Part 34 (1/2)

One of them stepped out of his coveralls and tossed away the head covering. He was bald except for a few strands of white hair. He looked kindly in spite of his major general's uniform.

He stepped up to General Pagel and they exchanged salutes. I want to speak to Dr. Marty Larrin.

General Blaisdell, I presume, Marty said.

He walked over to him and smiled. We have to speak, of course.

Of course. Maybe we can convert one another.

He looked around and stared at me. ' 'You're the black physicist. The murderer. I nodded. Then he pointed at Amelia. And Dr. Harding. I want all of you to come with me.

On his way out, he tapped the first soldierboy. ' 'Come along for my protection, he said, smiling. Let's go talk in Dr. Harding's office.

I don't really have an office, she said, just a room. She seemed to be straining not to look at me. Room 241.

We did have a weapon there. Did she think I could outdraw a soldierboy? Excuse me, general; let me open this drawer and see what I find. Oops, fried Julian.

But it might be the only chance we'd have at him.

The soldierboy was too big for all of us to fit in the freight elevator, so we walked up the stairs. Blaisdell led at a quick pace. Marty got a little winded.

The general was obviously disappointed that room 241 wasn't full of test tubes and blackboards. He consoled himself with a ginger ale from the cooler.

I suppose you're curious about my plan, he said.

Not really, Marty said. It's a fantasy. No way you can prevent the inevitable.

He laughed, quiet amus.e.m.e.nt rather than a madman's cackle. I have JPL.

Oh, come on.

It's true. Presidential order. There are no scientists there tonight. Just my loyal troops.

All of them Hammer of G.o.d? I asked.

All the leaders, he said. The others are just a cordon, to keep the world of unbelievers away.

You seem like a normal person, Amelia said, lying through her teeth. Why would you want all this beautiful world to end?

You don't really think I'm normal, Dr. Harding, but you're wrong. You atheists in your ivory towers, you don't have any idea how real people feel. How perfect this is.

Killing everything, I said.

You're worse than she is. This is not death; it's rebirth. G.o.d has used you scientists as tools, so He can cleanse everything and start over.

It did make a crazy kind of sense. You're nuts, I said.

The soldierboy swiveled to face me. Julian, it said in a deep voice, I'm Claude. There was an uncertain tremor to his movements that said he wasn't in a cage, warmed up, but was operating the soldierboy from a remote jack.

What's going on here? Blaisdell said.

The transfer algorithm worked, Marty said. Your people aren't in control of the soldierboys. Ours are.

I know that's not possible, he said. The safeguards- Marty laughed. That's right. The safeguards against transfer of control are profoundly complex and powerful. I should know. I put them there.

Blaisdell looked at the soldierboy. Soldier. Leave this room.

Don't, Claude, Marty said. We may need you.

It stayed put, rocking slightly. That was a direct order from a major general, Blaisdell said.

I know who you are, sir.

Blaisdell made a leap for the door, surprisingly fast. The soldierboy reached to grab his arm but punched him down instead. He shoved him back into the room.

He stood up slowly and brushed himself off. So you're one of these humanized ones.

That's right, sir.

You think that gives you the right to disregard orders from your superiors?

No, sir. But my orders include a.s.sessing your actions, and orders, as those of a man who is mentally ill, and not responsible.

I can still have you shot!

I suppose you could, sir, if you could find me.

Oh, I know where you people are. The mechanics' cages for this building's guards are in the bas.e.m.e.nt, in the northeast corner. He pinched his earring. Major Lejeune. Come in. He pinched it again. Come in.

' 'Nothing gets out of this room but static, sir, except on my frequency.

Claude, I said, why don't you just go ahead and kill him?

You know I can't do that, Julian.

You could kill him to save your own life.

Yes, but his threat to find my cage is not realistic. In fact, my body is not there.

But look. He's proposing to kill not only you, but everybody else in the world. In the universe.

Shut up, sergeant, Blaisdell snarled.

You couldn't have a more clear-cut case of self-defense if he was standing with a gun at your head.

The soldierboy was silent for a long moment, weapons at its side. The laser came up partway and fell back. I can't, Julian. Even though I don't disagree with you. I can't kill him in cold blood.

Suppose I ask you to leave the room, I said. Go stand in the corridor. Could you do that?

Of course. It staggered outside, taking off a piece of the doorjamb with its shoulder.