The Weapon of Night (21 page)

“. . . to use the natural resources of the country,” he gabbled. “Not necessary bring very much equipment, always find what we need wherever we go. Very efficient, very economical scheme. So we have small group, ten men . . .” He had told them that before, describing in great detail the clever departure of the nine from Moscow, their meeting with Judas in Egypt, the brilliance of their plan for changing their looks and quietly infiltrating the United States. Valentina’s little drug-and-music therapy, combined with the knowledge that he was very much alone in an unfriendly world, had brought Kwong to a state of uncontrollable volubility.

“It was plan by Judas and General Kuo Hsi Tang,” he sang enthusiastically. “First, campaign of terror to demoralize imperialistic dogs. At the peak of this, a vast blackout as final shattering blow and also as what you call a “dry-run.” If we succeed, then we ready to go ahead with plan for L-Day. L-Day may be two, three days after dress rehearsal. L-Day is landing day, day for landing with secret weapon under cover of darkness and terror. How to resist when panic is in streets, friend fighting friend, families dying from inexplicable dis-ease? Impossible! Oh, good scheme; very good scheme. And some day . . .”

“That’s it,” said Hawk, flicking the remote switch and fading Kwong Yu Shu back into oblivion. “My one regret is that he genuinely doesn’t seem to know anything about that secret weapon. But it does look as though we’re safe from it for a while at least, and we know a little something now about preparing ourselves for emergencies. Yes, I think we’ve nipped this thing fairly neatly in the bud. Shall we go?”

They rose, the five of them, and drained their glasses.

To the ten who couldn’t make it to the party,” said Julia wryly, still holding out her glass. “And to the five of us who nearly didn’t. They picked themselves an unlucky number, didn’t they? Ten, as in Indian boys, biting the dust one after the other until —”

“Until D-Day,” Hakim said quietly. “Death Day. And then there were none.”

Hawk chomped thoughtfully on his dead cigar.

“That right, Carter?” he said quizzically. “And then there were none?”

Nick stared back at him. “That’s right,” he said firmly. “None. But . . .” He shrugged. “Strange things have been known to happen.”

“Ah, come now, Nickska!” Valentina boomed. “You were sure at first. Why do you doubt now? It is impossible that the man could have survived that plunge.”

“Maybe,” said Nick. “But you never know, with Judas.”

The End