over there. We’ve established security procedures so that nobody makes transition directly to the surveillance post, just in case the Network gets a line on the place and attempts to drop some people in on top of us. If anybody clocks in over there, my people are under orders to shoot first and ask questions later. Use the back stairs, instead. The password is ‘counterstrike.’ okay?”
