Part 11 (1/2)

Mayer hesitated. ”No,” he said. ”We'll keep Nick informed but he ought to remain where he is. We'll still want our men in the basic positions of power after we've won.”

”He might get hurt,” Gunther scowled. ”They might get him too, and we've only got six team members left now.”

”Nonsense, Nick Rykov can take care of himself.”

Jerry Kennedy was upset. ”Are you sure about this war, chief? Isn't a conflict of this size apt to hold up our overall plans?”

”Of course not,” Mayer scoffed. ”Man makes his greatest progress under pressure. A major war will unite the nations of both the western continent and this one as nothing else could. Both will push their development to the utmost.”

He added thoughtfully, ”Which reminds me. It might be a good idea for us to begin acc.u.mulating interests in such industries as will be effected by a war economy.”

Jerry Kennedy chuckled at him, ”Merchant of death.”

”What?”

”Nothing,” Kennedy said. ”Something I read about in a history book.”

VIII.

At the decade's end, once again the representatives of the Genoese team were first in the _Pedagogue's_ lounge. Mayer sat at the officer's table, Martin Gunther at his right. Jerry Kennedy leaned against the s.h.i.+p's bar, sipping appreciatively at a highball.

They could hear the impact of the s.p.a.ce boat from Texcoco when it slid into its bed.

”Poor piloting,” Gunther mused. ”Whoever's doing that flying doesn't get enough practice.”

They could hear ports opening and then the sound of approaching feet.

The footsteps had a strangely military ring.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Joe Chessman entered, followed immediately by Barry Watson, d.i.c.k Hawkins and Natt Roberts. They were all dressed in heavy uniform, complete with decorations. Behind them were four Texcocans, including Reif and his teen-age son Taller.

Mayer scowled at them in way of greeting. ”Where's Plekhanov?”

”Leonid Plekhanov is no longer with us,” Chessman said dourly. ”Under pressure his mind evidently snapped and he made decisions that would have meant the collapse of the expedition. He resisted when we reasoned with him.”

The four members of the Genoese team stared without speaking. Jerry Kennedy put down his gla.s.s at last. ”You mean you had to restrict him?

Why didn't you bring him back to the s.h.i.+p!”

Chessman took a chair at the table. The others a.s.sumed standing positions behind him. ”I'm afraid we'll have to reject your views on the subject. Twenty years ago this expedition split into two groups. My team will accomplish its tasks, your opinions are not needed.”

Amschel Mayer glared at the others in hostility. ”You have certainly come in force this time.”

Chessman said flatly, ”This is all of us, Mayer.”

”All of you! Where are Stevens, Cogswell, MacBride?”

Barry Watson said, ”Plekhanov's fault. Lost in the battle that broke the back of the rebels. At least Cogswell and MacBride were. Stevens made the mistake of backing Plekhanov when the showdown came.”