Part 26 (1/2)
Cortin nodded; they'd had no choice, and Ivan had been polite enough not to tell her he'd modified her intentions. ”It looks like the conditioning was complete, all right--but how permanent?”
”Till he dies, Ivan says, or till he's put through the same type of conditioning again, which Ivan doesn't think is possible anywhere outside a Detention Center. So if you take him on, it'll be for good.”
”I don't see that you left me any choice,” Cortin said with resigned amus.e.m.e.nt. ”Kicking him out with conditioning like that would be like . . . kicking a puppy, I suppose. Though I have no idea what I'll be able to do with him!” She paused, frowning. Joining the Brotherhood of Freedom, or any other terrorist group, meant automatic excommunication, and she didn't care to make her people a.s.sociate with an excommunicate.
”I don't suppose you also saw to his spiritual welfare, by any chance?”
”Of course we did, and not by chance,” Odeon said. ”Better than that, though we blocked the memory in case you turned him down. Uh--”
”Don't tell me,” Cortin said, half-grinning. ”You enlisted him and put him on the team.”
”Close,” Odeon said. ”Commissioned him, since you wanted all officers.
He doesn't meet the normal Strike Force criteria, but Colonel Bradford waivered them in his case. He's a good rider and a d.a.m.n good marksman, but otherwise his main qualification is absolute dedication to his Team-Leader. I wouldn't call him a puppy, young as he is; I'd call him a guard dog. The cue to make him 'remember' he's been an agent of yours is you welcoming him to Team Azrael.”
”I'll do that next time I see him.” Cortin sighed. ”Pritchett saying last night that he's in love with me, Powell conditioned into devotion--what next? No, don't answer that; I don't think I want to know.” She paused, then changed the subject. ”So Ivan's experiment was successful--but how useful will it be?”
”Practically, very little or none. It worked, yes, but the drug's expensive and scarce, and the procedures take too many people too long, to be worth using in normal circ.u.mstances. It may be done again, but it'll have to be a pretty special case.”
”Too bad; I can see where it could've been useful.” Cortin dismissed the subject with that, hesitated, then picked up the red phone that almost had to link her interrogation suite directly with the Palace.
According to Brady, His Majesty wanted any significant results she got, as soon as she got them. The phone rang once, then a half-familiar voice said, ”Yes, Colonel?”
It was a direct link, then. ”His Majesty wanted immediate reports,”
Cortin said. ”Are you authorized to take them?”
”Anyone who answers this phone is so authorized, Colonel. Go ahead; your report is being recorded.”
”Good.” Cortin gave a concise but complete report of what she'd gotten from Powell, pleased at the quick response. Too bad not everything in the Kingdom went this smoothly!
”Excellent,” the voice said when she was done. ”I had, of course, hoped for quick and substantial results from you, but this exceeds my expectations. Good work, Colonel.”
Cortin swallowed hard, finally placing the half-familiar voice. Of course he was authorized to answer his own phone! ”Th . . . thank you, Your Majesty. This was an easy one.”
”Easy or not, it was effective. Keep up the good work, Colonel; we have to crush these terrorists, especially the Brothers of Freedom.”
”Of course, Your Majesty--I'll do my best.”
”I would expect no less, Colonel.” The line went dead.
Cortin stared at the handpiece for several seconds before replacing it carefully in the cradle. It was hard to believe she'd just spoken to High King Mark--but she knew his voice, she had to believe. ”I'll get you more, Sire,” she said unneccessarily, then she stood. ”Okay, Mike--I suppose we ought to get supper, then I'm going to start another subject.” She grinned. ”I really shouldn't say this, but even though he gave me some good information, Charles wasn't much fun, and I promised myself some entertainment tonight. If you and one of the others will help me set the next one up, I'll play with him awhile, then if he's being stubborn, we'll get serious in the morning.”
14. Bradford
Cortin climbed the stairs to the second floor, Bain following her, satisfied with the results of her evening's work. Her fear that Sis'
work would leave her vulnerable to s.e.xual stimulus from anyone, including a Brother of Freedom, had proven unfounded; even when she'd used eroticine to force an erection on the prisoner she'd chosen for her evening's work, her only response had been antic.i.p.ation of a challenge, no arousal at all. She could relax, then, concentrate on doing her new job to the best of her ability. And she'd found Dave next door; when he'd settled his prisoner for the night, she'd been eager to share her discovery with him.
When she entered the common-room, she had to hold back a gasp of astonishment. She'd expected a certain amount of showiness on the public floor, and it was in the Kingdoms' interest to have the interrogation areas as well-equipped as possible--but she hadn't expected to find much more than average living conditions, comfortable and with the promised privacy. This was luxury, the kind she hadn't believed real even in stories about royalty. Carpets so thick she seemed to be wading in them, rather than walking on them--it felt almost criminal wearing boots on them--paintings even she could see must be worth at least a small fortune, couches and chairs she wasn't sure she'd dare to sit in, some covered in fur . . . Then her admiration was interrupted; Illyanov embraced her, kissing her thoroughly.
”I know you sent a message about no visitors,” he murmured, ”but after last night, I thought you might wish the opportunity. If not, there is no harm done.”