To The Stars

“You are being prescient. I did have something like that in mind. I have a job that is perfectly suited to your background and experience.” He hesitated a moment, enjoying the drama of the occasion.

“It is quite an important job for you to undertake. I want you to contact some resistance people here on Earth. As a liaison man for me.”

Jan shook his head slowly. “Do you really think that I would betray them to you? What a sick creature you are.”

“My dear Jan, I can understand your attitude, it is a reasonable one under the circumstances. But hear me out, please. I am going to tell you things about myself that you have never known or suspected. Remember, we were friends once. Perhaps we can be so again after you hear what I have to say. Like you, as a young man, I became intrigued about the world and how it was run. Since I had no resources other than my ambition I knew I would have to make my own way. Like you I became disgusted when I discovered the sort of lives we were leading. Unlike you, I joined the forces of oppression rather than attempt to fight them. Sort of burrow from within, you might say…”

“Sorry, you dirty son of a bitch, but it won’t wash. I’ve seen you at your work, seen how you enjoy it.”

“I am rather good, aren’t I? But it is all protective coloration. I saw that Security was the real force in control of the world — so I determined to run Security. To do this I had to outdo all my rivals, to be the best at my chosen task. It was not easy but it was worth it, and I achieved two goals at the same time. I rose to power by being the most reactionary of all. No one had ever doubted me. Nor have they ever understood that by operating in this manner I was Increasing oppression and therefore the forces of resistance. I am proud to feel that this policy created the climate that fostered the present rebellion. Since the planets are free my work has succeeded.”

Jan shook his head. “No, that is impossible to believe.”

“It happens to be true — but true or no it will make no difference to our relationship. From this moment on you are a free man with all the privileges that go with that status. Your criminal record has been expunged from the files and your own record returned to the computer banks. Your absence from Earth for these last years has been explained as a matter of Security. For anyone with first priority identification, the record also shows that you have always been a high Security officer and that all of your other work has been a front for your operations. You are now very rich and your bank account is full. Here is your identification card. Welcome back, Jan. There’s a bar here and I have had the foresight to stock it with champagne.”

It was all some kind of sadistic trick, Jan knew that. His body, his neck, ached where he had been kicked, but he had no time to consider the pain, he ignored it, fought it away so that he could order his thoughts. He had to use intelligence, not raw emotion. Though he had no regrets over the anger that had hurled him at his brother-in-law; how he had enjoyed the animal pleasure of actually laying his hands on the one person that he hated the most! But what was the man up to now? This had to be a plot of some kind; Thurgood-Smythe was incapable of any straightforward action. But whatever he was planning could not be uncovered at the present moment. Should he play along? Pretend to believe him? Did he have any choice? If the identification were real then there might be a chance to escape from the Security net. So it did not matter what he said if he managed to leave this room alive. He had no compunction about lying to his brother-in-law; it was almost an obligation. Therefore it was of no importance what he promised, but what he did. Promise anything, get away to safety. That was a good deal better than the certain death that awaited him if he refused. Jan watched with unbelief as Thurgood-Smythe carefully levered the cork out of the bottle, then poured two glasses of champagne without spilling a drop. He turned and smiled as he crossed the room and handed one to Jan. Who repressed the desire to smash in that smile now that the gun had been laid aside for the moment.

“That’s a good deal better,” Thurgood-Smythe said. “Just resist the urge for violence and you will stay alive. You are not the suicidal type.”

“All right. I’ll work along with you. Do what you ask. But I will betray no one, give you no information.”

“Very good. I ask no more. So we can drink to the future and hope that it will be a bright one for mankind.”

He raised his glass in salute; they drank.

“What must I do?” Jan asked.

“Go on a mission for me. To Israel. Now do you see the trust and faith behind my offer? If you doubt what I say, why you can defect and simply stay there — and none the wiser.”

“I can’t believe that. You proved to me that you had liaison with the Israeli government, to keep track of their agents.”