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the gas, and then of the too handsome, too cheerful face of Delamere
grinning down at him. Rise and shine, Grimesy boy! You can wake up
now. We ve done all your work for you!
Grimes, unassisted, got groggily to his feet. He looked around the
mayor s study. The Marines were gone, of course. They would have been
given their shots before leaving the ship. Mavis and Shirley were still
unconscious. Vega s surgeon was bending over the lady mayor, a
hypodermic spraygun in his hand. He used it, on the fleshy part of a
generously exposed thigh, then turned to the younger woman.
What what time is it? asked Grimes.
Fifteen hundred hours, local. We have full control of the city. Such
officials as we have awakened are cooperating with us. Most of the
mutineers with their popsies were aboard Discovery. We carted em off
to the dressing rooms in the stadium the mutineers, that is, not the
popsies and they re there under guard. Safer there than in that apology
for a jail. Delamere paused. Oh, your girlfriend, or ex-girlfriend
Grimes looked toward Mavis, who was listening intently. No. Not her.
Your paymaster. We had to persuade some of her friends to talk. We
found out that she and her new husband were spending their honeymoon
on he made a grimace of distaste Daydream Island. Only half an
hour s flying time in one of my pinnaces.
So you ve got her too, said Grimes.
What the hell else did you expect? demanded Delamere.
Mavis was on her feet now, glaring at the spacemen, clutching her thin
wrap around her. She was about to say something when the ringing of a
telephone bell broke the silence. It came, thought Grimes, from her office.
She asked coldly, I s pose I can answer me own phone, in me own palace?
Of course, madam, replied Delamere airily. If it s for me, let me
know, will you?
Bastard! she snarled, making her exit.
I suppose you brought the ship down, said Grimes.
Yes. I m parked in that big oval sports arena. One of the first natives
we woke up was quite hostile. He screamed about a big match due today,
and accused me of buggering the pitch. He actually ordered me off. We
had to use a stungun on him.
You mightn t make many friends, Delamere, said Grimes, but you
sure influence people.
Not to worry. We ve got what we came for.
Mavis, her face pale under the dark tan, returned to the study. She said,
in a low, venomous voice, You bloody murderers!
The gas we used, madam, Delamere told her, is no more than an
instant anesthetic. Those whom we have not already revived will wake,
quite naturally, in about one hour, feeling no ill effects whatsoever.
An wot about those who won t wake? Wot about the young couple who
were killed in bed when a dirty great hunk o rocket casin crashed through
their roof? Wot about that power station engineer who fell against
somethin an got fried? An wot about Flyin Scud? She was comin in ter
the moorin mast when the skipper passed out, an she kept on goin , an
gutted herself. An that s just the start of it.
I am sure, madam, said Delamere stiffly, that the Federation will pay
generous compensation.
In Federation money, I s pose, she sneered. Wot bloody use will that
be? Specially since we won t join your bloody Federation now, not for all
the gold in the galaxy. She turned on Grimes. An as for you, you& you
dingo! I thought you were a man. Wot a bloody hope! Not only do yer help
this bastard ter murder my people, you re goin ter stand back an let yer
own crew be dragged off ter be butchered.
But, Mavis
Gab! Yer make me sick!
Delamere, demanded Grimes, have you done anything about the
crash at the airport, and the other accidents?
When we got around to it, Grimes. Our first job was to round up the
mutineers. He added smugly, You can t make an omelet without
breaking eggs, you know.
There was no need to run amuck in the kitchen, said Grimes.
Out! yelled Mavis suddenly. Out o me palace, you Terry bastards!
I ve work to do!
So have we, madam, said Delamere. A very good afternoon to you.
Come, Doctor. And you, Grimes.
But, Mavis, Grimes began.
Out! All o yer. That includes you, lover boy!
You do have the oddest girlfriends, remarked Delamere as the three of
them passed out through the front door.
Grimes did not reply. He was full of bitter self-reproach. He should have
guessed that Delamere would have his own secret plans. He could have
stopped Major Briggs from making that call& or could he? His name, he
admitted wryly, was not Superman.
He followed the other two into the commandeered electric car that was
waiting for them.
Chapter Forty-Three
« ^ »
They drove to the Oval, in the middle of which, an alien, menacing
tower, stood Vega. They did not go straight to the ship but dismounted at
the entrance to the sports ground. At the doors to the dressing rooms
under the stands stood armed Marines and spacemen.
Delamere led the way to one of the doors, which was opened by a sentry.
He sneered as he pointed to the scene inside, and said disgustedly, What
a rabble! I can t see how anybody could have ever sailed in the same ship
with them!
Yes, they were a rabble as the crew of any ship would be if dragged
naked and unconscious from their beds, to awake in captivity. The only
ones clothed, in dirty, torn uniforms, were Swinton and his Marines.
Swinton, followed by the huge Washington, pushed through the mob of his
hapless shipmates. He stood there defiantly, glaring at Grimes and his
companions. He demanded, Have you come to gloat? Go on, damn you!
Gloat to your heart s bloody content!
I haven t come to gloat, said Grimes.
Then what the hell have you come for? But it s my fault. I should never
have listened to Vinegar Nell and that puppy Tangye. We should have
made sure of you while we had you.
But you didn t, said Grimes. Unluckily for you. Luckily for me.
Grimes s famous luck! sneered the Mad Major.
Vinegar Nell came slowly to stand beside the Marine. She had been
conscious when she had been captured, and obviously had put up a fight.
She looked steadily at Grimes. She said, So you made it, John. Am I glad,
or sorry? I m glad for you. Genuinely. As for me She shrugged.
Whatever I say will make no difference.
Very touching, commented Delamere. Shut up! snapped Grimes. He
turned to face Brabham who, like the majority of the prisoners, was
without clothing. His ex-first lieutenant looked fit, far fitter than he had
ever looked aboard Discovery. Life on Botany Bay had agreed with him.
You win, Captain, he said glumly. Then he actually smiled. But it was
good while it lasted!
I m sorry, said Grimes inadequately.
Hearts and flowers, murmured Delamere.
Captain, went on Brabham, I know I ve no right to ask favors of you.
But do you think you could persuade Commander Delamere to let us have
some clothing? And I think, too, that the women should have separate
quarters.
Mutineers have no rights, stated Delamere.
Human beings have! retorted Grimes. And don t forget that we, on
this world, are ambassadors of the Federation. We ve made a bad enough
impression already. Don t let s make it worse.
Who cares? asked Delamere.
Every do-gooder and bleeding heart in the galaxy, that s who. I ve often
hated that breed myself but I ll have no hesitation in making use of
them.
The two commanders glared at each other, and then Delamere turned
to one of his officers. You might see that the prisoners have some rags to
cover their disgusting nakedness, Mr. Fleming. And you can sort out the
cows from the goats and have them penned separately.
Thank you, said Brabham to Grimes. Then, How long are they
keeping us here, Captain?
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