The Stainless Steel Rat for President

"This is just the beginning," de Torres said. "We now have a murderous enemy who wants us dead as well as defeated." "Correct. And my feelings are that he is going to do something desperate, and soon. He'll never have us in this exposed a position again." "He wouldn't dare!" "He would indeed, Marquez. You're not on your home ground now. It would be extremely easy to kill us before we leave the city. An angry mob might be to blame, or an assassin who would be killed afterwards. Zapilote would then make all the sympathetic noises and we would be out of the way forever. I guarantee that the story will be a good one. " "Then what should we do?" "Exactly what we planned. Take the car to the heliport. This little mob will not be as easy to take out as all that. But let's move fast, give him as little time to plan as is possible." I didn't bother to tell de Torres that our transportation was the next worry. I was relieved to see that a large and luxurious limousine was waiting at the entrance. But just because it was there did not mean Zapilote was not one jump ahead of us. The driver saluted and opened the rear door.

"Bolivar," I said. "Take that man aside and give him a large sum of money. You will drive." As the bewildered driver was led away by a strong grip on his elbow, I took a small device from my bag and handed it to James. "Run it around the car, will you. It can sniff out any kind of explosives, no matter how well sealed they are." He slithered under the vehicle like a snake, emerging at the far end a few moments later. "Clean as a whistle," he reported. "Let's see what's under the hood." He ran it along the join in the metal-then stopped. Frozen. He bent over and looked at the fastenings, then slowly opened them. A few seconds later he emerged and stood up with a plastic container in his hand.

"Clumsy," he said. "Wired to the brake pedal. First time the brakes are applied-wharnmo. But there were no attempts to disguise it, nor is it fitted with booby traps or any other kind of security device." "They were in a hurry. They won't make that mistake a second time. Let's go." "Wow," Bolivar said from the driving seat as he engaged the throttle. "This thing runs by steam. I'll need directions. Are we still going to the heliport?" "Unless there is another way out of town," I said. The marqu6z shook his head. •"We are not safe for a moment here. All roads will be blocked and we can count on no one in the city for help." "To the copter then. By the shortest route if you don't mind." The marquez shouted directions and Bolivar drove like a demon. Pedestrians scattered before us as we barreled straight down the middle of the road. We screeched tires around a final turn and there was the city wall ahead. There was a barrier blocking the gate, armed guards with ready weapons stationed at each side of it.

"We've no time for conversation," I said. "Bolivar, slow as though you were going to stop. James and I will use the sleeping gas bombs." I dug a handful from my bag. "No time for the noseplugs-so just hold your breath. When the bombs go-we go! Get ready." The car slowed before the barrier, then shot forward as the gas bombs exploded into dense clouds of smoke. There was a crunch and a bang and bits of the barrier flew in all directions. Then we were through and picking up speed. If any shots were fired we didn't know it. A screaming two-wheel turn took us around the corner and there was the heliport directly abead. And our copter.

Which was on fire, with the dead pilot hanging out of the door.

Chapter 14

"They should not have done that," de Torres said with savage fury. "Killed an innocent man. Not that." I could understand his feelings-but had little time to consider them. One escape route was closed. I had to find another. Quickly.

"Keep moving!" I called to Bolivar as a car full of troops hurtled around the corner behind us. Could we get another copter? It didn't look like it, the only ones in sight were tethered and silent. The soldiers would be on top of us long before we got airborne.

"What's ahead of us, beyond the heliport?" "Homes, factories, the suburbs," de Torres said. "After that the highway north. They will cut that off; we will never be able to pass them." "Perhaps. Straight on, driver!" Spoken in tones of assurance to bolster the troops' morale. But mine was pretty low. We were out of one trap and driving straight into another. Into a nest of local roads with only one exit. Our present freedom was an illusion. They would be closing in on all sides, blocking all exits. There was no escape. At that very instant, an amplified voice spoke these very words aloud. "There is no escape!" The voice crashed down upon us like the wrath of the gods. The street behind us was empty for the moment, and nothing visible ahead except the quiet suburban homes. What was it? Bolivar spun the heavy car in its own length and shot it up a side street, driving flat out to escape the mysterious voice.