Part 6 (1/2)

Homer said mildly, ”That's why your pay was doubled. You have to take risks to make money in this world, Cliff. If El Ha.s.san does come to power, undoubtedly you'll get other raises--along with greater responsibility.”

He looked into Cliff Jackson's face, and although his words had dealt with money, a man's dream looked out from his eyes. And the force of personality that could emanate from Homer Crawford, possibly unbeknownst to himself, flooded over the huge Californian. The others in the room could feel it. Elmer Allen cleared his throat; Isobel held her elbows to her sides, in a feminine protest against naked male psychic strength.

Kenny Ballalou said without inflection, ”Put up or shut up, Cliff old pal.”

Cliff Jackson sank back onto the spot on the bed he'd occupied before.

”I'm in,” he muttered, so softly as hardly to be heard.

”None of you are in,” a voice from the doorway said.

The figure that stood there held a thin, but heavy calibered automatic in his hand.

He was a dapper man, neat, trim, smart. His clothes were those of Greater Was.h.i.+ngton, rather than Dakar and West Africa. His facial expression seemed overly alert, overly bright, and his features were more Caucasian than Negroid.

He said, ”I believe you all know me. Fredric Ostrander.”

”Of the Central Intelligence Agency,” Homer Crawford said dryly. He as well as Bey, Elmer and Kenny had risen to their feet when the newcomer entered from the smaller of the hut's two rooms. ”What's the gun for, Ostrander?”

”You're under arrest,” the C.I.A. man said evenly.

Elmer Allen snorted. ”Under whose authority are you working? As a Jamaican, I'm a citizen of the West Indies and a subject of Her Majesty.”

”We'll figure that out later,” Ostrander rapped. ”I'm sure the appropriate Commonwealth authorities will co-operate with the State Department and the Reunited Nations in this matter.” The gun unwaveringly went from one of them to the other, retraced itself.

Bey looked at Homer Crawford.

Crawford shook his head gently.

He said to the newcomer, ”The question still stands, Ostrander. Under whose authority are you operating? I don't think you have jurisdiction over us. We're in Africa, not in the United States of the Americas.”

Ostrander said tightly, ”Right now I'm operating under the authority of this weapon in my hand. Dr. Crawford. Do you realize that all of you Americans here are risking your citizens.h.i.+p?”

Kenny Ballalou said, ”Oh? Tell us more, Mr. State Department man.”

”You're serving in the armed forces of a foreign power.”

Even the dour Elmer Allen laughed at that one.

Crawford said, ”The fact of the matter is, we _are_ the foreign power.”

”You're not amusing, Dr. Crawford,” Ostrander said. ”I've kept up with this situation since you had that conference in Timbuktu. The State Department has no intention of allowing some opportunist, backed by known communists and fellow travelers, to seize power in this portion of the world. In a matter of months the Soviets would be in here.”

Isobel said evenly, ”I was formerly a member of the Party. I no longer am. I am an active opponent of the Soviet Complex at the moment, especially in regard to its activity in Africa.”

Ostrander snorted his disbelief.

Elmer Allen said, ”You chaps never forget, do you?” He looked at the others and explained. ”Back during college days, I signed a few peace pet.i.tions, that sort of thing. Ever since, every time I come in contact with these people, you'd think I was Lenin or Trotsky.”

Homer Crawford said, ”My opinion is, Ostrander, that you've had to move too quickly to check back with your superiors. Has the State Department actually instructed you to arrest me and my companions here on foreign soil, without a warrant?”