Calvin M. Knox by The Plot Against Earth Read Free Book Online Page B

that
Commission now himself. He went directly to Pouin Beryaal's office. Beryaal was
not there, but Ennid Uruod, the flabby Arenaddin member of the Commission, was.
    "Where's Beryaal?" Carton asked.
    "Interrogating the
prisoners. He
and eMerikh enjoy such torments; my stomach is weaker." "How
about the girl?"
    Uruod lifted a fat-encased arm and pointed to
an adjoining office. "In there, waiting for you. They've finished
questioning her."
    Catton thanked the Arenaddin and passed
through the doorway into the next office. Nuuri was there, i looking tense and troubled. But she managed a
smile as he entered.
    "They've officially released me,"
she said.
    "How about the
others?"
    She
shrugged. "They'll get the usual fate. Interrogation
until their minds crack. I pity them."
    "You betrayed
them," Catton reminded her bleakly.
    She showed no sign of emotion. "I was
betraying only Doveril. The rest were incidental. But Doveril is free, and they
are downstairs in the interrogation chamber."
    "They'll pick up
Doveril eventually," Catton said.
    "This is doubtful. By now he's probably
hundreds of light-years from here."
    "You think so?"
    "I'm sure of it. Doveril frightens
easily. And news moves rapidly here."
    "Where would he be likely to run
to?" the Earthman asked.
    Nuuri
said, "There are many worlds in the universe. He could be anywhere."
    Catton
frowned for a moment. "I'm planning to make a trip to Skorg shortly. Do
you think there's any chance he might be there?"
    "Skorg? Why do you go to Skorg?"
    "The reason doesn't concern you, Nuuri.
I'm going on official business."
    "Hypnojewel
business?" she asked curiously.
    "Of course. And if I could find Doveril there—"
    "Skorg is a crowded world. You'd have
trouble finding anyone there."
    Carton nodded. "I'm aware of that. But
there are ways of finding people."
    "I
hope you find Doveril," she said with venom in her voice. "I want to
see him on Pouin Beryaal's rack, coughing out his life as they comb his
mind."
    "You hated him enough to betray five of
his friends," Carton said. "All because he crossed
you in love. It's a strong revenge, Nuuri."
    Her eyes fixed on him beadily. They were
silent for a moment; then Nuuri said, "I have nothing further to say now.
I will leave you."
    "Will you keep in
touch with me?" he asked.
    "Why should ir
    "I'm interested in wiping out the
hypnojewel traffic," Cat-ton said. "You've helped me once. Possibly
you can help me again."
    She shook her head. "I'm not a
professional informer. I did you a service to satisfy my own desires. But I
feel no yearning to betray others to you."
    "You
realize that I could have you taken downstairs and put under deep probe?"
he asked. "You've as much as admitted that you're concealing important
information that could be useful to us."
    She
stared at him unwaveringly. "I realize that. Would you take me to
interrogation after my service to you? Is this your reward?"
    "You claimed you
didn't want a reward."
    "I
want a safe-conduct out of this building as my reward. I've helped you once.
Now let me go."
    "In a moment," he said quietly. He
glanced around the room, looking for traces of any hidden detector equipment.
In a low voice he said, "I'm an Earthman, Nuuri. I'm interested in the
safety and welfare of Earth."
    "So?"
    "There are stories circulating in the
galaxy that imply that some worlds plan an attack on Earth. I'm trying to find
out if anything lies behind those stories. Will you work for me?"
    "In what way?"
    "Help me investigate these rumors."
    She
smiled bitterly. "You aren't satisfied with my betrayal of friends. Now
you'd have me betray my world as well."
    "No
betrayal is involved. I'm acting in the interests of galactic peace."
    "What do I care
about galactic peace?"                    '
    "What
do you care about being hauled downstairs to the interrogation room?"
Catton said levelly.
    She
laughed. "You'll never gain allies with threats, Catton. I won't work for
you. I'm only interested in seeing Doveril