# Society Of Nine5555555

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in all its wisdom, has ruled that the sun shall light the

country in sections, each comrade getting his fair share

in shifts. That, my friend, is Communism in action!"

With the sounds of our laughter, misery fled. It was

the release we both needed. In its wake, came the action

we both felt comfortable with.

Berenko leaned forward on his cot. "We are in a bad

position," he said. "It is strange. Our two countries

push and shove at one another in a game of verbal battle

that, too often, threatens to ignite. And now, suddenly,

from outside this arena comes a group with all the tools

necessary to bury us. It seems that sometimes we focus

so intently on one another, that we forget others are

capableof moving events.

' 'They must be stopped! " I hissed.

"Yes, " he nodded, "but our freedom is somewhat

limited at the moment. Assuming escape, what are our

options in this matter?"

I rose and began pacing the cell. "Obviously, the

first move would be to stop the assassination. Without a

body, there is no martyr, and their information be-

comes worthless. They would have to shelve it. "

"They could rig another attempt.

."Sure, they could, but that would call for more

doubles, and that would take time. Some of their se-

crecy is now shot. We know the identities of the inner

council. If we could neutralize them, before a second

attempt can be constructedé then the organization

would collapse. "

Berenko shook his head. "I think that's too risky,

and not firm enough. They must have fall-back plans in

case of failure. No, we must get hold of Nikumba. We

must control the brain. If we do that, the body will

follow. "

"But how? He'll never cooperate on his own, and if

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we kill him, even if we aren't caught doing it, the

evidence they have would come right back off the shelf,

and convict us.

A slow, cunning smile spread over Berenko's lips.

' 'The double, my friend, the double!"

' eThe double Was on the podium in Windhoek. He

spoke! He delivered the speech, and no one knew it

wasn't Nikumba. If we can get the Nikumba double

into our hands, and then eliminate M 'Batti, I'm con-

vinced we can pressure the double into saying anything

we want him to!"

"Berenko, you Ruskie bastard, you're brilliant!"

"Of course, my friend, " he chuckled. "Now, let's

follow this through all its possibilities. We would have

to kill both of our own doubles. Then I would take the

stand with Nikumba•s alternate. We would stop the

assassination, but not the attempt. You could fire off a

few shots, just enough to create a panic. During which,

I could kidnap the bogus Nikumba. "

We were now both up and pacing the room.

"And we'd still have my cover story from Wind-

hock!" I said. ' 'We could resurrect the McDaniel,

white racist theme, produce the body of my double

. unrecognizable, of course .

. and get full cor-

roboration from Harcourt and British Intelligence."

Berenko laughed. S 'England strikes a blow for black

rule. My God, they 'II out looking like heroes! "

s 'In the meantime, we go to work on the double. We

make sure he continues his East-West formula of coop-

eration. We throw our full weight behind it, and sud-

denly America and Russia are the angels of African

harmony. "

' • The plot completely collapses! " chirped Berenko.

"Not only that," I added. "But with Nikumba—the

supposed Nikumba, that is—is our control, the Society

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is all but frozen. We then start putting the heat on the

inner nine, and from there, just work our way down the

ladder. ' '

Berenko leaped toward me and slapped his hands on

my shoulders. "Do you see it?" he cried. I wasn't

entirely sure I did.

s 'The secrecy!" he bellowed. ' •nlat secrecy that

M'Batti was so safe with. Suddenly it would be our

biggest ally. M'Batti and Anene are the only two who

know the full workings and plans of the Society. With

them gone, there is no future."

Suddenly catching the drift, I burst in. ' 'And the

present is only understood by the inner council. With

them eliminated, the soldiers of the Society would just

plod along, motivated only by the misinformation

M'Batti and his henchmen had fed them. "

"Exactly!" Berenko was almost triumphant. "We

need go no farther than the leaders of the Society. With

them eliminated, beliefs wilt remain as diversified as

ever, and the world remains quite status quo! "

The ideas were appearing like magic. For a few,

precious moments, the world was alive again. There

was light at the end of the tunnel.

But there was also, however, a big, locked iron gate.

The planning was sound, if we could escape. If we

could get to Kinshasa in time. If we could neutralize our

doubles. If we could get M 'Batti and Anene. And if we

had a small army to help us.

Together we searched the walls of the room, using

the years of experience to try and find that one chink in

the armor. One loose stone was found and pried loose,

only to reveal the hard-packed earth that signified our

position as firmly underground.

Time ruled out any tunnels.

Direct assault was all that was left us. Quickly,

Berenko unscrewed the overhead light. I crouched in a

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corner where I could see the door, and Berenko

stationed himself behind it. When the guards showed

up, we would be waiting for them.

Nearly a half hour passed before we heard the rattle

of keys. We tensed, every nerve in our bodies readied

for action and commands , and then the door flew open.

Whoever the guard was, the darkness held him in the

hall. And then, with careful, timid steps the figure

moved into the room. Berenko was crouched, with his

shoulder to the door, waiting for a shout from me to

take the guard.

I watched for the appearance of a weapon, holding

my orders until the best chance for getting the gun

revealed itself. But there was no gun. Instead there

were frail, delicate hands, followed by the body I had

come to know So well.

Robin became visible in the harsh back-light from

the hall.

"Berenko, freeze!" I yelled.

Robin followed the sound of my voice and ran over

to me once the dim outline of my body became visible

to her. As I wrapped her in my arms, Berenko moved in

to re-screw the bulb.

"What in the hell are you doing here?" I asked.

"I have to leave for Kinshasa. I didn 't want to leave

without seeing you. "

"Where's the jailor?"

"In the adjoining room

the guard room. "

Berenko and both made for the door.

' 'No!" she cried. "There are four of them in there,

and they have rifles. They're watching the corridor.

You wouldn't get three steps down the hall before

they'd cut you to pieces! "

I turned on her. "Is Nikumba, or M'Batti, or what-

ever the hell he calls himself, still here?"

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She shook her head no. "He left an hour ago, I'm to

fly out on a second plane and join him in Kinshasa. "

"Robin, you were in that room. You 've got to know

the man is insane. Why are you continuing to work with

' 'It's just enthusiasm, ' she replied coolly, her man-

ner full of resolve. "I admit the room surprised me,

even frightened me a little, but that 's just an image he 's

trying to project. Later, when victory has been

achieved, the real Nikumba will return."

"Bullshit! "

I hissed. I tried my best to quickly

explain M 'Batti 's plans to her, giving her a run-down

of what the man was going 'to loose on the world, once

his own death had been anfully achieved. "Robin,

you've got to help us!"

' 'Nick," she cried, "it'll change! He'll do what is

right, I know it. Africa will be free!

It was just so many years of indoctrination talking,

and I knew it. But we needed her help. I had to burst her

bubble and make her see the truth.

"He'll do what's right?" I asked.

"Yes!

"And you back it, all the way, no matter what

measures he takes?"

' 'Good," I said coolly. "lhen.you 'vejust accepted

your own death! "

She was stunned into silence. Before her defenses

could rally, I bombarded her with the part of M 'Batti 's

plot that called for Robin 's body as final tribute to my

supposedly self-interested planning.

When I had finished. she was unable to reply, Her

head just kept wagging back and forth, refusing to

accept the truth of my words.

' 'He's mad, Robin, you 've got to see that. Your

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death means nothing to him, father or not. He needsyou

to be the capper on his little movie."

And still the head shook.

s 'Why aren 't you on the plane with him, right now?"

She had no answer, so I supplied one.

"Because you can't be seen with him. Because no

one can see you get off that plane. Because the world

will soon learn that you are already dead in Kinshasa. "

"No!" she cried.

"No?" I echoed. "Who the hell are you flying out

s ' The guards, " she replied, shakily. "The guards in

the other room. ' '

"Oh, that's sweet. ney'll just escort you to Kin-

shasa. They'll feed you coffee, tea or milk all the way,

and then camy you on a litter to daddy Nikumba's suite,

right?

'He wanted me to rest. He said I'd done tremendous

service to the cause, and he wanted me to rest. "

' 'You'll rest, all right. No sooner do you lift off in

that plane, than they 'II quietly put you to sleep, forever.

The body will be mournfully rushed to whatever

hideaway in Kinshasa that M 'Batti has chosen as your

grave. lhe world will mourn, and Robin will have

completed her duty to Africa. "

Robin's hands were trying to cover her ears. *Ihe

tears were pouring. It wa.s hard for me to batter her, but

nowhere near as hard as letting M 'BattilNikumba win.

She took it as long as she could. I had no room for

subtlety, and she finally cracked under the barrage of

my comments.

"You 've got to believe me! " I cried.

"Why? You lied to me. You lied then, and you're

lying now!" With that, she raced from the room,

slamming the door behind her and locking it firmly.

I looked to Berenko. If he found fault with the way I

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had just handled things, he was merciful in not sharing

it with me.

He touched my arm briefly. "You tried. "

With that, he returned to the bulb, unscrewed it, and

both of us found our way to our original positions.

Again, the moments dragged their feet. Again, the

door sounded an entry. And, to my surprise, again it

was Robin.

I halted Berenko. Robin stood in the door,.her body a

statement of misery. I moved quickly to her, took her

into my arms, and squeezed.

"You 're going to help us?"

She nodded yes.

"Why?"

She looked at me with eyes so miserable, J wanted to

mélt.

"I went upstairs to get my things. I was trying to tell

myself that you were lying, that Nikumba was not mad,

that you were using me. I was almost convinced. I was

within a hair's breadth of hating you. I had to!"

I nodded, and stroked her face as she finished.

"And then I saw him. "

"Who?" I asked.

"You! He was you!" Her body was shaking. "But it

wasn't you. When I saw him, all my resolve crumbled.

All my hate dropped out of me, and I almost ran to him.

And then he did it! "

"Did what?"

Her words traveled out in whimpers. S'He had the

gun, the one you used in Windhoek. He was laughing

and joking with the guards. When he saw me start

toward him, he froze. And then, he smiled

not

. a horrible, evil smile. He nudged one

your smile .

of the guards, winked, and leveled the gun, right in my

face. "

I gripped her harder as she cried on.

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. a silly noise, and acted as

' 'He made a noise . .

though the gun had just gone off. I didn •t know what to

do. I just stood there staring at him. And then the guards

laughed. Oh, Nick, they are going to kill me!"

"Not if I can help it, baby , ' ' I said, then released her

and held her at arm's length. "We haven't got time to

waste, Robin. What's the situation in the complex?"

She steeled herself and jumped miraculously into

action. "There's only a skeleton guard remaining.

Most of the forces are with M 'Batti. Two of the guards

have already left for the hangar with your double. I

stalled the other two. They're waiting for me outside

with a second car. "

I looked to Berenko. He gave me a small smile and a

nod, showing his appreciation of Robin's abilities. J

turned back to her. "What about the guard

"Only one man," she said. "And I have already

taken care of him. The remainder of the guard will

either be asleep, or out on the perimeters. Yvhen

Nikumba leaves, the guards get very lax. Follow me! "

She led us down the hall to the guard room. nere,

behind a desk, sat the only guard, his body stretched

back in his chair, and a silver brooch protruding from

his neck. I made a silent promise to myself, never again

to trust any woman who wore jewelry.

Robin for the moment, seemed to be totally in

charge. She pointed toward the dead soldier, barking

her commands.

'He 's about your size, Nick. Get into his uniform. "

Tie logic of it escaped me.

'61 don't understand," I protested. "Nikumba•s

guard is black. How the hell are we going to fool

anyone in uniforms?"

"Just the inner guard .

the Watusis . . . and a

few others. Most of his personal body guards are re-

cruited from white mercenaries. It's a move he made to

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try to quell the white's fears. *Ihe uniform will make it

easier for us to take the car upstairs, and the plane at the

airport. ' '

I began stripping the guard as she continued.

' 'The uniforms will also make it easier for you to

maneuver around the speech site tomorrow. "

"What about Berenko?" I asked.

"He can get a uniform off one of the guards at the

Berenko's voice broke in as I began donning my new

outfit.

"What about the body?"

"The guard won 't change until eight o'clock in the

morning," Robin answered. ' 'lhe bodies won't be

discovered until then."

"Good," I said. ' 'That'll buy us the time to get to

Kinshasa. When 's the speech?"

"At eleven. "

Berenko and I looked at each other. If the bodies

were discovered at eight, there would still be three

hours for the Society legions to let Nikumba know that

all was not well on the homefront. The odds weren 't

great, but they were all we had. Berenko shrugged,

reading my thoughts. We'd just have to hope the home

guard was careless, or the communications with Kin-

shasa, painfully slow.

"We 'II need weapons," the Russian growled.

S s Where can we get them?"

Robin was already ahead of him. She led us down

one of the basement corridors to an armory. Berenko

and I both froze at the sight of it. Either the man was

petrified of being caught off guard, or he was planning

to arm the whole of Africa on his own. The room

contained an assortment of weapons that would make

an army's mouth water,

Much to my delight, Robin walked straight to a

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counter and handed me Wilhelmina and Hugo. Be-

renko also found his gun. We then ransacked the place,

careful to select the small arsenal of automatic weapons

we would need in our tiny commando force.

For the sake of concealment, we chose three well-

oiled Sten guns, and enough ammunition to function

economically. A few silencers finished the shopping

list.

As I stuffed the pockets of my uniform full of

goodies, I suddenly noticed a door at the end of one of

the aisles. I moved over, and using Hugo picked open

the antiquated lock.

It was a bonanza.

On the other side of the door was a small room,

loaded to the ceiling with high explosives. It was hard

to keep the triumph from my voice.

"l think I just bought us our three hours!"

One look and Berenko caught my drift. Together, we

moved into the room and broke open one of the cases of

plastique. Removing my A.X.E. issue wristwatch, I

withdrew two tiny lead wires, concealed within the

watch Ss multi-purpose casing. I set the alarm for 8:05,

five minutes after guard change, and left the watch to

do its job.

At exactly 8:05, the alarm would go off, hitting the

plastique with a deceptively active current that would

ignite the explosives. By the look of the boxes in the

room, the resultant blast would blow the island off the

face of the globe. It was very unlikely that anyone

would be doing any communicating with Kinshasa

after that,

We arrived at the airport with little to hinder us.

Taking the two guards awaiting Robin at the car had

been simple, and silent, The uniforms had done their

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job. It wasn't until we were on them that the two goons

suspected anything amiss. By then, it was too late.

"Ihe hangar was a different story.

A quick surveillance through the hangar's windows

told us we were in for a fight, The hangar was huge and

well lit, with little inside to use as cover. Once through

the entry doors, it would be only seconds before our

unfamiliarity was spotted.

Inside were three of the guards, and the two-man

crew who were to fly the plane. They were relaxed, and

intently involved in conversation. That left one guard

and the Nick double unaccounted for. We had to as-

sume they were already on the plane.

The hangar doors stood wide open in preparation for

departure. The only other entry would be one small

door in the wall directly opposite the entry ladder to the

plane.

Berenko and I both agreed that our uniforms would

get us nowhere. Direct assault was our only hope.

"But how?" I asked. ' 'It's at least a three man show.

Two guns would have to come in through the hangar

doors, and a third would have to get to the plane before

the two inside have a chance to seal it off, Without the

plane we'll never get to Kinshasa, and it would be too

easy for someone inside to radio for reinforcements. "

"You 're forgetting, Nick. "lhere are three of us,"

Robin said quietly, taking the Stein from my hands.

"What is it you want me to do?"

The plan was formulated as silencers found their way

to the muzzles of the rifles. It was decided that Robin

and Berenko would take the open doors, doing their

best to keep the crew alive. It would be up to me to take

the side door and seal off the plane's interior.

We all assumed our positions.

Berenko waited for the best moment. lhe crew

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moved off to the wall to pick up their flight bags, and

Robin and Berenko then burst in on the guards.

At the first sound of fire, I pumped Wilhelmina into

the latch securing the side door, and kicked it open. ne

first burst was all that Berenko needed to level the

guard. I raced through the door and rushed the Lear,

taking the steps to the hatch two at a time.

Guard number four was struggling with the hatch. I

slammed into the half-closed door and drove him back

against the opposite wall. I threw myself after him,

careful to clear the opening to the aisle as quickly

as possible, just in case my double had firepower.

I pinned the luckless guard against the curved wall of

the aircraft, and in three quick chops, put him quietly to

sleep.

1 then planted myself to the wall, trying to decide the

next step. I listened intently for the lightest sounds of

movement. All I could hear was Robin and Berenko

rounding up the crew, persuading them to assist us.

I had to move. I had two choices. He could be in the

cockpit, but that seemed the lesser of the two pos-

sibilities. He had to be in the cabin. There was enough

certainty on my part to gamble.

I dropped into the aisle, Wilhelmina poised toward

the plane's rear. The aisle was deserted.

He was back there somewhere, I could feel it.

I rose slowly, and began moving toward the back.

Every instinct was seeking out the first hint of move-

ment. I had no idea of how well trained he would be.

My only hope was that he was an amateur, coached for

a set-up mission and that's all, with no skills and no

instincts.

Unfortunately, life does not always go as we wish.

With my gaze so intent on the aisle and its rows of

scats, I failed to notice the long expanse of luggage rack

topping the compartment on each side. When I finally

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did catch the movement of the rack cover, it was too

late.

Ihe man flew out, timing his move to both release

Wilhelmina from my hands and send me flying into one

of the banks of seats. Wilhelmina was lost.

The only break I got was that the man was unarmed.

Recovering my balance quickly, I used his own lack of

footing to drive him into the seats behind me.

He hit the floor, and I landed on the arrnrests. This

enabled me to rise first. I swung my legs into the aisle

and backed off, ready to strike again.

The man was no amateur. With lightning-like speed,

he was back on his feet, facing me down the aisle.

The initial shock stopped us both in our tracks.

It was like a mirror had been drawn across the aisle,

both of us staring into the reflected side. He, too, was

wearing one of M 'Batti 's guard uniforms. Obviously it

was to be his ticket for tomorrow's events.

And then he grinned, that same kind of chilling grin

that Robin must have faced back at the complex.

He was a pros probably commando, and readiness to

face me bordered on the sadistic. lhere was something

almost spooky in his willingness to take me. For me,

killing is a business, a necessity.

For this man, it was obviously a pleasure.

He moved slowly toward me, his body in perfect

defensive position. I backed off slightly, edging my

way toward a partition curtain behind me. If this jet was

anything like the others that ferried us around Africa, I

knew there would be an open bar area behind the

curtain. If I was going to have to take this fanatic on, I

preferred some operating room.

Apparently he shared my feelings, because no at-

tempt was made to halt my backward progress. Once

through the curtain, I backed to the far end of the area

and planted myself, waiting for the first move to come.

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I didn 't have long to wait.

Almost as soon as he entered, he lunged for me. His

style was strictly martial arts. His right leg swung,

roundhouse style, for my head. A quick jab of my arm

sent the limb flying over my head, but not without

registering its impact on my forearm.

The man was good. Even before his lead foot had

returned to earth, his following leg kicked toward me,

catching me a glancing blow near the ribs. I darted left,

avoiding the brunt of impact, and readied myself for his

next move.

He charged instantly, his hands doing the work this

time. I countered two quickly delivered blows, but

failed to account for the man's determination. *Ihe

blows were meant to fail. It was just his way of closing

in on me. The completion of his attack was a well-

placed slam of his forehead, directly onto the bridge

of my nose.

For one brief second the world went black. I could

feel the pain spreading across my cheeks and circling

my head like a vice. My eyes watered over, turning the

cabin into an aquatic nightmare.

I could feel the man's hands tighten on my wrists,

and I knew he was coming in next with his knees. I

waited, But for some reason the man was not pressing

his advantage. Whether he was toying with me, or

merely enjoying the sight of my agony, it was giving

me the time I needed to think.

I had to do the unexpected,

My head was bursting from the impact of his blow,

and he knew it. For that reason, I assumed it would be

the last place he would look for retaliation. Without any

regard for the further pain it would cause, I drove my

face into him, hard, returning his suffering in kind,

It worked.

His hands slipped from me and his body reeled

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backward as he tried to combat his own sudden blind-

ness. I fired my leg out in the general direction of his

body. I made contact but it was impossible for me to tell

how much damage I had done.

I off to my right, my head desperately

trying to shake off the affects of the collision. It would

be a race now, as to who could see the other first.

Ihe opportunity never realized itself. In the doorway

behind us, I could hear Berenko enter the cabin.

Ihe war was over. Seconds passed as both my dou-

ble and I fought for clarity. He got there rust.

"Kill him! For God's sake, Berenko, do it now!"

To my horror, the voice was as perfect a reproduc-

tion as the face. I struggled for something to say, that

only Berenko and I could recognize, something to

convince him that I was fre real Nick Carter.

My second horror was in not getting the chance. The

man lashed out once more with his feet, catching me

full in the gut and knocking the wind clear out of me.

"What the hell are you waiting for?" shouted my

double, as I sank to my knees.

To Berenko's credit, he held. Both of us stared at

him. I could see him agonizing over which way to go.

And then he spoke.

Horror number three.

"Perhaps I should just kill you both. "

ne air was still in response. Images of that night in

Windhoek, when he almost failed to save me, flashed

through my brain. I stared at him in helpless anticipa-

tion.

The moment was broken by the appearance of

Robin. She took in the scene, registering her own

uncertainty. stared at her, silent messages screaming

to her from my soul.

nat's when the other guy goofed. He smiled. He

tried to make it warm and gentle, but he failed. She had

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seen that smile, climbing down the barrel of a gun.

Without so much as a question in her face, she raised

the barrel of her Sten, and ripped the man to shreds.

If there had been any air to spare in my lungs, I'm

sure I would have sighed. Robin her weapon

and raced to me, doing her best to soothe the throbbing

in my skull.

I stared at Berenko as he lowered his Sten and ap-

proached me.

' 'My apologies, Carter. You need never fear such

behavior again. I owe you. My word as a professional

I owe you, and I shall repay my indiscretion in

full."

I nodded my acceptance and struggled to my feet as

Berenko turned and dispatched himself to the front of

the plane to guide the crew toward our objective.

Kinshasa, and the end of the Society.

CHAPTER TWELVE


CllArrER TWELVE

It was five o'clock in the morning, and faint ribbons

of light were beginning to appear in the night sky.

Berenko and I were huddled in a small park. Across the

street from us was the stately mansion of the Zairan

President. We had a clear view of the front gate.

Minutes before, Robin had passed through that gate,

and now we were awaiting her return.

Berenko shifted nervously beside me. Neither one of

us was feeling overconfident at the moment.

Brenko's doubts were the first to find voice. "I do

not like this, my friend. We -will be violating the

sovereignty of an independent country. "

"Do we have a choice?"

Berenko knew the answer. He heaved a giant sigh,

and then perked to attention as Robin cleared the gate

and made her way toward us. With one quick look

behind her, she darted off the sidewalk and joined us in

the sanctuary of our concealing shrubbery.

' 'They're in there," she gasped. S 'Two of them, at

Nikumba, and your double. " She ges-

any rate . .

tured toward Berenko.

Berenko shook his head in apprehension.

"Is it the real Nikumba, or the double?" I asked.

Robin answered without the least hint ofuncertainty.

' 'lhe double. It has to be. "

"How can you be sure?"

' 'Whenever Nikumba travels, he lets his double do

all the public traveling. He disguises himself as a

member of his own entourage, and lets his look-alike

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deal with the mobs. He has always been aware of the

possibility that there may be some real racist fanatic out

there, ready to blow his brains out. "

"Smart man. "

"He usually travels along with his double, and when

safe quarters are reached, he trades his disguise to the

man and resumes his own identity. But last night,

Nikumba and the other Berenko came here with only

one female aide . . . the girl replacing me. Ihe rest of

the staff has been quartered elsewhere. My guess is that

Nikumba continued on with the staff, leaving his dou-

ble to handle the whole show .

right up to his

appearance on the podium. "

Berenko and I ncxided our agreement.

' 'How will we locate the rest of the staff?" I asked.

"Once we're inside, I'll lead you to the two men's

rooms. While you're occupied with them, I'll talk to

Jossina. . . that's the girl aide. She'll knowthe whole

set-up, I'm sure. "

' 'That only leaves us the problem of how to get in, "

Berenko growled from beside me.

Robin flashed a big smile. "What problem? I'm

Nikumba's chief aide.

. and a native Zairan to boot.

The' government people know me quite well, and you

two are official Nikumba guards, uniforms and all.

Getting in is simple. We just walk in!"

She turned and headed toward the gate. Berenko and

I simply shrugged and followed her. The trip through

the front entry was as simple and easy and she had

predicted. We quickly made our way down a series of

hallways, until a bank ofthree doors had been reached.

Robin pointed to each door and whispered her infor-

mation to us. Berenko occupied door number one,

Nikumba door two, and Robin's friend door three.

She gave me a quick, good- luck peck on the lips, and

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disappeared behind the third door. Berenko and I then

moved to door one.

Silently, we slid the door open and moved in. Ihe

faint light drifting in through the window lit the sleep-

ing figure of Berenko's double. Both of us edged to-

ward the bed, flanking on opposite sides. A silent

agreement passed between us. If this double were any-

where near as well trained as the other had been, there

was no room for mercy.

Once we were in position, I prodded the sleeping

form with the butt of my Sten. He leaped up at the first

hint of contact, his reflexes showing us our caution had

been well founded.

But that's as far as he got. No sooner did he start to

rise, than Berenko dispatched him with one calculated

blow to the neck. "Ihe man sluml*d quietly back into

his bed. He would not rise again.

I moved back to the door and kept an eye on the hall

as Berenko stripped and re-dressed into the double's

clothes. Then he rejoined me, and together we made

our way to door number two.

Once more, we cracked open the unlocked entry and

slipped soundlessly into the room. 'Ihe Nikumba dou-

ble, like his ally, was tucked safely in bed. We moved

again, hoping to reply the scene just as it had gone

previously.

This time, we would not be as lucky.

No sooner had we started to move, than a rumbling

growl brought us both to a halt. From behind the bed

strode the sleek, powerful form of the leopard.

'Ihe growling brought the slumbering figure to alert-

ness. He leaped from the bed and threw on the lamp that

stood next to him. Once more, Berenko and I found

ourselves staring into the leopard's glistening fangs.

"What is it? What do you want?" came the

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frightened voice of the bogus Nikumba.

I trained my gun on the cat, while Berenko leveled

his on the man. Berenko did the talking.

"What is your name?"

'Ihe man seemed perplexed. ' 'My name is Joseph

Nikumba. "

"And I'm Nicolai Lenin!" hissed the Russian. "We

know you are not Nikumba. We have no desire to harm

you. What is your real name?"

"l tell you, my name is Jos .

mered.

' the man stam-

"Don 't be a fool! You are a security shield, a double.

And in a few hours you are going to appear for the real

Nikumba and deliver a speech. Unfortunately, your

moment of glory is going to be cut short by an assas-

sin's bullet! "

The man reacted to the knowledge of his own demise

with an incredulous gasp. Berenko continued his verbal

onslaught, not giving the man time to challenge him.

"Now, if you wish to see yourself murdered, that's

your business. We are here to offer you an alternative.

However, we can simply move the schedule up a bit,

and eliminate you right now. You would prefer to die in

bed?"

Ihe man tried with great difficulty to swallow. "I

would prefer not to die at all," he whispered.

"Call off the leopard, and we will talk, yes?"

He grabbed the hasp that held the animal 's leash, his

hand trembling visibly as the big cat strained toward the

two intruders. For a fraction of a second, the man

seemed to weigh the possibility of releasing the animal

and taking his chances on escape.

"He won't get two feet before I cut him down," I

warned. "And you'll be next. "

' 'Do as they say, Kahif. ' ' It was Robin 's voice from

the doorway.

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At the sight of her, the man seemed to relax a little.

g 'Robin! Please, what's going on here?"

Her voice was like a soothing wind in the tenseness

of the room. "lhese men are friends, Kahif. They

mean you no harm. They are here to save your life, just

as they have saved mine. "

ne man listened silently as Robin went on to explain

the entire fabric of Nikumba's plan. I watched him

carefully as Robin told him of his future. He believed

her. With each revelation, his body would ease more

and more into acceptance.

Finally he released the chain on the leopard, slumr

ing back onto the bed as the certainty of her words

brought reality to his confused brain.

A soft command sent the animal back behind the

bed, and Berenko moved to the man, outlining the

plans for the rest of the day , as I discussed the next step

with Robin.

"What was your girlfriend able to tell you?"

*'As I expected, the remainder of the crew is lodged

at one of the downtown hotels. But I think we can

ignore that. "

"Jossina was asked to make two reservations; one

for the hotel, and another for a residence, very near the

speech site."

"What do you think it means?" I asked.

s 'The way I see it, the hotel is for the staff, but the

house is M 'Batti and his queen. He would want to be

somewhere near the action, just to make sure it all goes

as planned. But he would want himself removed from

the main group. Once the supposed Nikumba is killed,

the staff would be locked into the aftermath. M 'Batti

and Anene would no doubt like to be sure that they are

in a position to depart as soon as events are concluded.

ney would not want to risk examination, M 'Batti 's

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disguise as one of his own staff would be too easily

pierced. "

I stared in admiration at the girl 's line of reasoning.

"You amaze me, " I said softly.

She smiled in response. "You should keep me

around. I grow on you after a while!"

ne thought was not unappealing.

Berenko broke the spell. "He's ours. He'll cooper-

ate, right down the line. "

' 'On the stand, and after?" I asked.

"All the way. I'll stay here with him, and we 'II work

out exactly what is supposed to be said in public. •me

East-West formula will be tailored and delivered, just

the way we want it. "

e ' Then we don 't need the fake attempt on his life?"

"No, " the big Russian answered. ' 'All we need now

is for the real Nikumba to disappear off the face of the

I looked to Robin. "And so he shall!"

She nodded her assent. "And so he shall. "

s 'I don't wish to be negative, " Berenko added. "But

M 'Batti will no doubt be quite surrounded with protec-

tion. How do you propse to step by his inner guard?"

He was right. lhe house would be a far harder nut to

crack. lhere was no walking in on that building. Robin

was supposed to be dead, and my face would be very

familiar, because of contact with my double, to the

inner guard.

I looked to Robin. She was as uncertain as I. Her

skills had reached their limit. It was now up to me.

Berenko would have to remain with the double. Stand-

ing in the safety of the mansion, there were no answers.

I would just have to find the house, and go from there.

I turned to Berenko. "We'll just take one step at a

time, Yuri. I'll get them. Trust me."

He nodded. "I just wish you had a small army to

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assist you. It's going to be my life on that stand, too. "

"Yeah," I growled, "I wouldn 't mind a division or

two. "

"Wait!" Robin suddenly exclaimed. "We do have

or will have! "

an army .

We both stared at her as she drew a folded map from

her pocket and thrust it into my hand.

"Here," she cried. ' 'I've marked the house where

Nikumba and Anene are staying. You should find it

easily. Laok it over, I'll join you there in . . . " She

checked the clock on the wall. ss.

. in hours"'

With that, she bolted for the door.

I looked at the clock Ss face. Three hours would be ten

o'clock. That would only give us one hour till speech

time. I tried to stop her.

"Where are you going?"

She turned briefly in the doorway. "Zaire is my

home, remember? I was raised here. I 've got friends. ' '

Before another question could be asked, she flew

through the door and was gone.

I stood outside the house, pacing nervously. I had

stationed myself down the street, using a recessed

storefront to keep me from view. I looked into the store,

staring, once more, at the clock that hung inside on the

wall.

10:05.

Where the hell was Robin?

I had spotted the quamy one hour before. A light had

come on in the forward part of the house, and a quick

look-see had shown me M 'Batti and Anene sitting in

huddle conference.

No exterior guards had revealed themselves, and the

room could be easily reached from the front entrance.

All I needed now was for Robin to show with her

friends.

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198

10:09.

A glance up and down the street revealed nothing. In

one direction, the streets were loaded with spectators,

all making their way to the tiny park that held the

podium. In the other direction, the podium itself could

be seen. "lhere were several workers making final ad-

justments on the microphones that would carry Beren-

ko's and the bogus Nikumba 's messages to the crowd.

But no Robin.

10:12.

nere was no more time for waiting. I would just

have to go it on my owm Steeling myself, I moved out

into the stream of moving humanity, working myself

across the street and breaking from the crowd at the

entrance to the leader's lair, Gusting my uniform to give

me whatever advantage I might need.

I moved up the steps that led to the front door. I tried

the knob. It was locked. Curling my fingers around the

pistol in my right pocket, I squared my shoulders and

rang the bell.

ne door was answered by another uniformed sol-

dier, rifle in hand.

I trusted my silencer and the noise of the crows

behind me to drown out any attention-getting sounds.

Before the man even had a chance to ask me "What

for", I fired into his chest, sending him sprawling back

into the hall.

Bursting through the door and stepping over his

prostrate body, I leveled my gun down the hall. Two

men stood at the end, surprise and alarm registering on

their faces.

Before they could recover, I fired again. "Ihe two

men crumpled beneath the salvo, joining their buddy in

eternal slumber.

Slamming the door behind me, I turned toward the

first room on my right. Without even testing the lock, I

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199

fired into it. The door flew open under the heel of my

boot and I used the momentum to carry me on into the

room.

Anene stood in the middle of the room, her bottom

half covered in native splendor, her top half as naked as

the day I had first seen her. She blinked her astonish-

ment at me as she tried to figure out my presence.

"Where's Nikumba?" I hissed, allowing her to

study the barrel of my Sten.

It was that moment that recognition dawned. She had

assumed me to be my double, and now she understood.

It was me she was facing.

"Very astute, Your Highness. Now, where is

Nikumba?"

"l know no Nikumba. "

S 'Don't be cute. Your boyfriend

M'Batti, or

whatever he 's calling himself today .

. where is he?"

The Black Goddess drew herself up to her full

height, her breasts reaching out in front of her like twin

invitations. She smiled warmly, seductively, as she

spoke. ' 'We underestimated you, Carter. You are tmly

a resourceful man. ' ' She moved forward a step, and my

gun rose to halt her progress.

"Time is growing short, Your Highness, and I'm in

no mood for amenities. Where is M 'Batti?"

She paused, still smiling, and her hand moved to the

clasp that held her native skirt, and then released it. *Ihe

colored fabric dromxd to the floor, leaving her quite

naked.

"As you can see, I am unarmed, Mr. Caner. Perhaps

we could talk a moment?"

I was staring at a black Venus, sculptured in onyx, a

rippling, muscular statue created by a master. It was a

clever diversion, and I knew it, but it was still hard to

take my eyes off the sheer perfection of her naked form.

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"There is room for you, Carter," she breathed.

' 'There is room in the new empire for daring men. "

Her hands began moving over the firm, flat plane of her

belly. "Join us, Carter. Work with us. Share your

strength, Share it with the cause. Share it with me."

The hands moved slowly , accenting the chocolate silk-

iness of her flesh, working their way down to the

defiant tuft of hair that topped her sex. "Look. See

what can be yours if you join us in our effort! "

Her voice was hypnotic, not to mention the pure

delight of her tX)dy. She was advancing slowly, care-

fully, closer and closer to me.

' 'Power, Carter, " she purred. "Power can be yours.

I can be yours!"

And that's where the love affair ended. With a sud-

den jerk of her hand, she tried to wrench the gun from

my grasp. I slammed the butt of the Sten into her wrist,

and she reeled away, her voice suddenly exploding into

a ban-age of clicks and stops . .

that same musical

language that I had heard Bosima use in Algiers.

As she reached the center of the room, a door in the

far wall burst open. In it stood two of the Watusi elite.

I fired, leveling the two men who were trying to

make their way through. Behind me, I could hear the

commotion of more soldiers rattling their way down the

hall. It was time to depart.

I backed my way toward the window. Anene was

quick to figure out my plans. She shouted more orders,

no doubt directing the men at the door to head me off. It

was the last order she ever gave.

My Sten blast hit her square in the chest and sent her

flying back over one of the room's tables. Quickly I

turned and threw open the window, diving through it to

the ground below.

Scrambling to my feet, I ran, weaving my way to-

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201

ward the back of the house, hoping like hell I could stay

ahead of the pursuit.

Just about the time I felt as though I had it made, the

party seemed to come to an end. In front of me, the

walkway suddenly filled with two eight-foot forms.

I froze.

A quick look behind me confirmed more bad news.

Two more Watusi's had sealed off the other end, while

another two found their way through the window I had

just exited.

I raised my gun toward the two nearest giants. If I

was going down, I'd be damned if it was going to be

alone. I zeroed in on their faces, ready to send them into

whatever after-world a Watusi readies for.

What I saw, however, froze me in my tracks. I was

staring at two eight-foot giants, yes, but the faces that

greeted me in return were the faces of. . . ten-year-old

children.

And the face on my left winked.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN


CHAPTER THIRTEEN

What occurred next was enough to make me chal-

lenge my sanity. The two baby-faced guards moved

toward me, fanning out. and approaching me on each

side. The whole time they watched the guards behind

me, ignoring me entirely.

I turned and saw the four other Watusi 's moving in

with menace in their hearts. Once they had me flanked,

the two baby-faces halted. There was a sudden move-

ment, and from what should have been their bellies,

emerged two slender reeds of wood. "lhere was the

barest sound of air, and two of the approaching Watu-

Si's found themselves crumbling to the earth.

The other two guards halted in amazement. And then

they caught their bearings. Their rifles went up, ready

to blow me and my two sudden allies in half. But before

they could fire, the Watusi 's on each side of me seemed

to fall in half for them. 'Ihe two robes suddenly flew

from their bodies, and what had been two eight-foot

giants, suddenly revealed itself to be four, four-foot

children.

Robin's army had arrived. Pygmies!

Of course! Those tiny denizens of the Zairan rain

forests had no doubt been Robin 's playmates as a child.

And here they stood, impersonating their enemy, one

tiny four-foot frame being carried by another!

The four pygmies moved like acrobats. Before the

two remaining Watusi 's could overcome their surprise,

the four little men rolled. The miniature bodies hit the

ground, and twisted up to their knees, blowguns pump-

ing for all they were worth.

lhe last two Watusi's jerked as the deadly poison of

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SOCIETY OF NINE

the darts poured instantly into their systems.

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203

And then, silence. The four elfin natives leaped to

their feet, their voices chattering bird-like in victory.

From behind me came other voices, sharing in their

delight. I turned and saw Robin, beaming in victory.

"What do you think of my army?" she grinned,

coming to me.

There was nothing I could say. I just kissed her,

bringing on a burst of giggling from the imps behind

me. Robin smiled, and then broke from me, shouting

commands to her regiment. Ihey answered in kind , and

ran off down the courtway.

"Care to translate?" I asked, shaking my head in

amazement.

'I told them to round up the others and start securing

the podium. Ilheir blowguns will eliminate the Watusi

guard with little attention being drawn, and then they

will climb into the robes and replace the eight-foot bulk

with their four-foot bodies. "

I couldn't suppress a chuckle. "Did I ever tell you

you were brilliant?"

' 'Yes, ' ' she grinned. "But it could bear repeating. "

"More brilliant than I, I'm afraid, " I said, growing

sober once again. ' 'I missed M'Batti. Anene has been

taken care of, but the main man is still on the loose. "

"I know. We arrived just as the action started. I saw

M 'Batti fade around the corner at the end of the street. I

sent two of the pygmies äfter him, and stayed here to

make sure you got through okay. "

"lhanks. Let's see how your friends did. "

I moved off after her. We circled behind the house,

and down toward the end of the block. No sooner had

we rounded the corner, than the fate of Robin's friends

confronted us.

Two tiny forms lay helpless on the ground. I heard

the breath catch in Robin 's throat as she spied her first

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casualties. ne sight of them even sent a chill down my

spine. lhey had been hit by the exploding shells.

"Jesus," I hissed, "he's got the rifle. The son of a

bitch is going to try to nail the double himself!"

Robin twisted her face from the sight, burying her-

self into my shoulder. I wanted to comfort her, but there

was just no time to waste, I had to get to the podium and

let Berenko know that M'Batti was on the loose.

"Listen, love,' ' I said. "We're going to have casual-

ties. Don 't think about it. Just move! Search the crowd.

You know M 'atti 's disguise. Try to flush him out. I'm

going to warn Berenko. If you find him, nail him, right

on the spot! "

"Don't worry," she answered, her eyes traveling

once more to the two fallen children. "1911 know what

to do with him. "

I had no doubt she would.

We moved off down the street. As we joined the

crowd in the park, Robin peeled off to do her job,

giving my hand a quick squeeze before disappearing

into the throng.

I worked my way up to the podium, and caught

Berenko's attention, He drifted over to me.

"How do we stand?"

'On one leg at the moment, I got Anene, but M 'Batti

slipped through the net. "

Berenko heaved a sigh and brushed a few beads of

sweat from his brow. "Did Robin's army ever

materialize?"

I smiled and pointed out one of the nearby Watusi's.

Berenko studied the face, and grunted at the surprising

innocence of the features.

"Pygmies!"

I chirped. S sney'll have the podium

covered in a matter of minutes. Robin is searching the

crowd for M 'Batti, but I don't think she'll find him. "

Berenko returned his attention to me. "Why not?"

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205

"He's got the rifle, Yuri. He intends to pull the

whole thing off on his own. I don't think he'll be any-

where near the crowd. I'm going to watch those win-

dows, but I doubt if I'll be able to head him off. Any

ideas?"

Berenko followed my gaze to the row of buildings

overlooking the park and the dais. There was nothing to

be seen in any window.

It was Berenko's decision, and I knew it. He could

get off the podium now, or take his chances with the

speeches. The speeches were vital. fie words had to be

said. But we would then be gambling on the assassina-

tion we so desperately needed to avoid.

I let Berenko roll it around. My eyes circled the

crowd, finally coming to rest on the cage at the far right

end of the podium. In it were two of the leopards that

seemed to always accompany Nikumba. They were

pacing the narrow confines, their amber eyes staring

hungrily into the mass of people surrounding them. I

felt a sudden kinship with them.

We were all four

the cats, and Berenko and I

. . . survivors, looking for the kill.

Berenko's voice came in to break my thoughts.

"Just give me time. We must speak. Watch those

windows. At the first sign of trouble, fire. Just give me

a second to get Nikumba's double under cover. "

I admired the man. I nodded my assent and quickly

lifted the silencer from the end of my gun. nat would

be Berenko's signal. I slipped a fresh clip into the Sten,

and shook the Russian 's hand. "Looks like we get our

attempt after all. "

He nodded. "Let's just hope it's unsuccessfuL "

He moved back toward the lecturn, and I moved off

to my left. 16tationed myself a little way off, at the base

of a nearby tree, and scanned the banks of windows

overlooking the park.

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Berenko was called to the pcxiium, and began ad-

dressing the crowd. I studied him briefly. His eyes were

flickering from audience to background, searching for

the first sign of trouble. From behind the lecturn, I

could see him easing the Walther from inside his coat,

readying it in the firm grip of his hand.

I returned my gaze to the windows, and settled in for

the events. Berenko's speech was without incident. He

returned to his chair and plopped himself beside the

bogus Nikumba. Another speaker took the stand and

began the introductions for the main event. Nikumba

was seconds from the microphone.

And then it caught my eye.

One of the windows had moved. Only slightly, but I

was sure that it had not been open before. My hands

tensed over the grip of the Sten and I began moving

forward, following a route from tree to tree.

I moved to a spot where one branch of a tree joined

the trunk. I set up the Sten, using the branch to fix my

aim on the glass.

Almost imperceptibly, the window crept up one

three more inches.

. two..

Nikumba's name rang out over the loudspeaker, and

the crowd suddenly burst into life. A fear crept over me

that perhaps Berenko would not hear the gunfire.

But it was too late to worry about that. A rifle barrel

now appeared on the window sill, pointed directly at

the lecturn, and the double only inches away.

I fired the Sten, my finger glued to the trigger. The

second floor window burst into pieces. Glass exploded

inward and, to my relief, the gun barrel jerked errati-

cally as I emptied the entire clip.

Near me, people were looking over and then backing

away as the certainty of my actions hit home. But the

crowd beyond them was still roaring .

ing roar of an adoring mob.

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As quickly as I could, I shed the spent clip from my

gun, inserting a new one as I checked the podium for

response. Berenko still sat, and the Nikumba double

was waving innocently at his admirers.

ney hadn't heard the shooting.

Panic seized me as realized the gun in the window

was trying to pick up where it had left off. The crowd

was just too loud. Berenko would never get the warn-

ing. I fired another quick burst, and the rifle once more

dipped erratically.

But time was on M'Batti's side. I was into my final

clip. Once it was gone, the double would tk a sitting

duck. needed to create a sudden and complete panic. I

had to get Berenko's attention .

and fast!

I searched the grounds desperately for some idea.

And then my eyes lit on the cage with the two leopards.

A single lock secured the door. I had a clear shot. There

was only a second of hesitation as the consequences of

my choice ran through my brain.

With those two cats loose, there would be total

chaos. Innocent lives might be lost. But what choice

did I have?

It was between a few civilians, or an Africa gone

mad, with the killing of thousands of whites as its price.

There was no choice.

Another quick glance at the window showed me the

rifle finding its way to the target, I raised the Sten and

blew the lock off the cage. The lock burst into frag-

ments, and the force of the blast sent the cage door

flying open.

Suddenly the crowd grew still. 'Ihe cats had recoiled

from the shattering of their cage. But the sight of the

open door, and freedom, was beginning to overcome

their initial fear.

*Ihe screams started at the point nearest the cage, and

then began spreading through the crowd as the realiza-

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tion of the danger spread.

Men and women began moving, terror driving them

into panicked retreat. I shot my eyes to the podium. At

the first signs of panic in the crowd, Berenko seemed to

get the message. He dove for the fake Nikumba, taking

the man in a tackle.

The round black man hit the platform rudely. A

second later, the lecturn he had been stand at burst into

shreds of as two exploding shells smashed into its

face. I and emptied the remainderof my clip into

the window.

To my great relief, the rifle fell this time, dropping

two stories down to the ground. I dropped the Sten,

withdrew Wilhelmina from my uniform, and raced

toward the building that housed the assassin. It was

difficult to weave my way through the mass of panicked

bodies. By now the leopards had found their way out of

their prison, and the crowd was retreating in total ter-

It took a few seconds, but finally I reached the

doorway. Robin appeared at exactly the same moment I

did.

' 'Stay here," I shouted. "l think I may have hit him.

Just watch this door. I don't want you in danger."

' 'The hell I will!" Ihe determination in her voice

made me pause for an instant. "I want him, Nick! As

bad as you. It's my country . . . my Africa he tried to

pervert. I've earned a shot at him! "

"lhere was no time to argue, and her resolve showed

me I would have gotten nowhere even if I had tried.

"All right," I said. ' 'But stay behind me, and keep

that gun ready! i'

She nodded and followed me into the building. 'Ihe

screaming grew distant as we entered a wide lobby. Off

to the left was a flight of steps. I moved quickly and

cautiously, my eyes glued to the landing above.

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The first landing was made without mishap. We then

took the same cautious climb to the second floor. Still

no M'Batti. I was hoping like hell that my last blast at

the window had done the work. We hit the second

landing, and J peered around the corner.

Down the hall, at about the exact spot where the

room should be, a door stood half open. The remainder

Of the hall was pitch black, the only light coming from

behind the open door. nie hall was deadly still and

quiet. Only the faint murmuring of the crowd outside

interrupted the stillness.

I edged out into the hall, and Robin followed. We

slowly moved toward the door. I was certain that the

pounding of my heart could be heard, giving me away.

As we neared the door, all progress halted.

I felt it, suddenly .

an instinct

another

heartbeat .

. not really audible, but sensed and felt. It

was behind me, and it wasn't Robin.

Realization came far too late.

The darkness behind me suddenly filled with the

harsh echo of a gunblast. The shell caught me on the

Side of the shoulder. It was just a grazing wound, but

with enough impact to send Wilhelmina flying down

the hall. Robin started to turn, but the commanding

voice of M'Batti stopped her.

' 'Don't make me shoot you, child. Drop the gun.

Slip it slowly and carefully over the railing, and drop

it. "

She had no choice but to obey. gun clattered as it

tumbled down the steps.

"You can both turn now. Your destinies await you. "

Muttering angrily under my breath, I turned until I

faced M'Batti, now lit by the light spilling up the

stairwell. He paused at the head of the stairs, ready to

make his departure, but not before he had taunted us

with his victory.

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"So, Mr. Carter, it seems you almost saved the

day."

' 'There is no body, M'Batti. You're little scheme is

useless. Why don't you just throw it in?"

He laughed. ' SI think not. We have other plans, all of

them brilliant, all of them mine. "

"You ire finished, M'Batti! " I shouted. ' 'We've got

your double. We own him, and there's not a damn

thing you can do about it!"

His confident manner shattered a bit, but the smile

quickly returned. "Yes, it would seem that Nikumba

will lost to us. But M'Batti will be born, anyway.

My surgeons will create the new figure of African

unity. •mere will be a new Africa, Mr. Carter. You will

not be able to stop it. "

I wanted to continue taunting him, buying time, but

the pain in my right shoulder was beginning to take its

toll. M 'Batti merely stared, that idiotic smile glued to

his face. He was enjoying the little bit of victory he had

been able to snatch from the day's events.

But time was running out. His pistol was beginning

to find its way toward me, the barrel planting itself on a

line with my chest. I had no more words.

But Robin did.

"Please, Joseph. Don't kill him. He won't do any-

thing, I promise you. "

M 'Batti laughed. "Is that so, Mr. Carter? You

would just walk away and leave me to my primitive

devices?"

We both knew the answer to that one.

"You see, my child," he said to Robin. "Mr. Carter

has his duties. To America, to Imperialism, to Mr.

Berenko. He will no more turn his back on African

enslavement than I on its litEration. " His eyes grew

hard and cold as they nanowed on her face. "It is you,

child, that I cannot forgive. Why have you deserted

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211

In spite of events, I could see Robin's anguish at the

accusation.

The little girl was trying to reach her Father.

"I have deserted nothing, Joseph. Africa for Afri-

cans has been my goal, and it always will be. "

S 'nien why have you aided our enemies?"

"It is you who have become the enemy. The cause is

still just. I will continue to workfor a free Africa, under

African governments, But I cannot let myself become

like the enemy we fight. A free Africa should become a

model for the world, a model of peace and freedom.

Models show the world, Joseph, they do not conquer

it. "

M 'Batti's composure seemed to slip. "You are a

child! What do you know of the world? I shall tell you

what is good and what is not. You dare to tell me what is

good for Africa?"

"Yes!" she screamed. "I fight for the people of

Africa. You fight only for your own maniacal power! I

do not believe that an Africa that enslaves others is

worth existing!"

MSBatti 's voice was chilling as he spoke. "You will

not be alive to debate it, I'm afraid. "

In his anger, the pistol swung toward Robin. If that

was her intention, I could not have been more grateful.

I tensed myself, ready to fly at the crazed ruler before

he could shoot.

But none of us was to have our way. At that moment,

from the landing below, came the horrifying rumble of

a leopard 's growl. "Ihe animal must have followed his

master's scent.

M 'Batti 's eyes leaped down the stairs. His voice cut

through the silence of the hall, shouting his commands

to the beast below. He was answered with a loud roar

that sounded anything but obedient. For one second,

Nikumba's eyes widened. I saw terror in them.

He shouted again, and for the moment the stairs

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seemed to silence. The look of fear was replaced by one

of understanding, and then glee.

"He senses blood, Mr. Carter. I believe it is your

blood he smells. That is truly unfortunate. I shall have

to kill him. No cat can remain in captivity who has

tasted human blood. '9

"You're breaking my heart," I hissed.

A sadistic smile broke out on his lips. Carefully, with

one eye still down the steps, he moved from the head of

the stairway.

"Vadu has always been my favorite pet," he spat.

"But since he must die, it is only fair he get a last meal.

Please, Mr. Carter, I wish you to walk down those

steps. "

In answer, another rumbling roar carried up from the

stairwell. My belly iced over at the thought of facing

death at the leopard's jaws.

"You're not moving, Mr. Carter. "

"l think I'll stay right here, if you don't mind. 'Ihe

gun would be quicker."

Suddenly the gun rose up and leveled itself at Rob-

in's face.

"Either you move, Mr. Carter, or you get the

privilege of seeing your lady's brains spilled over the

hall. "

I thought a moment. ' 'All right," I replied. "You

"Nick, no!" Robin screamed.

There were tears in her eyes, tears for me, tears for

Nikumba, tears for all she had believed in. My heart

sank as I stared into all the misery that engulfed her. It

was not the way I wished to go, but if there was half a

chance that he would spare Robin, I had to take it.

Her eyes bored into me, sensing the directions of my

thought. And then the agony fled from her eyes. In its

place came a silent wave of love, and the hard edge of

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213

resolve. Before I could even say, ' 'No!" , she darted

toward M 'Batti.

I watched in horror as the gun in M 'Batti's hand

barked to life. He fired twice, and twice the fabric of

Robin's blouse burst at her back. But she did not fall.

She slammed into him, driving him into the wall.

And then she attacked. Her nails came up like ten sharp

knives and dug into his face. A scream erupted from his

throat as her fingers tore into the flesh of his cheeks. He

dropped the gun, his hands coming up to flail at die

source of his torment.

He misted himself, twing to escape her fury, but

Robin would not yield. two of them su•uggled, with

Robin carefully pushing him toward the edge of the

stairwell.

I too moved. I raced toward the fallen pistol, praying

that I could make it before events got too far.

But Robin's determination far exceeded mine. On

the very edge of the stairs, she gave a final lunge.

M 'Batti's foot slipped from the landing, and the hard

force of her body drove both of them over the brink.

The two crashed to the stairs.

A bellowing roar from the bottom answered the

sound of their collapse. I managed to get the gun into

my hand, but ignored it as I dove to try and capture

Robin's retreating ankle.

I nailed it, halting her fall at the head of the steps.

M 'Batti was not so lucky. His fall caried him, blood

streaming down his cheeks, into the waiting jaws of the

leopard.

Another roar, and one long, loud piercing scream,

told the remainder of the story. I su•uggled with Robin,

pulling her back onto the landing. lhere was little

strength left in her to help me. It took a second, but

finally she was stretched out on the relative safety of the

floor.

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I left her for a moment, and moved to the landing,

taking aim on the cat. fie initial sight turned my

stomach. Below, the beast was feasting on his master.

Death is an ever-present part of the spy business, but

sometimes, no matter how much you try to insulate

yourself, death has its impact.

I was staring at the lifeless form of Joseph

Nücumba/M'Batti. His face had been reduced to ham-

burger.

Ihe bile was rising in my throat as I fired into the

bulk of fur below. Two shots were all it took. The

leopard's skull deteriorated into nothingness.

I lowered the pistol and took a calming breath. It was

Robin's shallow moan that finally brought me back to

normalcy.

I moved to her, a silent prayer of hope on my lips. I

quickly tried to assess the damage. Her bcxiy had been

pierced twice. By the look of it, my prayers would

remain unanswered.

Robin knew it was over.

"Nick," she whispered, her voice faint and far-

away, "l did it. I got him, didn't I?"

"You got him, love,"

I murmured, stroking the

matted hair from her lovely face.

"He called me weak, Nick. He said my weakness

was his ally. You remember. "

I shook my head in agreement, wanting to quiet her.

But there was no point. The end was coming, and she

knew it.

"I'm not weak, Nick. I had to show him. I had

to..

Her talk disappeared in a cry of pain. It took a second

for it to pass.

' 'Is that why you helped us?" I asked.

' 'You know better." Her eyes bore into me.

"People, Nick. People are what matter. Philosophies

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215

can be hated. Communism, capitalism, colonialism

these can all deserve hatred. Not people. People

must be judged for what they are. I judged you, Nick

. not your country. "

A useless question. This time her answer was not in

words. She smiled through her pain and leaned into me ,

her lips planting themselves softly on mine. The kiss

lingered, broken only by another spasm of pain shoot-

ing through her.

Ihe light was fading in those olive eyes.

"Nick?"

"What, love?"

"Would you have gone with me? Would you have

tried, forever?"

I stared at her, but I did not have to consider my

answer. S' Yes!"

She smiled, a deep, satisfied smile, and then the light

expired.

I heard footsteps on the stairs below, but I ignored

them. Berenko climbed the steps slowly, his mind

grasping the events instantly. A hard knot of pain rested

in my belly, threatening to find its way into my emo-

tions.

The only thing that saved me from the embarrass-

ment of emotion was the echoing reminder of Beren-

. . "Feelings, Mr. Carter. Feelings are

ko's words

I gripped myself, swallowing the feelings before

they could ever find life. Berenko 's hand came down to

Clasp my shoulder in sympathy and understanding. I

took strength from the gesture, and finally found the

courage to face him.

I looked him square in the eye.

A tear was crawling down his cheek.


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Berenko and I were sharing a drink on the deserted

veranda of a chalet, near Zurich. 'Ihe chill wind was

circling around us, swept down from the snow-covered

peaks of the surrounding Alps. It was a farewell drink

we were sharing, but the mood was anything but com-

radely.

Robin still hung heavily in my thoughts.

With great sensitivity, Berenko tried to cut through

my moroseness.

'She died bravely, my friend. Allow her memory to

be a bright one. "

I looked at him and nodded, managing a weak smile.

"What's to become of our new Nikumba?" I asked.

' 'As you already know, he is being controlled by an

East-West committee, made up of representatives of

tX)th our governments. The last report I heard was that

the East-West formula would be refined, and then fed

to him. He will then promote it, and quietly retire from

public life. He will use the assassination attempts as his

motive for retreat. "

"You know, I mused, "it really is a shame that the

real Nikumba had to go off the deep end. His ideas were

valid

brilliant, in fact. I really believe the man

could have pulled Africa together. "

"Of that, there is no doubt. The ironic thing is that,

although M 'Batti is dead, his ideas will go on. 'Ihe

committee is studying them even now, to see which

ones can be used to serve Africa's emergence. "

I sipped at my drink. ' ' Y€hat will become of the

interim council he was to lead?"

white government will continue in South Af-

216

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217

rica, until a new black candidate can be found.

Nikumba will be sorely missed. "

In spite of myself, I laughed. ' 'Odd, isn't it? We've

made a hero out of a madman. "

Berenko, too, laughed. ' 'I'm afraid, my friend, it

will not be the first time. "

Another silence descended as both of us finished our

drinks. Then Berenko rose to his feet.

"You're leaving?" I asked.

' 'I must. " His hand reached out to me I accepted

it warmly. "An unlikely marriage, you and I. Is that not

so, Mr. Carter?"

"I would never have thought we'd be working to-

gether. But it was an honor, Yuri. One that made me

very nervous, at times, but an honor. "

His face reddened slightly at the remainder of his

indiscretions. "Please, " he said. ' 'I intend to keep my

promise to you. I owe you, my friend, and I shall make

good on that debt in some way. "

I shook his hand again. "So, " Isaid, "it would seem

we are once more enemies. "

Berenko smiled. '61 prefer the term adversaries. It

gives us both the respect we deserve. For enemies, one

has hatred. For you, I only have regard."

I nodded my agreement, and Berenko moved off.

But he only got two or three steps before halting. He

turned to me, his face showing slight discomfort.

"I have one more question, Mr. Carter. I do not wish

to pry. Your talents with women have more than proved

themselves to me on this mission. But I could not help

overhearing your final conversation with the girl.

Would you have gone with her?"

I shook my head no.

"You could lie to someone, on their deathbed? "

I thought å moment before answering. "I've always

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understood why the dying tell the truth. It lets them

enter the afterworld with a lighter soul. But I've never

understood why they ask the truth. I saw no reason to

make her burdens any heavier. "

Berenko grunted, and then smiled. "Adversaries,"

he said. "We could never be anything more. Good

luck, my friend

and gocxibye." And he walked

away.

I watched him disappear around the veranda, and

silently wished him well. My eyes then traveled back to

the surrounding peaks. Robin's face, smiling and

warm, just as it had been on that trip across North

Africa, flashed through my mind.

"Let her memory be a bright one."

I slipped a few bills from my pocket and rose from

the table.

Today would be a good day to try out that new pair of

skis.