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Mercenary-Mack Reynolds · 4 Science Fiction Stories by Mack Reynolds

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: Part one of Mercenary by Mack Reynolds. This is a
• 0:06
  Speaker 1: LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain.
• 0:10
  Speaker 1: For more information or to volunteer, visit LibriVox dot org.
• 0:17
  Speaker 1: Mercenary by mack Reynolds, narrated by Mark Nelson. Part one.
• 0:24
  Speaker 1: Joseph Mauser spotted the recruiting line up from two or
• 0:27
  Speaker 1: three blocks down the street shortly after driving into Kingston
• 0:31
  Speaker 1: the local offices of Vacuum Tube Transport. Undoubtedly, Baron Hare
• 0:36
  Speaker 1: would be doing his recruiting for the Fracas with Continental
• 0:39
  Speaker 1: Hovercraft there, if for no other reason than to save
• 0:42
  Speaker 1: on rents. The baron was watching pennies on this one,
• 0:46
  Speaker 1: and that was bad. In fact, it was so bad
• 0:51
  Speaker 1: that even as Joe Mauser let his sports hovercar sink
• 0:54
  Speaker 1: to a parking level and vaulted over its side, he
• 0:57
  Speaker 1: was still questioning his decision to sign up up with
• 1:00
  Speaker 1: the vacuum tube outfit rather than with their opponents. Joe
• 1:05
  Speaker 1: was an old pro, and old pros do not get
• 1:08
  Speaker 1: to be old pros in the category military without developing
• 1:12
  Speaker 1: an instinct to stay away from losing sides. Fine enough
• 1:17
  Speaker 1: for low lowers and mid lowers to sign up with
• 1:20
  Speaker 1: this outfit as opposed to that, motivated by no other
• 1:23
  Speaker 1: reasoning than the snappiness of the uniform and the stock
• 1:26
  Speaker 1: shares offered. But an old pro considered carefully such matters
• 1:31
  Speaker 1: as budget. Baron Hare was watching every expense was, it
• 1:37
  Speaker 1: was rumored, figuring on commanding himself and calling upon relatives
• 1:41
  Speaker 1: and friends for his staff. Continental Hovercraft, on the other hand,
• 1:46
  Speaker 1: was heavy with variable capital and was in a position
• 1:49
  Speaker 1: to hire Stonewall Cogswell himself for their tactician. However, the
• 1:55
  Speaker 1: die was cast. You didn't run up a cast level,
• 1:59
  Speaker 1: not to speak of two at once by playing it careful.
• 2:03
  Speaker 1: Joe had planned this out for once, old pro or not,
• 2:08
  Speaker 1: he was taking risks. Recruiting line ups were not for
• 2:12
  Speaker 1: such as he not for many a year, many a fracus.
• 2:17
  Speaker 1: He strode rapidly along this one, heading for the offices ahead,
• 2:21
  Speaker 1: noting only in passing the quality of the men who
• 2:23
  Speaker 1: were taking service with a vacuum tube transport. These were
• 2:28
  Speaker 1: the soldiers he'd be commanding in the immediate future, and
• 2:31
  Speaker 1: the prospects looked grim. There were few veterans among them.
• 2:37
  Speaker 1: Their stance, their demeanor there well, you could tell a veteran.
• 2:42
  Speaker 1: Even though he be rank private. You could tell a
• 2:45
  Speaker 1: veteran of even one fracus. It showed he knew the situation.
• 2:52
  Speaker 1: The word had gone out Baron Malcolm Hare was due
• 2:55
  Speaker 1: for a defeat. You weren't going to pick up any
• 2:59
  Speaker 1: lush bonuses signing up with him, and you definitely weren't
• 3:02
  Speaker 1: going to jump a cast. In short, no matter what
• 3:06
  Speaker 1: Hair's past record, choose what was going to be the
• 3:09
  Speaker 1: winning side. Continental Hovercraft, Continental Hovercraft, and old Stonewall Cogswell,
• 3:17
  Speaker 1: who had lost so few fracases that many a telly
• 3:21
  Speaker 1: buff couldn't remember a single one. Individuals among these men
• 3:26
  Speaker 1: showed promise, Joe Mauser estimated even as he walked. But
• 3:30
  Speaker 1: promise means little if you don't live long enough to
• 3:33
  Speaker 1: cash in on it. Take that small man up ahead.
• 3:37
  Speaker 1: He'd obviously got himself into a hassle maintaining his place
• 3:40
  Speaker 1: in line against two or three heftier would be soldiers.
• 3:45
  Speaker 1: The little fellow wasn't backing down a step in spite
• 3:48
  Speaker 1: of the attempts of the other lowers to usurp his place.
• 3:52
  Speaker 1: Joe Mauser liked to see such spirit. You could use
• 3:56
  Speaker 1: it when you were in the dill. As he drew
• 3:59
  Speaker 1: abreast of the altercation, he snapped from the side of
• 4:02
  Speaker 1: his mouth, Easy, lads, you'll get all the scrapping you
• 4:05
  Speaker 1: want with hovercraft. Wait until then. He'd expected his tone
• 4:10
  Speaker 1: of authority to be enough. Even though he was in mufty,
• 4:14
  Speaker 1: he wasn't particularly interested in the situation beyond giving the
• 4:18
  Speaker 1: little man a hand. A veteran would have recognized him
• 4:22
  Speaker 1: as an old timer and probably officer, and heeded automatically.
• 4:27
  Speaker 1: These evidently weren't veterans. Sash, one of the Lowers, growled
• 4:33
  Speaker 1: back at him, you want a barren Hare's kids or something.
• 4:37
  Speaker 1: Joe Mauser came to a halt and faced the other.
• 4:41
  Speaker 1: He was irritated, largely with himself. He didn't want to
• 4:45
  Speaker 1: be bothered. Nevertheless, there was no alternative. Now. The line
• 4:50
  Speaker 1: of men, all lowers, so far as Joe could see,
• 4:54
  Speaker 1: had fallen silent in an expectant hush. They were bored
• 4:58
  Speaker 1: with their long weight. Now something would break the monotony.
• 5:03
  Speaker 1: By tomorrow Joe Mauser would be in command of some
• 5:06
  Speaker 1: of these men. In as little as a week, he
• 5:08
  Speaker 1: would go into full fledge fracus with them. He couldn't
• 5:12
  Speaker 1: afford to lose face, not even at this point, when
• 5:15
  Speaker 1: all including himself, were still civilian garbed. When matters pickled
• 5:21
  Speaker 1: in a fracas, you wanted men with complete confidence in you.
• 5:26
  Speaker 1: The man who had grumbled the surly response was a
• 5:29
  Speaker 1: near physical twin of Joe Mauser, which put him in
• 5:32
  Speaker 1: his early thirties, gave him five foot eleven of altitude
• 5:35
  Speaker 1: and about one hundred and eighty pounds. His clothes casted
• 5:39
  Speaker 1: him low lower, nothing to lose. As with many who
• 5:44
  Speaker 1: had nothing to lose, he was willing to risk all
• 5:46
  Speaker 1: for principle. His face now registered that ideal Joe Mauser
• 5:52
  Speaker 1: had no authority over him nor his friends. Joe's eyes
• 5:57
  Speaker 1: flicked to the other two who had been pestering the
• 5:59
  Speaker 1: little fellow. They weren't quite so aggressive, and as yet
• 6:03
  Speaker 1: had come to no conclusion about their stand. Probably the
• 6:07
  Speaker 1: three had been unacquainted before their bullying alliance to deprive
• 6:10
  Speaker 1: the smaller man of his place. However, a moment of
• 6:15
  Speaker 1: hesitation and Joe would have a trio on his hands.
• 6:19
  Speaker 1: He went through no further verbal preliminaries. Joe Mouser stepped closer,
• 6:24
  Speaker 1: his right hand glanced forward, not doubled in a fist
• 6:28
  Speaker 1: but fingers close together and pointed spearlike, he sank it
• 6:33
  Speaker 1: into the other's abdomen, immediately below the rib cage, the
• 6:37
  Speaker 1: solar plexus. He had misestimated the other two. Even as
• 6:42
  Speaker 1: his opponent crumpled, they were upon him, coming in from
• 6:45
  Speaker 1: each side, and at least one of them, he could
• 6:48
  Speaker 1: see now, had been in hand to hand combat before.
• 6:52
  Speaker 1: In short, another pro like Joe himself, He took one blow,
• 6:58
  Speaker 1: rolling with it, and his feet automatically went into the
• 7:01
  Speaker 1: shuffle of the train fighter. He retreated slightly to erect
• 7:05
  Speaker 1: defenses plan attack. They pressed him strongly, sensing victory in
• 7:10
  Speaker 1: his retreat. The one mattered little to him. Joe Mauser
• 7:15
  Speaker 1: could have polished off the OAF in a matter of seconds,
• 7:18
  Speaker 1: and he allotted seconds to devote. But the second, the
• 7:22
  Speaker 1: experienced one, was the problem. He and Joe were well matched,
• 7:27
  Speaker 1: and with the OAF as an ally, really he had
• 7:30
  Speaker 1: all the best of it. Support came from a forgotten source,
• 7:35
  Speaker 1: the Little Chap who had been the reason for the
• 7:37
  Speaker 1: whole hassle. He waited in now as big as the
• 7:40
  Speaker 1: next man, so far as spirit was concerned, but a
• 7:44
  Speaker 1: sorry fate gave him to attack the wrong man the
• 7:47
  Speaker 1: veteran rather than the tyro. He took a crashing blow
• 7:52
  Speaker 1: to the side of his head, which sent him sailing
• 7:54
  Speaker 1: back into the recruiting line, now composed of excited shouting,
• 7:59
  Speaker 1: verbal partition dissipants of the fray. However, the extinction of
• 8:04
  Speaker 1: Joe Mauser's small ally had taken a moment or two,
• 8:08
  Speaker 1: and time was what Joe needed most. For a double second,
• 8:12
  Speaker 1: he had the oaf alone on his hands, and that
• 8:15
  Speaker 1: was sufficient. He caught a flailing arm, turned his back
• 8:19
  Speaker 1: and automatically went into the movements which result in that
• 8:22
  Speaker 1: spectacular hold of the wrestler, the flying Mare. Just in time,
• 8:28
  Speaker 1: he recalled that his opponent was a future comrade in
• 8:31
  Speaker 1: arms and twisted the arm so that it bent at
• 8:34
  Speaker 1: the elbow rather than breaking. He hurled the other over
• 8:38
  Speaker 1: his shoulder and as far as possible to take the
• 8:41
  Speaker 1: scrap out of him, and twirled quickly to meet the
• 8:44
  Speaker 1: further attack of his sole remaining foe. That phase of
• 8:48
  Speaker 1: the combat failed to materialize a voice of combat bad
• 8:53
  Speaker 1: out hold it you, lads. The original situation which had
• 8:58
  Speaker 1: participated the fight was being dupeated. But while the three
• 9:02
  Speaker 1: lowers had failed to respond to Joe Mauser's tone of authority.
• 9:05
  Speaker 1: There was no similar failure. Now the owner of the voice,
• 9:10
  Speaker 1: beautifully done up in the uniform of vacuum tube transport,
• 9:14
  Speaker 1: complete to kilts and the swagger stick of the officer
• 9:17
  Speaker 1: of rank colonel or above, stood glaring at them. Age
• 9:22
  Speaker 1: Joe estimated, even as he came to attention somewhere in
• 9:26
  Speaker 1: the late twenties, and upper in cast born to command
• 9:31
  Speaker 1: his voice, holding that arrogant, contemptuous expression once common to
• 9:36
  Speaker 1: the patricians of Rome, the Prussian yunkers, the British ruling
• 9:40
  Speaker 1: class of the nineteenth century. Joe knew the expression well,
• 9:46
  Speaker 1: how well he knew it on more than one occasion
• 9:50
  Speaker 1: he had dreamt of it. Joe said, yes, sir, what
• 9:55
  Speaker 1: in zen goes on? Here? Are you lads? Over tranked? No, sir,
• 10:00
  Speaker 1: Joe's veteran opponent grumbled, his eyes on the ground, a
• 10:04
  Speaker 1: schoolboy before the principal. Joe said, evenly, a private disagreement, sir, disagreement.
• 10:13
  Speaker 1: The upper snorted. His eyes went to the three fallen combatants,
• 10:18
  Speaker 1: who were in various stages of reviving. I'd hate to
• 10:21
  Speaker 1: see you lads in a real scrap. That brought a
• 10:26
  Speaker 1: response from the non combatants in the recruiting line. The
• 10:30
  Speaker 1: bon mat wasn't that good, but cast has its privileges,
• 10:34
  Speaker 1: and the laughter was just short of uproarious, which seemed
• 10:39
  Speaker 1: to placate the kilted officer. He tapped his swagger stick
• 10:43
  Speaker 1: against the side of his leg while he ran his
• 10:46
  Speaker 1: eyes up and down Joe Mauser and the others, as
• 10:49
  Speaker 1: though memorizing them for future reference. All right, he said,
• 10:55
  Speaker 1: get back into line, and you trouble make us quiet down.
• 10:58
  Speaker 1: We are processing as as quickly as we can. And
• 11:02
  Speaker 1: at that point he added insult to injury, with an
• 11:05
  Speaker 1: almost word for word repetition of what Joe had said
• 11:08
  Speaker 1: a few moments earlier. You'll get all the fighting you
• 11:12
  Speaker 1: want from hovercraft if you can wait until then. The
• 11:16
  Speaker 1: four original participants of the rumpus resumed their places in
• 11:20
  Speaker 1: various stages of sheepishness. The little fellow, nursing an obviously
• 11:25
  Speaker 1: aching jaw, made a point of taking up his original position,
• 11:29
  Speaker 1: even while darting a look of thanks to Joe Mauser,
• 11:33
  Speaker 1: who still stood where he had when the fight was interrupted.
• 11:37
  Speaker 1: The upper looked at Joe, well, lad, are you interested
• 11:41
  Speaker 1: in signing up with Vacuum tube transport or not, yes, sir,
• 11:46
  Speaker 1: Joe said evenly. Then, Joe Mauser, Sir, category military rank captain. Indeed,
• 11:56
  Speaker 1: the officer looked him up and down all over again,
• 11:59
  Speaker 1: his nostril high a middle I assume, and brawling with recruits.
• 12:05
  Speaker 1: He held a long silence. Very well, come with me,
• 12:10
  Speaker 1: he turned and marched off. Joe inwardly shrugged. This was
• 12:16
  Speaker 1: a fine start for his pitch, A fine start. He
• 12:20
  Speaker 1: had half a mind to give it all up here
• 12:22
  Speaker 1: and now and head on up to Catskill to enlist
• 12:25
  Speaker 1: with Continental Hovercraft. His big scheme would wait for another day. Nevertheless,
• 12:31
  Speaker 1: he fell in behind the aristocrat and followed him to
• 12:34
  Speaker 1: the offices which had been his original destination. Two rank
• 12:42
  Speaker 1: privates with forty five seventy springfields and wearing the hair
• 12:46
  Speaker 1: kilts in such wise as to indicate permanent status in
• 12:49
  Speaker 1: vacuum tube transport came to the salute. As they approached
• 12:54
  Speaker 1: the upper preceding Joe Mauser flicked his swagger stick in
• 12:57
  Speaker 1: an easy nonchalance. Joe felt envious amusement. How long did
• 13:03
  Speaker 1: it take to learn how to answer a salute with
• 13:05
  Speaker 1: that degree of arrogant ease? There were desks in here
• 13:10
  Speaker 1: and typers humming as Vacuum Tube Transport office workers mobilized
• 13:14
  Speaker 1: for this special service, processed volunteers for the company. Forces
• 13:19
  Speaker 1: harried non coms and junior grade officers buzzed everywhere, failing
• 13:24
  Speaker 1: miserably to bring order to the chaos. To the right
• 13:28
  Speaker 1: was a door with a medical cross newly painted on it.
• 13:32
  Speaker 1: When it occasionally popped open to admit or emit a recruit.
• 13:36
  Speaker 1: White robed doctors, male nurses, and half nude men could
• 13:40
  Speaker 1: be glimpsed beyond. Joe followed the other through the press
• 13:44
  Speaker 1: and to an inner office, at which door he didn't
• 13:47
  Speaker 1: bother to knock. He pushed his way through, waved in,
• 13:50
  Speaker 1: greeting with his swaggerstick to the single occupant who looked
• 13:53
  Speaker 1: up from the paper and tape strewn desk at which
• 13:56
  Speaker 1: he sat. Joe Mauser had seen the face before on Telly,
• 14:00
  Speaker 1: though never so tired as this, and never with the
• 14:04
  Speaker 1: element of defeat to be read in the expression bullet
• 14:07
  Speaker 1: headed barrel figured baron Malcolm Hare of Vacuum Tube Transport
• 14:13
  Speaker 1: Category Transportation Mid Upper and strong candidate for Upper Upper
• 14:18
  Speaker 1: upon retirement. However, there would be few who expected retirement
• 14:24
  Speaker 1: in the immediate future hardly Malcolm Hare found too obvious
• 14:29
  Speaker 1: a lusty enjoyment in the competition between vacuum tube transport
• 14:34
  Speaker 1: and its stronger rivals. Joe came to attention, bore the
• 14:39
  Speaker 1: sharp scrutiny of his chosen commander to be. The older
• 14:43
  Speaker 1: man's eyes went to the kilted upper officer who had
• 14:46
  Speaker 1: brought Joe along. What is it? Bolt? The other gestured
• 14:52
  Speaker 1: with his stick at Joe. Claims to be rank captain
• 14:56
  Speaker 1: looking for a commission with us, Dad, I would know why.
• 15:01
  Speaker 1: The last sentence was added lazily. The older Hare shot
• 15:05
  Speaker 1: an irritated glance at his son, possibly for the same
• 15:09
  Speaker 1: reason mercenaries usually in this for Africa's bolt. His eyes
• 15:13
  Speaker 1: came back to Joe. Joe Mauser, still at attention, even
• 15:18
  Speaker 1: though in Mufty opened his mouth to give his name
• 15:21
  Speaker 1: category in rank, but the older man waved a hand negatively.
• 15:26
  Speaker 1: Captain Mouser, isn't it Mike caught the frakus between carbonaceous
• 15:30
  Speaker 1: fuel and United miners done on the Panhandle Reservation. Seems
• 15:34
  Speaker 1: to me I've spotted you once or twice before, too, Yes,
• 15:39
  Speaker 1: Sir Joe said, this was some improvement in the way
• 15:43
  Speaker 1: things were going the older Hare was scowling at him,
• 15:47
  Speaker 1: confound it. What are you doing with no more rank
• 15:50
  Speaker 1: than captain. On the face of it, you're an old hand,
• 15:54
  Speaker 1: a heighthy experienced veteran, an old pro we call ourselves,
• 16:00
  Speaker 1: Joe said to himself, old prose, we call ourselves among ourselves. Aloud,
• 16:07
  Speaker 1: he said, I was born amid lower Sir. There was
• 16:12
  Speaker 1: understanding in the old man's face, but balt Haire said, loftily,
• 16:17
  Speaker 1: what's that got to do with it? Promotion is quick
• 16:20
  Speaker 1: and based on merit in category military at a certain point,
• 16:26
  Speaker 1: if you are good combat officer material, you speak your mind,
• 16:30
  Speaker 1: no matter the rank of the man you are addressing.
• 16:33
  Speaker 1: On this occasion, Joe Mouser needed few words. He let
• 16:37
  Speaker 1: his eyes go up and down balt Hare's immaculate uniform,
• 16:41
  Speaker 1: Taking in the swagger stick of the rank colonel or above,
• 16:45
  Speaker 1: Joe said evenly, yes, sir. Balt Haire flushed quick temper.
• 16:52
  Speaker 1: What do you mean by his father was chuckling. You
• 16:56
  Speaker 1: have spirit, Captain, I need spirit. Now, you are quite correct,
• 17:01
  Speaker 1: my son. Though a capable officer, I assure you, has
• 17:05
  Speaker 1: probably not participated in a fraction of the fracases. You
• 17:08
  Speaker 1: have to your credit. However, there is something to be
• 17:11
  Speaker 1: said for the training available to we uppers and the academies.
• 17:15
  Speaker 1: For instance, Captain, have you ever commanded a body of
• 17:19
  Speaker 1: lads larger than well a company? Joe said flatly. In
• 17:25
  Speaker 1: the Douglas Bowing versus Lockheed Cesna fracas, we took a
• 17:28
  Speaker 1: high loss of officers when the Douglas Bowing outfit rang
• 17:31
  Speaker 1: in some fast firing French metrelieuse we didn't know they had.
• 17:35
  Speaker 1: As my superiors took casualties. I was field promoted to
• 17:39
  Speaker 1: acting battalion commander, to acting regimental commander, to acting brigadier.
• 17:44
  Speaker 1: For three days, I held the rank of acting commander
• 17:47
  Speaker 1: of brigade. We won balt Hare snapped his fingers. I
• 17:53
  Speaker 1: remember that, read quite a paper on it the eye,
• 17:58
  Speaker 1: Joe Mauser, almost respectful. Stonewall Cogswell got the credit for
• 18:03
  Speaker 1: the victory and received his Marshal's button as a result.
• 18:08
  Speaker 1: He was one of the few other officers that survived.
• 18:11
  Speaker 1: Joe said dryly, But Zen, you mean you got no
• 18:15
  Speaker 1: promotion at all, Joe said, I was up to low
• 18:20
  Speaker 1: middle from high lower sir at my age at the time,
• 18:24
  Speaker 1: quite a promotion. Baron Hare was remembering too, that was
• 18:30
  Speaker 1: the fhreakers that brought on the howl from the serves.
• 18:33
  Speaker 1: They claimed those mitrelieus were post nineteen hundred and violated
• 18:37
  Speaker 1: the Universal Disarmament Packed. Yes, I recall that Douglas Boeing
• 18:43
  Speaker 1: was able to prove that the weapon was used by
• 18:45
  Speaker 1: the French as far back as the Franco Prussian War.
• 18:49
  Speaker 1: He eyed Joe with new interest. Now sit down, captain,
• 18:54
  Speaker 1: you two balt. Do you realize that Captain Mauser is
• 18:57
  Speaker 1: the only recruit of officer rank we've had to day, Yes,
• 19:02
  Speaker 1: the younger hare said dryly. However, it's too late to
• 19:06
  Speaker 1: call the frak Us off now. Hovercraft wouldn't stand for it,
• 19:10
  Speaker 1: and the Category Military Department would back them. Our only
• 19:14
  Speaker 1: alternative is unconditional surrender, and you know what that means.
• 19:19
  Speaker 1: It means our family would probably be forced from control
• 19:23
  Speaker 1: of the firm, the older man growled. But nobody has
• 19:26
  Speaker 1: suggested surrender on any terms, nobody thus far. He glared
• 19:32
  Speaker 1: at his officer's son, who took it with an easy
• 19:35
  Speaker 1: shrug and swung the leg over the edge of his
• 19:37
  Speaker 1: father's desk in the way of a seat. Joe Mauser
• 19:41
  Speaker 1: found a chair and lowered himself into it. Evidently, the
• 19:45
  Speaker 1: foppish balt Hare had no illusions about the spot his
• 19:49
  Speaker 1: father had got the family corporation into, and the younger
• 19:52
  Speaker 1: man was right, of course, But the Baron wasn't blind
• 19:55
  Speaker 1: to reality any more than he was a coward. He
• 19:59
  Speaker 1: dismissed balt hairs defeatism from his mind and came back
• 20:02
  Speaker 1: to Joe Mauser as I say, you're the only officer
• 20:07
  Speaker 1: recruit to day, Why, Joe said evenly, I would know, sir.
• 20:13
  Speaker 1: Perhaps freelance category military men are occupied elsewhere. There is
• 20:18
  Speaker 1: always a shortage of trained officers. Baron Hare was waggling
• 20:22
  Speaker 1: a finger negatively. That's not what I mean, Captain. You're
• 20:27
  Speaker 1: an old hand. This is your category and you must
• 20:30
  Speaker 1: know it well. Then why are you signing up with
• 20:34
  Speaker 1: vacuum tube transport rather than hovercraft? Joe Mauser looked at
• 20:39
  Speaker 1: him for a moment without speaking. Come come, Captain, I'm
• 20:44
  Speaker 1: an old hand too in my category, and not a fool.
• 20:48
  Speaker 1: I realize there is scarcely a soul in the West
• 20:51
  Speaker 1: World that expects anything but disaster from my colors. Pay
• 20:55
  Speaker 1: rates have been widely posted. I can offer only five
• 20:58
  Speaker 1: common shares of vacuum for a rank captain win or lose.
• 21:03
  Speaker 1: Hovercraft is doubling that and can pick and choose among
• 21:06
  Speaker 1: the best officers in the hemisphere. Joe said softly, I
• 21:12
  Speaker 1: have all the shares I need. Balt Hare had been
• 21:16
  Speaker 1: looking back and forth between his father and the newcomer
• 21:20
  Speaker 1: and becoming obviously more puzzled. He put in, well, what
• 21:25
  Speaker 1: in Zen motivates you if it isn't the stalk we offer.
• 21:29
  Speaker 1: Joe glanced at the younger Hare to acknowledge the question,
• 21:33
  Speaker 1: but he spoke to the baron, Sir, like you said,
• 21:37
  Speaker 1: You're no fool. However, you've been sucked in this time.
• 21:41
  Speaker 1: When you took on Hovercraft, you were thinking in terms
• 21:44
  Speaker 1: of a regional dispute. You wanted to run one of
• 21:47
  Speaker 1: your vacuum tube deals up to Fairbanks from Edmonton. You
• 21:50
  Speaker 1: were expecting a minor fracas involving possibly five thousand men.
• 21:56
  Speaker 1: You never expected Hovercraft to parley it up through their
• 21:59
  Speaker 1: connection in the Category Military Department to a divisional magnitude
• 22:03
  Speaker 1: fracus which you simply aren't large enough to afford. But
• 22:07
  Speaker 1: Hovercraft was getting sick of your corporation. You've been nicking
• 22:11
  Speaker 1: away at them too long, so they decided to do
• 22:14
  Speaker 1: you in. They've hired Marshall Cogswell and the best combat
• 22:18
  Speaker 1: officers in North America, and they're hiring the most competent
• 22:22
  Speaker 1: veterans they can find. Every fracas buff who watches Telly
• 22:26
  Speaker 1: figures you've had it. They've been watching you come up
• 22:29
  Speaker 1: the aggressive way, the hard way for a long time.
• 22:33
  Speaker 1: But now they're all going to be sitting on the
• 22:35
  Speaker 1: edges of their sofas waiting for you to get it.
• 22:39
  Speaker 1: Barren Hare's heavy face had hardened as Joe Mauser went
• 22:43
  Speaker 1: on relentlessly. He growled, is this what everyone thinks? Yes,
• 22:49
  Speaker 1: everyone intelligent enough to have an opinion. Joe made a
• 22:53
  Speaker 1: motion of his head to the outer offices, where the
• 22:56
  Speaker 1: recruiting was proceeding. Those men out there are rejects from Catskill,
• 23:01
  Speaker 1: where old Baron's wordling is recruiting. Either that or their
• 23:05
  Speaker 1: inexperienced low lowers too stupid realize their sticking their necks out.
• 23:10
  Speaker 1: Not one man in ten is a veteran. And when
• 23:13
  Speaker 1: things began to pickle, you want veterans. Baron Malcolm Hare
• 23:19
  Speaker 1: sat back in his chair and stared coldly at Captain
• 23:23
  Speaker 1: Joe Mauser, He said, At first, I was moderately surprised
• 23:29
  Speaker 1: that an old time mercenary like yourself should choose my
• 23:33
  Speaker 1: uniform rather than Zwerdling's. Now I am increasingly mystified about motivation.
• 23:40
  Speaker 1: So all over again I ask you, Captain, why are
• 23:44
  Speaker 1: you requesting a commission in my forces which you seem
• 23:48
  Speaker 1: convinced will meet disaster. Joe wet his lips carefully. I
• 23:55
  Speaker 1: think I know a way you can win two his
• 24:03
  Speaker 1: permanent military rank. The Hares had no way to alter,
• 24:07
  Speaker 1: but they were short enough of competent officers that they
• 24:10
  Speaker 1: gave him an acting rating and pay scale of major
• 24:13
  Speaker 1: and command of a squadron of cavalry. Joe Mauser wasn't
• 24:17
  Speaker 1: interested in a cavalry command this fracas, but he said
• 24:20
  Speaker 1: nothing immediately. He had to size up the situation. It
• 24:25
  Speaker 1: wasn't time as yet to reveal the big scheme, and meanwhile,
• 24:29
  Speaker 1: they could use him to whip the rank privates into shape.
• 24:33
  Speaker 1: He left the offices of Baron Hare to go through
• 24:36
  Speaker 1: the red tape involved in being signed up on a
• 24:38
  Speaker 1: temporary basis in the vacuum tube transport forces, and re
• 24:42
  Speaker 1: entered the confusion of the outer offices where the lowers
• 24:45
  Speaker 1: were being processed and given medicals. He re entered in
• 24:49
  Speaker 1: time to run into a tele team which was doing
• 24:52
  Speaker 1: a live broadcast. Joe Mauser remembered the news reporter who
• 24:56
  Speaker 1: headed the team. He'd run into him two or three
• 24:59
  Speaker 1: times in fracases. As a matter of fact, although Joe
• 25:03
  Speaker 1: held the standard military category prejudices against Telly, he had
• 25:07
  Speaker 1: a basic respect for this particular newsman on the occasions
• 25:12
  Speaker 1: he'd seen him before. The fellow was hot in the
• 25:14
  Speaker 1: midst of the action, even when things were in the dill.
• 25:18
  Speaker 1: He took as many chances as did the average combatant,
• 25:22
  Speaker 1: and you can't ask for more than that. The other
• 25:25
  Speaker 1: knew him too, of course, it was part of his
• 25:28
  Speaker 1: job to be able to spot the celebrities and near celebrities.
• 25:32
  Speaker 1: He zeroed in on Joe, now, making flicks of his
• 25:35
  Speaker 1: hand to direct the cameras. Joe, of course, was fully
• 25:38
  Speaker 1: aware of the value of Telly and was glad to
• 25:41
  Speaker 1: cooperate Captain Captain Mauser. Isn't it Joe Mauser who held
• 25:47
  Speaker 1: out for four days in the swamps of Louisiana with
• 25:50
  Speaker 1: a single company while his ranking officers reformed behind him.
• 25:55
  Speaker 1: That was one way of putting it, but both Joe
• 25:58
  Speaker 1: and the newscaster who had covered the debacle knew the
• 26:02
  Speaker 1: reality of the situation. When the front had collapsed, his
• 26:06
  Speaker 1: commanders of Upper Cast, of course, had hauled out, leaving
• 26:11
  Speaker 1: him to fight a delaying action while they mended their fences,
• 26:15
  Speaker 1: with the enemy coming to the best terms possible. Yes,
• 26:20
  Speaker 1: that had been the United Oil versus Allied Petroleum Fracus,
• 26:24
  Speaker 1: and Joe had emerged with little in either glory or
• 26:28
  Speaker 1: pelf The average Fracus fan wasn't on an intellectual level
• 26:32
  Speaker 1: to appreciate anything other than victory. The good guys win,
• 26:36
  Speaker 1: the bad guys lose. That's obvious, isn't it not. One
• 26:41
  Speaker 1: out of ten telefollowers of the fracases was interested in
• 26:44
  Speaker 1: a well conducted retreat or holding action. They wanted blood,
• 26:49
  Speaker 1: lots of it, and they identified with the winning side.
• 26:54
  Speaker 1: Joe Mauser wasn't particularly bitter about this aspect. It was
• 26:58
  Speaker 1: part of his way of life. In fact, his pet
• 27:02
  Speaker 1: Peeve was the real buff the type man or woman
• 27:06
  Speaker 1: who could remember every fracas you'd ever been in, every
• 27:09
  Speaker 1: time you'd copped one, and how long you'd been in
• 27:12
  Speaker 1: the hospital. Fans who could remember even better than you could.
• 27:17
  Speaker 1: Every time the situation had pickled on you and you'd
• 27:20
  Speaker 1: had to fight your way out as best as you could,
• 27:23
  Speaker 1: they'd tell you about it, their eyes gleaming, sometimes a
• 27:27
  Speaker 1: slightest trickle of spittle at the sides of their mouths.
• 27:30
  Speaker 1: They usually wanted an autograph or a souvenir, such as
• 27:33
  Speaker 1: a uniform button. Now, Joe said to the Telly reporter,
• 27:39
  Speaker 1: that's right, Captain Mauser, acting major in this fracas, Ah, Freddy,
• 27:45
  Speaker 1: Freddy Sulligan. You remember me, Captain, of course I do, Freddie.
• 27:50
  Speaker 1: We've been in the Dill side by side more than once,
• 27:53
  Speaker 1: and even when I was too scared to use my
• 27:56
  Speaker 1: side arm, you'd be scanning away with your camera. Ha ha.
• 28:01
  Speaker 1: Listen to the captain, folks, I hope my boss is
• 28:04
  Speaker 1: tuned in. But seriously, Captain Mauser, what do you think
• 28:08
  Speaker 1: the chances of vacuum tube transport are in this fracas?
• 28:12
  Speaker 1: Joe looked into the camera lens earnestly the best, of course,
• 28:17
  Speaker 1: or I wouldn't have signed up with Baron Hare. Freddie,
• 28:20
  Speaker 1: just as Triumphs and anybody who is familiar with the
• 28:23
  Speaker 1: issues in this fracas knows that Baron Hare is on
• 28:26
  Speaker 1: the side of true right, Freddy said, holding any sarcasm
• 28:32
  Speaker 1: he must have felt. What would you say the issues were, Captain,
• 28:38
  Speaker 1: the basic North American free enterprise right to compete. Hovercraft
• 28:43
  Speaker 1: is held a near monopoly in transport to Fairbanks vacuum
• 28:47
  Speaker 1: tube transport wishes to lower costs and bring the consumers
• 28:50
  Speaker 1: of Fairbanks better service through running a vacuum tube to
• 28:54
  Speaker 1: that area. What could be more in the traditions of
• 28:57
  Speaker 1: the West World Continental hovercraft stands in the way, and
• 29:01
  Speaker 1: it is they who have demanded of the category Military
• 29:04
  Speaker 1: Department a trial by arms. On the face of it,
• 29:07
  Speaker 1: justice is on the side of Baron Hare. Freddy Sulligan
• 29:13
  Speaker 1: said into the camera, Well, all you good people of
• 29:16
  Speaker 1: the teleworld, that's an able summation the Captain has made,
• 29:20
  Speaker 1: but it certainly doesn't jibe with the words of Baron's
• 29:23
  Speaker 1: wordling we heard this morning, does it. However, justice triumphs
• 29:28
  Speaker 1: and we'll see what the field of combat will have
• 29:30
  Speaker 1: to offer. Thank you, Thank you very much, Captain Mauser,
• 29:34
  Speaker 1: all of us, all of us tuned in today, hope
• 29:37
  Speaker 1: that you personally will run into no dill in this fracas.
• 29:42
  Speaker 1: Thanks Freddie, Thanks all. Joe said into the camera before
• 29:46
  Speaker 1: turning away. He wasn't particularly keen about this part of
• 29:50
  Speaker 1: the job, but you couldn't underrate the importance of pleasing
• 29:54
  Speaker 1: the buffs in the long run. It was your career,
• 29:57
  Speaker 1: your chances for promotion, both in military rank and ultimately
• 30:02
  Speaker 1: in cast. It was the way the fans took you up,
• 30:06
  Speaker 1: boosted you, idolized you, worshiped you if you really made it.
• 30:11
  Speaker 1: He Joe Mauser was only a minor celebrity. He appreciated
• 30:16
  Speaker 1: every chance he had to be interviewed by such a
• 30:18
  Speaker 1: popular reporter as Freddie Sulligan. Even as he turned, he
• 30:24
  Speaker 1: spotted the four men with whom he'd had his spat earlier.
• 30:28
  Speaker 1: The little fellow was still to the fore. Evidently the
• 30:31
  Speaker 1: others had decided the one place extra that he represented
• 30:35
  Speaker 1: wasn't worth the trouble he put in their way. Defending it.
• 30:39
  Speaker 1: On an impulse, he stepped up to the small man,
• 30:42
  Speaker 1: who began a grin of recognition, a grin that transformed
• 30:46
  Speaker 1: his feisty face, a revelation of inner warmth beyond average
• 30:50
  Speaker 1: in a world which had lost much of its human warmth.
• 30:54
  Speaker 1: Joe said, like a job soldier names Max Max sure
• 31:01
  Speaker 1: I want a job. That's why I'm in this everlasting line,
• 31:05
  Speaker 1: Joe said. First, Frank is for you, isn't it. Yeah,
• 31:09
  Speaker 1: but I had basic training in school. What do you weigh, Max,
• 31:15
  Speaker 1: Max's face soured about one twenty? Did you check out
• 31:20
  Speaker 1: on semaphore at school? Well? Sure, i'm category food subdivision
• 31:25
  Speaker 1: cooking branch chef, But like I said, I took basic
• 31:29
  Speaker 1: military training like most everybody else. I'm Captain Joe Mauser.
• 31:35
  Speaker 1: How'd you like to be my batman? Max screwed up
• 31:39
  Speaker 1: his already not overly handsome face. Gee, I don't know.
• 31:45
  Speaker 1: I kind of joined up to see some action. Get
• 31:48
  Speaker 1: into the dill, you know what I mean, Joe said dryly.
• 31:53
  Speaker 1: See here, Mainz, You'll probably find more pickle situation next
• 31:57
  Speaker 1: to me than you'll want, and you'll come out alive.
• 32:02
  Speaker 1: The recruiting sergeant looked up from the desk. It was
• 32:05
  Speaker 1: Max Mains's turn to be processed. The sergeant said, lad
• 32:09
  Speaker 1: take a good opportunity when it drops a little lap.
• 32:12
  Speaker 1: The captain is one of the best in the field.
• 32:15
  Speaker 1: You'll learn more, get better chances for promotion if you
• 32:18
  Speaker 1: stick with him. Joe couldn't remember ever having run into
• 32:22
  Speaker 1: the sergeant before, but he said, thanks, sergeant, the other said,
• 32:27
  Speaker 1: evidently realizing Joe didn't recognize him. We were together in
• 32:32
  Speaker 1: the Chihuahua Reservation on the jurisdictional fracas between the United
• 32:36
  Speaker 1: Miners and the Teamsters. Sir. It had been almost fifteen
• 32:41
  Speaker 1: years ago. About all that Joe Mauser remembered of that
• 32:44
  Speaker 1: fracas was the abnormal number of casualties they'd taken his
• 32:49
  Speaker 1: side had lost. But from this distance in time, Joe
• 32:52
  Speaker 1: couldn't even remember what force he'd been with. But now
• 32:56
  Speaker 1: he said, that's right. I thought I recognized you, Sergeant.
• 33:00
  Speaker 1: It was my first freakas Sir. The sergeant went, business like,
• 33:05
  Speaker 1: if you want I should hustle this lad through, Captain,
• 33:09
  Speaker 1: please do, Sergeant. Joe added to Max, I'm not sure
• 33:13
  Speaker 1: where my billet will be when you're through all this.
• 33:16
  Speaker 1: Locate the officer's mess and wait there for me. Well, okay,
• 33:22
  Speaker 1: Max said, doubtfully, still scowling, but evidently a servant of
• 33:26
  Speaker 1: an officer if he wanted to be or not. Sir,
• 33:31
  Speaker 1: the sergeant added ominously, if you've had basic you know
• 33:35
  Speaker 1: enough how to address an officer. Well, yes, sir, Max
• 33:39
  Speaker 1: said hurriedly. Joe began to turn away, but then spotted
• 33:44
  Speaker 1: the man immediately behind Max Mains. He was one of
• 33:47
  Speaker 1: the three with whom Joe had tangled earlier, the one
• 33:50
  Speaker 1: who'd obviously had previous combat experience. He pointed the man
• 33:55
  Speaker 1: out to the sergeant. You'd better give this lad at
• 33:58
  Speaker 1: least temporary rank of corporal. He's a veteran, and we're
• 34:01
  Speaker 1: short of veterans. The sergeant said, yes, sir, we sure. Ah.
• 34:07
  Speaker 1: Joe's former foe looked properly thankful. Joe Mouser finished off
• 34:13
  Speaker 1: his own red tape and headed for the street to
• 34:15
  Speaker 1: locate a military tailor who could do him up a
• 34:18
  Speaker 1: set of hair kilts and fill his other dress requirements.
• 34:22
  Speaker 1: As he went, he wondered vaguely just how many different
• 34:26
  Speaker 1: uniforms he had worn in his time. In a career
• 34:29
  Speaker 1: as long as his own. From time to time, you
• 34:32
  Speaker 1: took semi permanent positions in body guards, company police, or
• 34:36
  Speaker 1: possibly the permanent combat troops of this corporation or that.
• 34:41
  Speaker 1: But largely, if you were ambitious, you signed up for
• 34:44
  Speaker 1: the fracases, and that meant into a uniform and out
• 34:48
  Speaker 1: of it again in as short a period as a
• 34:50
  Speaker 1: couple of weeks. At the door. He tried to move aside,
• 34:54
  Speaker 1: but was too slow for the quick moving young woman
• 34:56
  Speaker 1: who'd carramed off him. He caught her arm to prevent
• 34:59
  Speaker 1: her from stumbling. She looked at him with less than thanks.
• 35:04
  Speaker 1: Joe took blame for the collision. Sorry, he said, I'm
• 35:08
  Speaker 1: afraid I didn't see you, miss obviously, she said coldly.
• 35:13
  Speaker 1: Her eyes went up and down him, and for a
• 35:16
  Speaker 1: moment he wondered where he had seen her before, somewhere.
• 35:20
  Speaker 1: He was sure she was dressed as they dress who
• 35:24
  Speaker 1: have never considered cost, and she had an elusive beauty,
• 35:28
  Speaker 1: which would have been even the more hadn't her face
• 35:31
  Speaker 1: projected quite such a serious outlook. Her features were more
• 35:35
  Speaker 1: delicate than those to which he was usually attracted. Her
• 35:39
  Speaker 1: lips were less full, but still he was reminded of
• 35:43
  Speaker 1: the classic ideal of the British Romantic period, the women
• 35:47
  Speaker 1: sung of by Byron and Keats, Shelley and more. She said,
• 35:53
  Speaker 1: is there any particular reason why you should be staring
• 35:56
  Speaker 1: at me, mister captain mouser? Joe said, hurry, I'm afraid
• 36:01
  Speaker 1: I've been rude. Miss Well. I thought I recognized you.
• 36:05
  Speaker 1: She took in his civilian dress typed it automatically and
• 36:09
  Speaker 1: came to an erroneous conclusion. She said, captain, you mean
• 36:14
  Speaker 1: that with everyone else I know, drawing down ranks from
• 36:17
  Speaker 1: lieutenant colonel to brigadier general, you can't make anything better
• 36:21
  Speaker 1: than captain. Joe winced. He said, carefully, I came up
• 36:28
  Speaker 1: from the ranks, Miss, captain, is quite an achievement, believe me,
• 36:33
  Speaker 1: up from the ranks. She took in his clothes again,
• 36:37
  Speaker 1: you mean you're a middle You neither talk nor look
• 36:42
  Speaker 1: like a middle Captain. She used the cast rating as
• 36:46
  Speaker 1: though it was not quite a derogatory term, not that
• 36:51
  Speaker 1: she meant to be deliberately insulting. Joe knew wearily. Oh well,
• 36:57
  Speaker 1: he knew it was simply born in her as once
• 37:01
  Speaker 1: a well educated aristocracy had not necessarily unkindly named their
• 37:06
  Speaker 1: status inferiors Niggers or other aristocrats in another area of
• 37:11
  Speaker 1: the country had named theirs greasers. Yes, how well he knew,
• 37:17
  Speaker 1: he said, very evenly, mid middle now, Miss, however, I
• 37:23
  Speaker 1: was born in the lower casts. An eyebrow went up.
• 37:28
  Speaker 1: Then you must have put in many an hour studying
• 37:31
  Speaker 1: you talk like an upper captain. She dropped all interest
• 37:35
  Speaker 1: in him and turned to resume her journey just a moment.
• 37:40
  Speaker 1: Joe said, you can't go in there. Miss Her eyebrows
• 37:44
  Speaker 1: went up again. The name is hair, she said, Why
• 37:48
  Speaker 1: can't I go in there? Captain? Now it came to
• 37:52
  Speaker 1: him why he had thought he recognized her. She had
• 37:55
  Speaker 1: basic features similar to those of that overbred poppycock ball hair. Sorry,
• 38:02
  Speaker 1: Joe said, I suppose, under the circumstances you can. I
• 38:06
  Speaker 1: was about to tell you that they're recruiting with lads
• 38:08
  Speaker 1: running around half clothed, medical inspections, that sort of thing.
• 38:14
  Speaker 1: She made a noise through her nose and said over
• 38:16
  Speaker 1: her shoulder, even as she sailed on, besides being a hare,
• 38:21
  Speaker 1: I'm an m D. Captain. At the ludicrous sight of
• 38:24
  Speaker 1: a man shuffling about in his shorts, I seldom blush.
• 38:29
  Speaker 1: She was gone. Joe Mauser looked after her. I'll bet
• 38:33
  Speaker 1: you don't, he muttered. Had she waited a few minutes,
• 38:38
  Speaker 1: he could have explained his upper accent and his unlikely education.
• 38:43
  Speaker 1: When you'd copped one, you had plenty of opportunity in
• 38:46
  Speaker 1: hospital beds to read, to study, to contemplate, and to
• 38:50
  Speaker 1: fester away in your own schemes of rebellion against fate,
• 38:54
  Speaker 1: and Joe had copped many in his time. Three By
• 39:01
  Speaker 1: the time Joe Mauser called it a day and retired
• 39:03
  Speaker 1: to his quarters, he was exhausted to the point where
• 39:06
  Speaker 1: his basic dissatisfaction with the trade he followed was heavily
• 39:10
  Speaker 1: upon him. He had met his immediate senior officers, largely
• 39:15
  Speaker 1: dilettant uppers with precious little field experience, and was unimpressed.
• 39:21
  Speaker 1: And he'd met his own junior officers and was shocked
• 39:24
  Speaker 1: by the looks of things. At this stage, Captain Mauser's
• 39:27
  Speaker 1: squadron would be going into this fracas both undermanned with
• 39:31
  Speaker 1: rank privates and with junior officers composed largely of temporarily
• 39:36
  Speaker 1: promoted non coms. If this was typical of Baron Hare's
• 39:40
  Speaker 1: total force, then Balt Hare had been correct. Unconditional surrender
• 39:45
  Speaker 1: was to be considered, no matter how disastrous to Hare
• 39:49
  Speaker 1: family fortunes. Joe had been unable to take immediate delivery
• 39:53
  Speaker 1: of one kilted uniform. Now inside his quarters, he began
• 39:58
  Speaker 1: stripping out of his jacket, somewhat to his surprise. The
• 40:02
  Speaker 1: small man he had selected earlier in the day to
• 40:04
  Speaker 1: be as batman, entered from an inner room, also resplendent
• 40:08
  Speaker 1: in the hair uniform and obviously happily so. He helped
• 40:13
  Speaker 1: his superior out of the jacket with an ease that
• 40:16
  Speaker 1: held no subservience but at the same time was correctly respectful.
• 40:21
  Speaker 1: You'd have thought him a batman specially trained. Joe grunted, Max,
• 40:27
  Speaker 1: isn't it I'd forgotten about you? Glad you've found our
• 40:30
  Speaker 1: billet all right? Max said, yes, Sir, would the Captain
• 40:35
  Speaker 1: like a drink? I picked up a bottle of apple Jack.
• 40:38
  Speaker 1: Applejack's the drink around here. Sir makes a top notch
• 40:41
  Speaker 1: high ball with ginger ale and a twist a lemon.
• 40:45
  Speaker 1: Joe Mouser looked at him. Evidently his tapping this man
• 40:49
  Speaker 1: for orderly had been sheer fortune. Well, Joe Mouser could
• 40:54
  Speaker 1: use some good luck on this job. He hoped it
• 40:56
  Speaker 1: didn't end with selecting a batman. Joe said, an apple
• 41:00
  Speaker 1: Jack high ball sounds wonderful. Max got ice, of course, Sir.
• 41:05
  Speaker 1: Max left the small room. Joe Mauser and his officers
• 41:09
  Speaker 1: were billeted in what had once been a motel on
• 41:12
  Speaker 1: the old road between Kingston and Woodstock. There was a
• 41:16
  Speaker 1: shower and a tiny kitchenette in each cottage. That was
• 41:19
  Speaker 1: one advantage in a fracas held in an area where
• 41:22
  Speaker 1: there were plenty of facilities. Such military reservations as that
• 41:27
  Speaker 1: of the Little Big Horn in Montana, and particularly some
• 41:30
  Speaker 1: of those in the Southwest and Mexico were another thing.
• 41:34
  Speaker 1: Joe lowered himself into the room's easy chair and bent
• 41:37
  Speaker 1: down to untie his laces. He kicked his shoes off.
• 41:41
  Speaker 1: He could use that drink. He began wondering all over
• 41:45
  Speaker 1: again if his scheme for winning this vacuum tube transport
• 41:49
  Speaker 1: versus Continental hovercraft fracus would come off. The more he
• 41:54
  Speaker 1: saw of Barren Hare's inadequate forces, the more he wondered.
• 41:59
  Speaker 1: He hadn't expected vacuum tube to be in this badest shape.
• 42:04
  Speaker 1: Barren Hare had been riding high for so long that
• 42:07
  Speaker 1: one would have thought his reputation for victory would have
• 42:10
  Speaker 1: lured many a veteran to his colors. Evidently they hadn't bidden.
• 42:16
  Speaker 1: The word was out all right, Max Man's returned with
• 42:20
  Speaker 1: the drink. Joe said, you had one yourself? No, sa,
• 42:26
  Speaker 1: Joe said, well, Zen, go get yourself one and come
• 42:29
  Speaker 1: on back and sit down. Let's get acquainted. Well, yes, sir,
• 42:34
  Speaker 1: Max disappeared back into the kitchenette to return. Almost immediately,
• 42:38
  Speaker 1: the little man slid into a chair, drink awkwardly in hand.
• 42:42
  Speaker 1: His superior sized him up all over again, not much
• 42:47
  Speaker 1: more than a kid, really, surprisingly aggressive for a lower
• 42:51
  Speaker 1: who must have been raised from childhood in a trank.
• 42:54
  Speaker 1: Amused Teley entertained household. The fact that he'd broken away
• 42:58
  Speaker 1: from that environment at all was to his credit. It
• 43:01
  Speaker 1: was considerably easier to conform, but then it is always
• 43:05
  Speaker 1: easier to conform to run with the herd, as Joe
• 43:09
  Speaker 1: well knew his own break hadn't been an easy one. Relax,
• 43:14
  Speaker 1: he said, now, Max said, well, this is my first day,
• 43:20
  Speaker 1: I know, and you've been seeing Telly shows all your life,
• 43:24
  Speaker 1: showing how an orderly conducts himself. In the presence of
• 43:26
  Speaker 1: his superior, Joe took another pull and yawned, Well, forget
• 43:32
  Speaker 1: about it with any man who goes into a freak
• 43:35
  Speaker 1: as with me, I like to be on close terms
• 43:38
  Speaker 1: when things pickle. I want him to be on my side,
• 43:42
  Speaker 1: not nursing some peeve brought on by his officer trying
• 43:46
  Speaker 1: to give him an inferiority complex. The little man was
• 43:50
  Speaker 1: eyeing him in surprise. Joe finished his highball and came
• 43:54
  Speaker 1: to his feet to get another one. He said, on
• 43:57
  Speaker 1: two occasions I've had an orderly say my life, I'm
• 44:01
  Speaker 1: not taking any chances, but that there might be a
• 44:04
  Speaker 1: third opportunity. Well, yes, sir, does a captain want me
• 44:09
  Speaker 1: to get him? I'll get it, Joe said. When he
• 44:12
  Speaker 1: returned to his chair, he said, why did you join
• 44:15
  Speaker 1: up with baron hare? Max? The other shrugged it off.
• 44:20
  Speaker 1: The usual, the excitement, the idea of all those fans
• 44:24
  Speaker 1: watching me on Telly, the scheff common stock I'll get
• 44:28
  Speaker 1: and you'll never know. Maybe a promotion and cast I
• 44:32
  Speaker 1: wouldn't mind making up a looa, Joe said, sourly. One fracas,
• 44:38
  Speaker 1: and you'll be over that desire to have the buffs
• 44:40
  Speaker 1: watching you on Telly while they sit around in their
• 44:43
  Speaker 1: front room sucking on tranks. And you'll probably be over
• 44:47
  Speaker 1: the desire for the excitement too. Of course, the share
• 44:51
  Speaker 1: of stock is another thing you aren't just counting down,
• 44:55
  Speaker 1: Captain Max said, an almost surly overtone in his voice.
• 45:00
  Speaker 1: You don't know what it's like being born with no
• 45:02
  Speaker 1: more common stock shares than a mid lower. Joe held
• 45:06
  Speaker 1: his piece, sipping at his drink, taking this one more slowly,
• 45:11
  Speaker 1: He let his eyebrows rise to encourage the other to
• 45:14
  Speaker 1: go on. Max said, doggedly. Sure, they call it people's
• 45:19
  Speaker 1: capitalism when everybody gets issued enough shares to ensure him
• 45:22
  Speaker 1: a basic living all the way from the cradle to
• 45:25
  Speaker 1: the grave, like they say. But let me tell you,
• 45:29
  Speaker 1: you're middle and you don't realize how basic the basic
• 45:32
  Speaker 1: living of a lower can be. Joe yawned. If he
• 45:37
  Speaker 1: had been so tired, there would have been more amusement
• 45:40
  Speaker 1: in the situation. Max was still dogged. Unless you couldn't
• 45:45
  Speaker 1: add to those shares of stock, it's pretty drab, Captain.
• 45:48
  Speaker 1: You wouldn't know, Joe said, why don't you work? A
• 45:53
  Speaker 1: lower can always add to his stock by working, Max
• 45:57
  Speaker 1: stirred in indignity. Work. Listen, sir, that just one more
• 46:02
  Speaker 1: field that's been automated right out of existence. Category food preparation, subdivision,
• 46:08
  Speaker 1: cooking branch chef. Cooking isn't left in the hands of
• 46:12
  Speaker 1: slobs who might drop a cake of soap into the soup.
• 46:15
  Speaker 1: It's done automatic, and the only changes made in cooking
• 46:19
  Speaker 1: are by real top experts, almost scientists like, and most
• 46:23
  Speaker 1: of them are uppers. Mind you, Joe mouser sighed inwardly.
• 46:29
  Speaker 1: So his fine em batman wasn't going to be as
• 46:32
  Speaker 1: wonderful as all that. After all, the man might have
• 46:36
  Speaker 1: been born into the food preparation category from a long
• 46:39
  Speaker 1: line of chefs, but evidently he knew precious little about
• 46:42
  Speaker 1: his field. Joe might have suspected he himself had been
• 46:48
  Speaker 1: born into clothing category subdivision shoes branch repair cobbler, a
• 46:54
  Speaker 1: meaningless trade, since shoes were no longer repaired, but discarded
• 46:59
  Speaker 1: upon showing some of wear. In an economy of complete abundance,
• 47:04
  Speaker 1: there is little reason for repair of basic commodities. It
• 47:08
  Speaker 1: was high time the government investigated category assignment and reshuffled
• 47:12
  Speaker 1: and reassigned half the nation's population. But then, of course,
• 47:17
  Speaker 1: was the question of what to do with the technologically unemployed.
• 47:23
  Speaker 1: Max was saying. The only way I could figure on
• 47:26
  Speaker 1: a promotion to a higher caste, or the only way
• 47:29
  Speaker 1: to earn stock shares, was by crossing categories. And you
• 47:33
  Speaker 1: know what that means, either category military or category religion.
• 47:38
  Speaker 1: And I sure as Zen don't know nothing about religion,
• 47:42
  Speaker 1: Joe said mildly. Theoretically, you can cross categories into any
• 47:47
  Speaker 1: field you want, Max, Max snorted, theoretically is right, sir.
• 47:54
  Speaker 1: You ever heard about anybody born a loa or even
• 47:57
  Speaker 1: a middle like yourself, cross categories to say upper category
• 48:01
  Speaker 1: like banking. Joe chuckled. He liked this peppery little fellow.
• 48:07
  Speaker 1: If Max worked out as well as Joe thought he might,
• 48:10
  Speaker 1: there was a possibility of taking him along to the
• 48:12
  Speaker 1: next Phrakas Max was saying, I'm not saying anything against
• 48:18
  Speaker 1: the old time way of doing things or talking against
• 48:21
  Speaker 1: the government, but I'll tell you, Captain, every year goes by,
• 48:25
  Speaker 1: he gets harder and harder for a man to raise
• 48:27
  Speaker 1: his caste or to earn some additional stock shares. The
• 48:32
  Speaker 1: applejack had worked enough on Joe for him to rise
• 48:35
  Speaker 1: against one of his pet peeves. He said that term
• 48:40
  Speaker 1: the old time way is strictly telly talk. Max. We
• 48:44
  Speaker 1: don't do things the old time way. No nation in
• 48:47
  Speaker 1: history ever has, with the possible exception of Egypt. Socioeconomics
• 48:53
  Speaker 1: are in a continual flux, and here in this country
• 48:56
  Speaker 1: we no more do things in the way they did
• 48:58
  Speaker 1: fifty years ago than fifty years ago they did them
• 49:02
  Speaker 1: the way the American revolutionist outlined back in the eighteenth century.
• 49:07
  Speaker 1: Max was staring at him. I don't get that, sir,
• 49:13
  Speaker 1: Joe said, impatiently, Max. The politico economic system we have
• 49:18
  Speaker 1: today is an outgrowth of what went earlier, the welfare state,
• 49:22
  Speaker 1: the freezing of the status quo, the frigid fracas between
• 49:25
  Speaker 1: the West World and the soul of world. Industrial automation
• 49:29
  Speaker 1: until useful employment is all but needless. All these things
• 49:33
  Speaker 1: were to be found in Embryo more than fifty years ago. Well,
• 49:38
  Speaker 1: maybe the Captain's right, but you gotta admit, sir, that
• 49:42
  Speaker 1: mostly we do things the old way. We still got
• 49:45
  Speaker 1: the constitution and the two party system. And Joe was
• 49:50
  Speaker 1: wearying of the conversation. Now you seldom ran into anyone,
• 49:54
  Speaker 1: even in middle cast the traditionally professional class interested enough
• 49:59
  Speaker 1: in such objects to be worth arguing with. He said,
• 50:03
  Speaker 1: the Constitution, Max, has got to the point of the Bible.
• 50:07
  Speaker 1: Interpret it the way you wish, and you can find anything.
• 50:10
  Speaker 1: If not, you can always make a new amendment. So
• 50:14
  Speaker 1: far as the two party system is concerned, what effect
• 50:17
  Speaker 1: does it have when there are no differences between the
• 50:20
  Speaker 1: two parties. That phase of pseudo democracy was beginning as
• 50:24
  Speaker 1: far back as the nineteen thirties, when they began passing
• 50:27
  Speaker 1: state laws, hindering the emerging of new political parties. By
• 50:32
  Speaker 1: the time they were insured against a third party working
• 50:34
  Speaker 1: its way through the maze of election laws, the two
• 50:37
  Speaker 1: parties had become so similar that elections became almost as
• 50:41
  Speaker 1: big a farce as over in the soul world. A
• 50:45
  Speaker 1: foce Max ejaculated indignantly forgetting his servant's status. That means
• 50:52
  Speaker 1: not so good, doesn't it? Far as I'm concerned. Election
• 50:56
  Speaker 1: day is tops. The one day alloa is just as
• 51:00
  Speaker 1: good as an uppa, the one day. How many shares
• 51:03
  Speaker 1: you got makes no difference. Everybody has everything. Sure, sure, sure,
• 51:09
  Speaker 1: Joe sighed, the modern equivalent of the Roman bacchanalia election
• 51:14
  Speaker 1: day in the West world, when no one, for just
• 51:17
  Speaker 1: that one day is freer than anyone else, Well, what's
• 51:22
  Speaker 1: wrong with that? The other was all but belligerent. That's
• 51:26
  Speaker 1: the trouble with you, middles and uppers. You don't know
• 51:29
  Speaker 1: how it is to be a loa. And Joe snapped suddenly,
• 51:33
  Speaker 1: I was born amid lower myself. Max, don't give me
• 51:36
  Speaker 1: that nonsense. Max gaped at him, utterly, unbelieving. Joe's irritation
• 51:43
  Speaker 1: fell away. He held out his glass, give us a
• 51:47
  Speaker 1: couple of more drinks, Max, and I'll tell you a story.
• 51:51
  Speaker 1: By the time the fresh drink came, Joe Mauser was
• 51:54
  Speaker 1: sorry he'd made the offer. He thought back. He hadn't
• 51:58
  Speaker 1: told anyone that Joe Mausers in many a year, and
• 52:02
  Speaker 1: as he recalled, the last time had been when he
• 52:05
  Speaker 1: was well into his cups on an election day at
• 52:08
  Speaker 1: that and his listener had been a low upper, a
• 52:12
  Speaker 1: hereditary aristocrat, one of the one percent of the upper
• 52:16
  Speaker 1: strata of the nation. Then how the man had laughed.
• 52:21
  Speaker 1: He'd roared his amusement till the tears ran. However, Joe said, Max,
• 52:29
  Speaker 1: I was born in the same cast you were average father, mother, sisters,
• 52:34
  Speaker 1: and brothers. They subsisted on the basic income guaranteed from birth,
• 52:39
  Speaker 1: sat and watched Telly for an unbelievable number of hours
• 52:42
  Speaker 1: each day, took trank to keep themselves happy, and thought
• 52:47
  Speaker 1: I was crazy because I didn't. Dad was a sort
• 52:51
  Speaker 1: of man who'd take his belt off to a child
• 52:53
  Speaker 1: of his who questioned such school taught slogans as what
• 52:57
  Speaker 1: was good enough for Daddy is good enough for me.
• 53:01
  Speaker 1: They were all frake as fans, of course, as far
• 53:04
  Speaker 1: back as I can remember, the pictures there of them
• 53:07
  Speaker 1: gathered around the telly screaming excitement. Joe Mauser sneered uncharacteristically.
• 53:15
  Speaker 1: You don't sound much like you're in favor of your trade,
• 53:18
  Speaker 1: Captain Max said. Joe came to his feet, putting down
• 53:22
  Speaker 1: his still half full glass. I'll make this epic story short, Max,
• 53:28
  Speaker 1: As you said, the two actually valid methods of rising
• 53:32
  Speaker 1: above the level in which you were born are in
• 53:34
  Speaker 1: the military and religious categories. Like you, even I couldn't
• 53:38
  Speaker 1: stomach the latter, Joe Mauser hesitated, then finished it off. Max.
• 53:45
  Speaker 1: There have been few societies that man has evolved that
• 53:48
  Speaker 1: didn't allow, in some manner for the competent or sly,
• 53:51
  Speaker 1: the intelligence or the opportunist, the brave or the strong
• 53:55
  Speaker 1: to work his way to the top. I don't know
• 53:58
  Speaker 1: which of these I personally fit into, but I rebel
• 54:02
  Speaker 1: against remaining in the lower categories of a stratified society.
• 54:06
  Speaker 1: Do I make myself clear? Well, Nosa, not exactly, Joe
• 54:13
  Speaker 1: said flatly. I'm going to fight my way to the top,
• 54:17
  Speaker 1: and nothing is going to stand in the way. Is
• 54:20
  Speaker 1: that clearer? Yes, Sir Max said, taken aback end of
• 54:28
  Speaker 1: Part one, Part two of Mercenary by mac Reynolds. This
• 54:45
  Speaker 1: LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Mercenary four. After
• 54:54
  Speaker 1: routine morning duties, Joe Mauser returned to his billets and
• 54:58
  Speaker 1: mystified Max Main by not only changing into Mufty himself,
• 55:03
  Speaker 1: but having Max do the same. In fact, the new
• 55:07
  Speaker 1: batman protested faintly, he had nearly as yet got over
• 55:13
  Speaker 1: the glory of wearing his kilts and was looking forward
• 55:16
  Speaker 1: to parading around town in them. He had a point,
• 55:20
  Speaker 1: of course, the appointed time for the fracas was getting closer,
• 55:24
  Speaker 1: and buffs were beginning to stream into town to bask
• 55:28
  Speaker 1: in the atmosphere of threatened death. Everybody knew what a
• 55:32
  Speaker 1: military center on the outskirts of a fracas reservation such
• 55:36
  Speaker 1: as the Catskills was like, immediately preceding a clash between
• 55:41
  Speaker 1: rival corporations. The high strung gaiety, the drinking, the overtranking,
• 55:48
  Speaker 1: the relaxation of morays. Even a rank private had it
• 55:52
  Speaker 1: made admiring civilians to buy drinks and hang on your
• 55:57
  Speaker 1: every word, and more hot and still sensuous eyed women,
• 56:03
  Speaker 1: their faces slack in thinly suppressed passion. It was a
• 56:07
  Speaker 1: recognized phenomenon. Even Max Mains knew this desire on the
• 56:12
  Speaker 1: part of women telefans to date a man and then
• 56:16
  Speaker 1: watch him later killing or being killed. Time enough to
• 56:21
  Speaker 1: wear your fancy uniform, Joe Mauser growled at him. In fact,
• 56:26
  Speaker 1: tomorrow's a local election day. Parlay that up on top
• 56:31
  Speaker 1: of all the frakes fans gravitating into town, and you'll
• 56:34
  Speaker 1: have a wingding the likes of nothing you've seen before. Well, yes, sir,
• 56:41
  Speaker 1: Max begrudged. Where are we going now, Captain to the airport?
• 56:46
  Speaker 1: Come along. Joe Mauser led the way to his sports hovercar,
• 56:51
  Speaker 1: and as soon as the two were settled into the
• 56:53
  Speaker 1: bucket seats, hit the lift lever with the butt of
• 56:56
  Speaker 1: his left hand. Ere cushion borne, he trod down on
• 57:00
  Speaker 1: the accelerator. Max Mean was impressed, you know, he said,
• 57:06
  Speaker 1: I'd never been in one of these swinky sports jobs before.
• 57:10
  Speaker 1: The kind of car you can afford on the income
• 57:12
  Speaker 1: of a mid lower stock art Knock it off, Joe said, wearily.
• 57:19
  Speaker 1: Carping we'll always have with us, evidently. But in spite
• 57:23
  Speaker 1: of all the beefing in every strata from low lower
• 57:26
  Speaker 1: to upper middle, I've yet to see any signs of
• 57:29
  Speaker 1: organized protest against our present politico economic system. Hey, Max said,
• 57:37
  Speaker 1: don't get me wrong. What was good enough for Dad
• 57:40
  Speaker 1: is good enough for me. You o't catch me talking
• 57:43
  Speaker 1: against the government, hm, Joe murmured, and all the other
• 57:49
  Speaker 1: cliches taught to us to preserve the status quo our
• 57:54
  Speaker 1: people's capitalism. They were reaching the outskirts of town, crossing
• 57:59
  Speaker 1: the Uesopus. The airport lay only a mile or so beyond.
• 58:03
  Speaker 1: It was obviously too deep for Max, and since he
• 58:07
  Speaker 1: didn't understand, he assumed his superior didn't know what he
• 58:11
  Speaker 1: was talking about. He said, tolerantly, Well, what's wrong with
• 58:16
  Speaker 1: people's capitalism? Everybody owns the corporations, damn sight better than
• 58:22
  Speaker 1: the soves have. Joe said, sourly, We've got one optical illusion.
• 58:29
  Speaker 1: They've got another Max over there, they claimed, the proletariat
• 58:34
  Speaker 1: owns the means of production. Great, but the party members
• 58:38
  Speaker 1: are the ones who controlled it, and as a result
• 58:42
  Speaker 1: they managed to do all right for themselves. The party
• 58:45
  Speaker 1: hierarchy over there are like our uppers over here. Yeah,
• 58:51
  Speaker 1: Max was being particularly dense. I've seen a lot about
• 58:56
  Speaker 1: it on Telly. You know, when there isn't a good
• 58:58
  Speaker 1: phrakus on you tuned to one of them educational shows like.
• 59:04
  Speaker 1: Joe winced at the term educational, but held his peace.
• 59:09
  Speaker 1: It's pretty rugged over there. But in the West World,
• 59:13
  Speaker 1: the people own a corporation stock and they run it
• 59:16
  Speaker 1: and get the benefit. At least it makes a beautiful story,
• 59:21
  Speaker 1: Joe said dryly. Look, Max, suppose you have a corporation
• 59:26
  Speaker 1: that has two hundred thousand shares out and they're distributed
• 59:30
  Speaker 1: among one hundred thousand and one persons. One hundred thousand
• 59:34
  Speaker 1: of those own one share a piece, but the remaining
• 59:37
  Speaker 1: stockholder owns the other one hundred thousand. I don't know
• 59:42
  Speaker 1: what you get at, Max, said Joe. Mauser was tired
• 59:47
  Speaker 1: of the discussion. Briefly, he said, we have the illusion
• 59:52
  Speaker 1: that this is a people's capitalism, with all stocks in
• 59:56
  Speaker 1: the hands of the people. Actually, as ever before, the
• 1:00:00
  Speaker 1: stock is in the hands of the uppers all except
• 1:00:03
  Speaker 1: a mere dribble. They own the country and they run
• 1:00:07
  Speaker 1: it for their own benefit. Max shot a less than
• 1:00:12
  Speaker 1: military glance at him. Hey, you're not one of those
• 1:00:16
  Speaker 1: sovs yourself, are you. They were coming into the parking
• 1:00:20
  Speaker 1: area near the administration building of the airport. No, Joe
• 1:00:25
  Speaker 1: said so softly that Max could hardly hear his words
• 1:00:30
  Speaker 1: only a mid middle on the make, followed by Max.
• 1:00:35
  Speaker 1: He strode quickly to the administration building, presented his credit
• 1:00:39
  Speaker 1: identification at the desk, and requested a light aircraft for
• 1:00:44
  Speaker 1: a period of three hours. The clerk, hardly looking up,
• 1:00:48
  Speaker 1: began going through the motions. Speaking into telescreens, the clerk said, finally,
• 1:00:55
  Speaker 1: you might have a small weight, sir. Quite a few
• 1:00:57
  Speaker 1: of the officers involved in this fracas have and rerunning
• 1:01:00
  Speaker 1: out taxiplanes almost as fast as they're available. That didn't
• 1:01:05
  Speaker 1: surprise Joe Mauser. Any competent officer made a point of
• 1:01:09
  Speaker 1: an aerial survey of the battle reservation before going into
• 1:01:13
  Speaker 1: a fracas. Aircraft, of course, couldn't be used during the fray,
• 1:01:18
  Speaker 1: since they post dated the turn of the century and
• 1:01:21
  Speaker 1: hence were relegated to the cemetery of military devices, along
• 1:01:26
  Speaker 1: with such items as nuclear weapons, tanks, and even gasoline
• 1:01:31
  Speaker 1: propelled vehicles of size to be useful. Use an aircraft
• 1:01:36
  Speaker 1: in a fracas, or even build an aircraft for military usage,
• 1:01:40
  Speaker 1: and you'd have a howl go up from the military
• 1:01:43
  Speaker 1: attaches from the Soul world that would be heard all
• 1:01:46
  Speaker 1: the way to Budapest. Not a fracas went by, but
• 1:01:50
  Speaker 1: there were scores, if not hundreds, of military observers keen
• 1:01:55
  Speaker 1: eye to check whether or not any really modern tools
• 1:01:58
  Speaker 1: of war were being illegally utilized. Joe Mauser sometimes wondered
• 1:02:03
  Speaker 1: if the West World observers over in the Soul World
• 1:02:07
  Speaker 1: were as hair fine and there living up to the
• 1:02:09
  Speaker 1: rules of the Universal Disarmament Pact. Probably, but for that matter,
• 1:02:15
  Speaker 1: they didn't have the same system of fighting fracases over
• 1:02:18
  Speaker 1: there as in the West. Joe took a chair while
• 1:02:22
  Speaker 1: he waited and thumbed through a fan magazine. From time
• 1:02:26
  Speaker 1: to time he found his own face in such publications.
• 1:02:30
  Speaker 1: He was a third rate celebrity. Really, luck hadn't been
• 1:02:34
  Speaker 1: with him so far as the Buffs were concerned. They
• 1:02:38
  Speaker 1: wanted spectacular victories, murderous situations in which they could lose
• 1:02:43
  Speaker 1: themselves in vicarious, sadistic thrills. Joe had reached most of
• 1:02:48
  Speaker 1: his peaks while in retreat or commanding a holding action.
• 1:02:53
  Speaker 1: His officers appreciated him, and so did the ultra knowledgeable
• 1:02:57
  Speaker 1: Fracus Buffs, but he was all but an un known
• 1:03:00
  Speaker 1: to the average dim wit who spent most of his
• 1:03:03
  Speaker 1: life glued to the tele set watching men Butcher each
• 1:03:07
  Speaker 1: other on the various occasions when matters had pickled and
• 1:03:12
  Speaker 1: Joe had to fight his way out against difficult odds
• 1:03:16
  Speaker 1: using spectacular tactics and desperation. He was almost always off
• 1:03:20
  Speaker 1: camera purely luck on top of skill, determination, experience and courage.
• 1:03:28
  Speaker 1: You had to have luck in the military category to
• 1:03:31
  Speaker 1: get anywhere. This time, Joe was going to manufacture his own.
• 1:03:37
  Speaker 1: A voice said, Ah, Captain Mauser. Joe looked up, then
• 1:03:43
  Speaker 1: came to his feet quickly in automatic reflex. He began
• 1:03:47
  Speaker 1: to come to the salute, but then caught himself. He said, stiffly,
• 1:03:53
  Speaker 1: my compliments. Marshall Cogswell. The other was a smallish man,
• 1:03:58
  Speaker 1: but strikingly strong the face and strongly built. His voice
• 1:04:03
  Speaker 1: was clipped, clear and had the air of command, as
• 1:04:06
  Speaker 1: though born with it. He, like Joe, wore mufty and
• 1:04:11
  Speaker 1: now extended his hand to be shaken. I hear you've
• 1:04:16
  Speaker 1: signed up with Barren Hare, Captain. I was rather expecting
• 1:04:20
  Speaker 1: you to come in with me at a place for
• 1:04:22
  Speaker 1: a good aide. De camp liked your work in that
• 1:04:25
  Speaker 1: last phrakus we went through together. Thank you, sir, Joe,
• 1:04:30
  Speaker 1: said Stonewall. Cogswell was as good a tactician as freelanced,
• 1:04:36
  Speaker 1: and he was more than that. He was a judge
• 1:04:39
  Speaker 1: of men and a stickler for detail. And right now,
• 1:04:43
  Speaker 1: if Joe Mauser knew Marshall Stonewall Cogswell as well as
• 1:04:47
  Speaker 1: he thought Cogswell was smelling a rat, there was no
• 1:04:53
  Speaker 1: reason why old pro Joe Mauser should sign up with
• 1:04:56
  Speaker 1: a sure loser like vacuum Tube when he could I've
• 1:05:00
  Speaker 1: earned more shares taking a commission with hovercraft. He was
• 1:05:04
  Speaker 1: looking at Joe brightly, the question in his eyes. Three
• 1:05:08
  Speaker 1: or four of his staff were behind a few paces,
• 1:05:11
  Speaker 1: looking polite, but Cogswell didn't bring them into the conversation.
• 1:05:16
  Speaker 1: Joe knew most by sight, good man all, old prose
• 1:05:21
  Speaker 1: all he felt another twinge of doubt Joe had to cover.
• 1:05:27
  Speaker 1: He said, I was offered a particularly good contract, Sir,
• 1:05:32
  Speaker 1: too good to resist. The other nodded, as though inwardly
• 1:05:37
  Speaker 1: coming to a satisfactory conclusion. Baron Harre's connections. Eh, he's
• 1:05:43
  Speaker 1: probably offered to back you for a bounce in cast.
• 1:05:46
  Speaker 1: Is that it? Joe? Joe Mouser flushed. Stonewall Cogswell knew
• 1:05:52
  Speaker 1: what he was talking about. He'd been born into middle
• 1:05:56
  Speaker 1: status himself, and had become an upper the hard way.
• 1:06:00
  Speaker 1: His path wasn't as long as Joe's was going to be,
• 1:06:03
  Speaker 1: but long enough, and he knew how rocky the climb was,
• 1:06:08
  Speaker 1: how very rocky. Joe said stiffly. I'm afraid I'm in
• 1:06:13
  Speaker 1: no position to discuss my commander's military contracts. Marshal, we're
• 1:06:18
  Speaker 1: in mufty, but after all, Cogswell's lean face registered one
• 1:06:23
  Speaker 1: of his infrequent grimaces of humor. I understand, Joe, well,
• 1:06:28
  Speaker 1: good luck, and I hope things don't pickle for you
• 1:06:31
  Speaker 1: in the coming fracas. Possibly we'll find ourselves a line
• 1:06:35
  Speaker 1: together again at some future time. Thank you, sir, Joe said,
• 1:06:41
  Speaker 1: once more, having to catch himself to prevent an automatic salute.
• 1:06:46
  Speaker 1: Cogswell and his staff went off, leaving Joe looking after them.
• 1:06:50
  Speaker 1: Even the marshal's staff members were top men, any of
• 1:06:54
  Speaker 1: whom could have conducted a divisional magnitude fracas. Joe felt
• 1:06:59
  Speaker 1: the coldness in his stomach again. Although it must have
• 1:07:02
  Speaker 1: looked like a cinch, the enemy wasn't taking any chances whatsoever.
• 1:07:08
  Speaker 1: Cogswell and his officers were undoubtedly here at the airport
• 1:07:12
  Speaker 1: for the same reason as Joe. They wanted a thorough
• 1:07:15
  Speaker 1: aerial reconnaissance of the battlefield to be before the issue
• 1:07:19
  Speaker 1: was joined. Max was standing at his elbow. Who was that, Sir,
• 1:07:26
  Speaker 1: looks like a real tough one. He is a real
• 1:07:30
  Speaker 1: tough one, Joe said sourly that Stonewall Cogswell the best
• 1:07:36
  Speaker 1: field commander in North America. Max pursed his lips. I
• 1:07:41
  Speaker 1: never seen him out of uniform before, lots of times
• 1:07:45
  Speaker 1: on telly, but never out of uniform. I thought he
• 1:07:48
  Speaker 1: was taller than that. He fights with his brains, Joe said,
• 1:07:54
  Speaker 1: still looking after the craggy field, Marshal, he doesn't have
• 1:07:58
  Speaker 1: to be any taller. Max scowled, where do you ever
• 1:08:03
  Speaker 1: get that nickname, Sir Stonewall? Joe was turning to resume
• 1:08:09
  Speaker 1: his chair and magazine He supposed to be a student
• 1:08:13
  Speaker 1: of a top general back in the American Civil War
• 1:08:16
  Speaker 1: uses some of the original Stonewall's tactics. Max was out
• 1:08:21
  Speaker 1: of his depth. American Civil War was that much of
• 1:08:26
  Speaker 1: a freak, as captain, it must have been before my time.
• 1:08:30
  Speaker 1: It was quite a fracas Joe said dryly. A lot
• 1:08:35
  Speaker 1: of good lads dead. A hundred years after it was fought.
• 1:08:39
  Speaker 1: The reasons it was fought seemed about as valid as
• 1:08:42
  Speaker 1: those we fight fracas as for to day. Personally, I
• 1:08:47
  Speaker 1: he had to cut it short. They were calling him
• 1:08:50
  Speaker 1: on the address system. His aircraft was ready. Joe made
• 1:08:54
  Speaker 1: his way to the hangars, followed by Max Mains. He
• 1:08:58
  Speaker 1: was going to pilot the airplane himself, and Old Stonewall
• 1:09:02
  Speaker 1: Cogswell would have been surprised at what Joe Mauser was
• 1:09:05
  Speaker 1: looking for. Five By the time they had returned to quarters,
• 1:09:13
  Speaker 1: there was a message waiting for Captain Mauser. He was
• 1:09:16
  Speaker 1: to report to the officer commanding reconnaissance. Joe redressed in
• 1:09:22
  Speaker 1: the hair kilts and proceeded to headquarters. The officer commanding
• 1:09:27
  Speaker 1: reconnaissance turned out to be none other than bald hair
• 1:09:30
  Speaker 1: Natty as ever and as ever arrogantly tapping his swagger
• 1:09:35
  Speaker 1: stick against his leg. Zen Captain, he complained, where have
• 1:09:41
  Speaker 1: you been off on a trank kick? We've got to
• 1:09:44
  Speaker 1: get organized. Joe Mauser snapped him a salute. Now, sir,
• 1:09:50
  Speaker 1: I rented an aircraft to scout out the terrain over
• 1:09:53
  Speaker 1: which we'll be fighting. Indeed, and what were your impressions? Captain?
• 1:10:00
  Speaker 1: There was an overtone which suggested that it made little
• 1:10:03
  Speaker 1: difference what impressions a captain of cavalry might have gained.
• 1:10:08
  Speaker 1: Joe shrugged, Largely, mountains, hills, woods, good reconnaissance is going
• 1:10:14
  Speaker 1: to make the difference in this one, and in the
• 1:10:17
  Speaker 1: fracas itself. Cavalry is going to be more important than
• 1:10:20
  Speaker 1: either artillery or infantry a Nathan Forrest. Fracas, Sir, a
• 1:10:26
  Speaker 1: matter of getting their fustest with the mostest, bald Hare said, amusedly,
• 1:10:32
  Speaker 1: thanks for your opinion, Captain. Fortunately, our staff has already
• 1:10:37
  Speaker 1: come largely to the same conclusions. Undoubtedly they'll be glad
• 1:10:42
  Speaker 1: to hear your wide experience bears them out. Joe said evenly,
• 1:10:48
  Speaker 1: it's a rather obvious conclusion. Of course, he took this
• 1:10:53
  Speaker 1: as it came, having been through it before the dilettante amateurs,
• 1:10:58
  Speaker 1: dislike of the old pro the amateur in command, who
• 1:11:02
  Speaker 1: knew full well he was less capable than many of
• 1:11:06
  Speaker 1: those below him in rank. Of course, Captain balt Hare
• 1:11:12
  Speaker 1: flicked his wagger stick against his leg. But to the
• 1:11:15
  Speaker 1: point your squadron is to be deployed as scouts under
• 1:11:20
  Speaker 1: my overall command, you've had cavalry experience, I assume, yes, sir,
• 1:11:26
  Speaker 1: in various fracases over the past fifteen years. Very well. Now, then,
• 1:11:32
  Speaker 1: to get to the reason I have summoned you. Yesterday
• 1:11:35
  Speaker 1: in my father's office, you intimated that you had some
• 1:11:39
  Speaker 1: grandiose scheme which would bring victory to the hair Colors,
• 1:11:43
  Speaker 1: but then, on some thin excuse, refused to devote just
• 1:11:48
  Speaker 1: what the scheme might be. Joe Mauser looked at him unblinkingly.
• 1:11:54
  Speaker 1: Baltare said, now, I'd like to have your opinion on
• 1:11:58
  Speaker 1: just how vacuum tube trains transport can extract itself from
• 1:12:02
  Speaker 1: what would seem a poor position at best. In all,
• 1:12:07
  Speaker 1: there were four others in the office, two women clerks
• 1:12:10
  Speaker 1: fluttering away at Typer's and two of balt Hare's junior officers.
• 1:12:16
  Speaker 1: They seemed only mildly interested in the conversation between balt
• 1:12:20
  Speaker 1: and Joe. Joe wet his lips carefully. The hair scion
• 1:12:25
  Speaker 1: was his commanding officer. He said, Sir, what I had
• 1:12:31
  Speaker 1: in mind is a new gimmick at this stage. If
• 1:12:34
  Speaker 1: I told anybody and it leaked, it'd never be effective,
• 1:12:38
  Speaker 1: not even this first time. Hare observed him coldly, And
• 1:12:45
  Speaker 1: you think me incapable of keeping your secret? Ah gimmick
• 1:12:50
  Speaker 1: I believe is the idiomatic term you used. Joe Mauser's
• 1:12:55
  Speaker 1: eyes shifted around the room, taking in the other four
• 1:12:59
  Speaker 1: who were now looking at him. Bald hare rapped. These
• 1:13:04
  Speaker 1: members of my staff are all trusted hair employees, Captain Mauser.
• 1:13:08
  Speaker 1: They are not fly by night, free lancers hired for
• 1:13:12
  Speaker 1: a week or two. Joe said, yes, sir, but it's
• 1:13:17
  Speaker 1: been my experience that one person can hold a secret,
• 1:13:21
  Speaker 1: it's twice as hard for two, and from there on
• 1:13:24
  Speaker 1: it's a decreasing probability in geometric ratio. The younger hair
• 1:13:30
  Speaker 1: stick rapped the side of his leg impatiently. Suppose I
• 1:13:34
  Speaker 1: inform you that this is a command. Captain, I have
• 1:13:38
  Speaker 1: little confidence in a supposed gimmick that will rescue our
• 1:13:41
  Speaker 1: forces from disaster, and I rather dislike the idea of
• 1:13:45
  Speaker 1: a captain of one of my squadrons dashing about with
• 1:13:49
  Speaker 1: such a bee in his bonnet when he should be
• 1:13:51
  Speaker 1: obeying my commands. Joe kept his voice respectful. Then, Sir,
• 1:13:59
  Speaker 1: I'd requirest that we take the matter to the commander
• 1:14:02
  Speaker 1: in chief, your father. Indeed, Joe said, Sir, I've been
• 1:14:08
  Speaker 1: working on this a long time. I can't afford to
• 1:14:12
  Speaker 1: risk throwing the idea away. Balt Hare glared at him,
• 1:14:18
  Speaker 1: Very well, captain, I'll call your bluff. Come along. He
• 1:14:23
  Speaker 1: turned on his heel and headed from the room. Joe
• 1:14:26
  Speaker 1: Mauser shrugged in resignation and followed him. The old baron
• 1:14:33
  Speaker 1: wasn't much happier about Joe Mauser's secrets than was his son.
• 1:14:38
  Speaker 1: It had only been the day before that he had
• 1:14:40
  Speaker 1: taken Joe on, but already he had seemed to have
• 1:14:43
  Speaker 1: aged in appearance. Evidently, each hour that went by made
• 1:14:48
  Speaker 1: it increasingly clear just how perilous a position he had assumed.
• 1:14:53
  Speaker 1: Vacuum Tube Transport had elbowed, buffaloed, bluffed, and edged itself
• 1:14:58
  Speaker 1: up to the outskirts of the really big time. The
• 1:15:02
  Speaker 1: Baron's ability, his aggressiveness, his flare, his political pull had
• 1:15:08
  Speaker 1: all helped. But now that ships were down, he was
• 1:15:12
  Speaker 1: up against one of the biggies, and this particular biggie
• 1:15:16
  Speaker 1: was tired of ambitious little vacuum tube Transport. He listened
• 1:15:21
  Speaker 1: to his son's words, listened to Joe's defense. He said,
• 1:15:26
  Speaker 1: looking at Joe, if I understand this, you have some
• 1:15:31
  Speaker 1: scheme which you think will bring victory in spite of
• 1:15:34
  Speaker 1: what seems a disastrous situation. Yes, sir. The two Hares
• 1:15:40
  Speaker 1: looked at him, one impatiently, the other in weariness. Joe said,
• 1:15:46
  Speaker 1: I'm gambling everything on this, sir. I'm no rank private
• 1:15:50
  Speaker 1: in his first fracas. I deserve to be given some leeway.
• 1:15:56
  Speaker 1: Bald Hare snorted, gambling everything? What in zen will you
• 1:16:02
  Speaker 1: have to gamble? Captain? The whole Hare family fortunes are
• 1:16:06
  Speaker 1: tied up, Hovercraft is out for blood. They won't be
• 1:16:10
  Speaker 1: satisfied with a token victory and a negotiated compromise. They'll
• 1:16:15
  Speaker 1: devastate us. Thousands of mercenaries killed, with all that means
• 1:16:19
  Speaker 1: in indemnities, millions upon million in expensive military equipment, most
• 1:16:25
  Speaker 1: of which we've had to hire and will have to
• 1:16:27
  Speaker 1: recompensate for. Can you imagine the value of our stock
• 1:16:31
  Speaker 1: after Stonewall Cogswell has finished with us? Why every two
• 1:16:36
  Speaker 1: by four trucking outfit in North America will be challenging
• 1:16:40
  Speaker 1: us and we won't have the forces to meet a
• 1:16:42
  Speaker 1: minor skirmish. Joe reached into an inner pocket and laid
• 1:16:47
  Speaker 1: a sheaf of documents on the desk of Baron Malcolm Hare.
• 1:16:51
  Speaker 1: The baron scowled down at them, Joe said, simply, I've
• 1:16:56
  Speaker 1: been accumulating stock since before I was eighteen, and I've
• 1:17:00
  Speaker 1: taken good care of my portfolio in spite of taxes
• 1:17:03
  Speaker 1: and the various other pitfalls which make the accumulation of
• 1:17:07
  Speaker 1: capital practically impossible. Yesterday I sold all of my portfolio
• 1:17:12
  Speaker 1: I was legally allowed to sell, and converted to a
• 1:17:15
  Speaker 1: vacuum tube transport, he added, dryly, getting it at an
• 1:17:20
  Speaker 1: excellent rate. By the way, Bald Hare mulled through the
• 1:17:24
  Speaker 1: papers unbelievingly, zen he ejaculated. The fool, really did it?
• 1:17:30
  Speaker 1: He sunk a small fortune into our stalk. Baron Hare
• 1:17:35
  Speaker 1: growled at his son, You seem considerably more convinced of
• 1:17:40
  Speaker 1: our defeat than the captain here. Perhaps I should reverse
• 1:17:43
  Speaker 1: your positions of command. His son grunted, but said nothing.
• 1:17:49
  Speaker 1: Old Malcolm Hare's eyes came back to Joe. Admittedly, I
• 1:17:54
  Speaker 1: thought you were on the romantic side yesterday, with your
• 1:17:58
  Speaker 1: hints of some scheme which would lead us out of
• 1:18:01
  Speaker 1: the wilderness, so to speak. Now I wonder if you
• 1:18:05
  Speaker 1: might not really have something very well. I respect your
• 1:18:09
  Speaker 1: claimed need for secrecy. Espionage is not exactly an antiquated
• 1:18:14
  Speaker 1: military field. Thank you, sir, but the baron was still
• 1:18:20
  Speaker 1: staring at him. However, there's more to it than that.
• 1:18:24
  Speaker 1: Why not take this great scheme to Marshall Cogswell And
• 1:18:29
  Speaker 1: yesterday you mentioned that the tele sets of the nation
• 1:18:32
  Speaker 1: would be tuned in on this fracas, and obviously you
• 1:18:35
  Speaker 1: are correct. The question becomes what of it? The fat
• 1:18:40
  Speaker 1: was in the fire now? Joe Mauser avoided the haughty
• 1:18:44
  Speaker 1: stare of young Balt Hare and addressed himself to the
• 1:18:47
  Speaker 1: older man. You have political pull, sir, oh. I know
• 1:18:52
  Speaker 1: you don't make and break precedents. You couldn't even pull
• 1:18:55
  Speaker 1: enough wires to keep Hovercraft from making this a divisional
• 1:18:58
  Speaker 1: magnitude fracas. But you have pull enough for my needs.
• 1:19:03
  Speaker 1: Barren Hare leaned back in his chair, his barrel like body,
• 1:19:08
  Speaker 1: causing that article of furniture to creak. He crossed his
• 1:19:11
  Speaker 1: hands over his stomach, and what are your needs, Captain Mouser,
• 1:19:19
  Speaker 1: Joe said evenly. If I can bring this off, I'll
• 1:19:23
  Speaker 1: be a frakes buff celebrity. I don't have any illusions
• 1:19:26
  Speaker 1: about the fickleness of the telefans, but for a day
• 1:19:29
  Speaker 1: or two I'll be on top. If at the same
• 1:19:32
  Speaker 1: time I had your all out support, pulling what strings
• 1:19:36
  Speaker 1: you could reach, Kuhi, then you'd be promoted to upper
• 1:19:40
  Speaker 1: wouldn't you, Captain balt Hare finished for him amusement in
• 1:19:45
  Speaker 1: his voice. That's what I'm gambling on, Joe said evenly.
• 1:19:50
  Speaker 1: The younger Hare grinned at his father superciliously. So our
• 1:19:56
  Speaker 1: captain says he will defeat Stonewell Cogswell in return for
• 1:20:01
  Speaker 1: you sponsoring his becoming a member of the nation's elite.
• 1:20:06
  Speaker 1: Good Heavens is the supposed cream of the nation, now
• 1:20:09
  Speaker 1: selected on no higher level than this. There was sarcasm
• 1:20:14
  Speaker 1: in the words the three men turned. It was the
• 1:20:17
  Speaker 1: girl Joe had bumped into the day before. The Hares
• 1:20:21
  Speaker 1: didn't seem surprised at her entrance. Nadine, the older man, growled,
• 1:20:27
  Speaker 1: Captain Joe Mauser, who has been given a commission in
• 1:20:30
  Speaker 1: our forces. Joe went through the routine of a middle
• 1:20:35
  Speaker 1: of officer's rank being introduced to a lady of upper caste.
• 1:20:39
  Speaker 1: She smiled at him somewhat mockingly and failed to make
• 1:20:43
  Speaker 1: standard response. Nadine Hare said, I repeat, what is this
• 1:20:50
  Speaker 1: service that Captain can render? The House of Hare so
• 1:20:53
  Speaker 1: important that pressure should be brought to raise him to
• 1:20:56
  Speaker 1: upper cast. It would seem unlikely that he is a
• 1:20:59
  Speaker 1: noted scientist, an outstanding artist, a great teacher, Joe said, uncomfortably.
• 1:21:07
  Speaker 1: They say the military is a science too. Her expression
• 1:21:12
  Speaker 1: was almost as haughty as that of her brother. Do
• 1:21:16
  Speaker 1: they I have never thought so, really, Nadine, Her father grumbled,
• 1:21:22
  Speaker 1: this is hardly your affair. No, in a few days
• 1:21:26
  Speaker 1: I shall be repairing the damage you have allowed, indeed sponsored,
• 1:21:31
  Speaker 1: to be committed upon the bodies of possibly thousands of
• 1:21:34
  Speaker 1: now healthy human beings. Balt said nastily. Nobody asked you
• 1:21:41
  Speaker 1: to join the medical staff, Nadine. You could have stayed
• 1:21:44
  Speaker 1: in your laboratory figuring out new methods of preventing the
• 1:21:48
  Speaker 1: human race from replenishing itself. The girl was obviously not
• 1:21:53
  Speaker 1: the type to Redden, but her anger was manifest. She
• 1:21:57
  Speaker 1: spun on her brother. If the race continues at its
• 1:22:00
  Speaker 1: present maniac course, possibly more effective methods of birth control
• 1:22:05
  Speaker 1: are the most important development we could make, even to
• 1:22:08
  Speaker 1: the ultimate discovery of preventing all future conception. Joe caught
• 1:22:13
  Speaker 1: himself in mid chuckle, but not in time. She spun
• 1:22:18
  Speaker 1: on him in his turn, look at yourself in that
• 1:22:22
  Speaker 1: silly skirt. A professional soldier, a killer, in my opinion,
• 1:22:27
  Speaker 1: the most useless occupation ever devised by man, parricite on
• 1:22:32
  Speaker 1: the best and useful members of society, destroyer by trade.
• 1:22:38
  Speaker 1: Joe began to open his mouth, but she overrode him. Yes, yes,
• 1:22:44
  Speaker 1: I know, I've read all the nonsense that has accumulated
• 1:22:47
  Speaker 1: down through the ages about the need for the glory
• 1:22:50
  Speaker 1: of the sacrifice of the professional soldier, how they defend
• 1:22:55
  Speaker 1: their country, how they give all for the common good.
• 1:22:59
  Speaker 1: Ziz what nonsense? Baldare was smirking sourly at her. The
• 1:23:07
  Speaker 1: theory to day is nadine old thing that professional such
• 1:23:10
  Speaker 1: as the captain our gathering experience in case a serious
• 1:23:14
  Speaker 1: fracus with the SOVS ever develops. Meanwhile, his training is
• 1:23:18
  Speaker 1: kept at a fine edge fighting in our inter corporation
• 1:23:22
  Speaker 1: inter union or union corporation fracases that develop in our
• 1:23:26
  Speaker 1: private enterprise society. She laughed her scorn, And what a
• 1:23:33
  Speaker 1: theory limited to the weapons which prevailed before nineteen hundred.
• 1:23:38
  Speaker 1: If there was ever real conflict between the sov world
• 1:23:41
  Speaker 1: and our own, does anyone really believe either would stick
• 1:23:44
  Speaker 1: to such arms? Why? Air craft, armored vehicles, yes, and
• 1:23:50
  Speaker 1: nuclear weapons and rockets would be in overnight use. Joe
• 1:23:55
  Speaker 1: was fascinated by her furious attack. He said, then, what
• 1:24:00
  Speaker 1: would you say was the purpose of the phracases, miss circuses,
• 1:24:05
  Speaker 1: she snorted, The old Roman games all over again, and
• 1:24:09
  Speaker 1: a hundred times worse. Blood and guts, Sadism, the quest
• 1:24:14
  Speaker 1: of a frustrated person for satisfaction in another's pain. Our
• 1:24:19
  Speaker 1: lowers of today are as useless and frustrated as the
• 1:24:22
  Speaker 1: Roman proletariat, and potentially that just as dangerous as the
• 1:24:26
  Speaker 1: mob that once dominated Rome. Automation the Second Industrial Revolution
• 1:24:31
  Speaker 1: has eliminated, for all practical purposes the need for their labor.
• 1:24:35
  Speaker 1: So we give them bread and circuses, and every year
• 1:24:39
  Speaker 1: that goes by the circuses must be increasingly sadistic, death
• 1:24:44
  Speaker 1: on an increasing scale, or they aren't satisfied. Once it
• 1:24:49
  Speaker 1: was enough to have fictional mayhem cowboys and Indians, gangsters,
• 1:24:53
  Speaker 1: or GI's versus the Nazis, Japs or Commis. But that's past.
• 1:24:58
  Speaker 1: Now we need real blood, ud and guts. Baron Hare snapped, Finally,
• 1:25:05
  Speaker 1: all right, Nadine, we've heard this lecture before. I doubt
• 1:25:10
  Speaker 1: if the captain is interested, particularly since you don't seem
• 1:25:13
  Speaker 1: to be able to get beyond the protesting stage and
• 1:25:16
  Speaker 1: have yet to come up with an answer. I have
• 1:25:19
  Speaker 1: an answer, ah, bald Hare raised his eyebrows mockingly. Yes,
• 1:25:27
  Speaker 1: overthrow this silly status society, resume the road to progress.
• 1:25:32
  Speaker 1: Put our people to useful endeavor instead of sitting in
• 1:25:36
  Speaker 1: front of their tele sets, taking trank pills to put
• 1:25:39
  Speaker 1: them in a happy daze, and watching sadistic fracases to
• 1:25:43
  Speaker 1: keep them in thrills and their minds from their condition.
• 1:25:47
  Speaker 1: Joe had figured on keeping out of the controversy with
• 1:25:50
  Speaker 1: this firebrand, but now really interested, He said, progress to wear.
• 1:25:58
  Speaker 1: She must have caught in his tone that he wasn't needling.
• 1:26:01
  Speaker 1: She frowned at him. I don't know man's goal, if
• 1:26:06
  Speaker 1: there is one, I'm not even sure it's important. It's
• 1:26:10
  Speaker 1: the road that counts, the endeavor, the dream, the effort
• 1:26:14
  Speaker 1: expended to make a world a better place than it
• 1:26:17
  Speaker 1: was at the time of your birth. Bald Hare said, mockingly.
• 1:26:24
  Speaker 1: That's the trouble with you, sis. Here, we've reached utopia
• 1:26:28
  Speaker 1: and you don't admit it. Utopia certainly take a pole.
• 1:26:35
  Speaker 1: You'll find nineteen people out of twenty happy with things
• 1:26:38
  Speaker 1: just the way they are. They have full tummies, and security,
• 1:26:43
  Speaker 1: lots of leisure and trank pills to make matters seem
• 1:26:46
  Speaker 1: even rosier than they are, and they're rather rosy already.
• 1:26:51
  Speaker 1: Then what's the necessity of this in the succession of
• 1:26:54
  Speaker 1: bloody fracases covered to the most minute, bloody detail on
• 1:26:58
  Speaker 1: the Telly Barren hair cut. Things short, We've hashed and
• 1:27:03
  Speaker 1: rehashed this before, Nadine, and now we're too busy to
• 1:27:07
  Speaker 1: debate further. He turned to Joe Mauser. Very well, Captain,
• 1:27:12
  Speaker 1: you have my pledge. I wish I felt as optimistic
• 1:27:16
  Speaker 1: as you seem to be about your prospects. That will
• 1:27:19
  Speaker 1: be all for now, Captain Joe saluted and executed an
• 1:27:24
  Speaker 1: about face in the outer offices. When he had closed
• 1:27:30
  Speaker 1: the door behind him, he rolled his eyes upward in mute.
• 1:27:33
  Speaker 1: Thanks to whatever powers might be, he had somehow gained
• 1:27:37
  Speaker 1: the enmity of Balt, his immediate superior, But he'd also
• 1:27:41
  Speaker 1: gained the support of Baron Hare himself, which counted considerably more.
• 1:27:48
  Speaker 1: He considered for a moment Nadine Hare's words. She was
• 1:27:52
  Speaker 1: obviously a malcontent, but on the other hand, her opinions
• 1:27:56
  Speaker 1: of his chosen profession weren't too different than his own. However,
• 1:28:01
  Speaker 1: given this victory, this upgrading in cast, and Joe Mauser
• 1:28:06
  Speaker 1: would be in a position to retire. The door opened
• 1:28:10
  Speaker 1: and shut behind him, and he half turned. Nadine Hare,
• 1:28:15
  Speaker 1: evidently still caught up in the hot words between herself
• 1:28:18
  Speaker 1: and her relatives, glared at him, all of which stressed
• 1:28:22
  Speaker 1: the beauty he had noticed the day before. She was
• 1:28:26
  Speaker 1: an almost unbelievably pretty girl, particularly when flushed with anger.
• 1:28:32
  Speaker 1: It occurred to him with a blow like suddenness, that
• 1:28:36
  Speaker 1: if his cast was raised to upper he would be
• 1:28:39
  Speaker 1: in a position to woo such as Nadine Hare. He
• 1:28:44
  Speaker 1: looked into her furious face and said, I was intrigued,
• 1:28:48
  Speaker 1: Miss Hare, with what you had to say, and I'd
• 1:28:51
  Speaker 1: like to discuss some of your points. I wonder if
• 1:28:55
  Speaker 1: I could have the pleasure of your company at some
• 1:28:57
  Speaker 1: nearby refreshment. My how formal an invitation, Captain, I suppose
• 1:29:04
  Speaker 1: you had in mind sitting and flipping back a few
• 1:29:06
  Speaker 1: trank pills. Joe looked at her. I don't believe I've
• 1:29:12
  Speaker 1: had a trank in the past twenty years, miss Hare.
• 1:29:16
  Speaker 1: Even as a boy, I didn't particularly take to having
• 1:29:19
  Speaker 1: my senses dulled with drug induced pleasure. Some of her
• 1:29:24
  Speaker 1: fury was abating, but she was still critical of the
• 1:29:27
  Speaker 1: professional mercenary. Her eyes went up and down his uniform
• 1:29:31
  Speaker 1: in scorn. You seem to make pretenses of being cultivated. Captain,
• 1:29:37
  Speaker 1: Then why your chosen profession? He'd had the answer to
• 1:29:43
  Speaker 1: that for long years, he said, Now, simply I told
• 1:29:47
  Speaker 1: you I was born a lower given that little counts
• 1:29:51
  Speaker 1: until I fight my way out of it. Had I
• 1:29:53
  Speaker 1: been born in a feudalist society, I would have attempted
• 1:29:57
  Speaker 1: to batter myself into the nobility. Under classical capitalism, I
• 1:30:02
  Speaker 1: would have done my utmost to accumulate a fortune enough
• 1:30:05
  Speaker 1: to reach an effective position in society. Now, under people's capitalism,
• 1:30:11
  Speaker 1: she snorted, industrial feudalism would be the better term. I
• 1:30:17
  Speaker 1: realize I can't even start to fulfill myself until I
• 1:30:20
  Speaker 1: am a member of the upper cast. Her eyes had
• 1:30:25
  Speaker 1: narrowed and the anger was largely gone. But you chose
• 1:30:30
  Speaker 1: the military field in which to better yourself government propaganda.
• 1:30:35
  Speaker 1: To the contrary, it is practically impossible to raise yourself
• 1:30:39
  Speaker 1: in other fields. I didn't build this world. Possibly I
• 1:30:44
  Speaker 1: don't even approve of it. But since I'm in it,
• 1:30:47
  Speaker 1: I have no recourse but to follow its rules. Her
• 1:30:51
  Speaker 1: eyebrows arched, why not try to change the rules, Joe
• 1:30:58
  Speaker 1: blinked at her. Nadine Hare said, let's look up that
• 1:31:04
  Speaker 1: refreshment you were talking about. In fact, there's a small
• 1:31:08
  Speaker 1: coffee bar round the corner where it'd be possible for
• 1:31:12
  Speaker 1: one of Baron Hair's brood to have a cup with
• 1:31:14
  Speaker 1: one of her father's officers of Middle Caste six. The
• 1:31:22
  Speaker 1: following morning, hands on the pillow beneath his head, Joe
• 1:31:25
  Speaker 1: Mouser stared up at the ceiling of his room and
• 1:31:28
  Speaker 1: rehashed his session with Nadine Hair. It hadn't taken him
• 1:31:33
  Speaker 1: five minutes to come to the conclusion that he was
• 1:31:36
  Speaker 1: in love with the girl, but it had taken him
• 1:31:39
  Speaker 1: the rest of the evening to keep himself under rain
• 1:31:42
  Speaker 1: and not let the fact get through to her. He
• 1:31:46
  Speaker 1: wanted to talk about the way her mouth tucked in
• 1:31:48
  Speaker 1: at the corners, but she was hot on the evolution
• 1:31:51
  Speaker 1: of society. He would have liked to have kissed that
• 1:31:55
  Speaker 1: impossibly perfectly shaped ear of hers, but she was all
• 1:31:59
  Speaker 1: for exploring the reasons why man had reached his present impasse.
• 1:32:04
  Speaker 1: Joe was for holding hands and staring into each other's eyes.
• 1:32:09
  Speaker 1: She was for delving into the differences between the West
• 1:32:11
  Speaker 1: world and the soul world, and the possibility of resolving them.
• 1:32:16
  Speaker 1: Of course, to keep her company at all, it had
• 1:32:19
  Speaker 1: been necessary to suppress his own desires and to go along.
• 1:32:24
  Speaker 1: It obviously had never occurred to her that a middle
• 1:32:27
  Speaker 1: might have romantic ideas involving Nadine Hare. It had simply
• 1:32:32
  Speaker 1: not occurred to her. No matter the radical teaching she advocated,
• 1:32:37
  Speaker 1: most of their world was predictable from what had gone before.
• 1:32:42
  Speaker 1: In spite of popular fable. To the contrary, the division
• 1:32:45
  Speaker 1: between classes had become increasingly clear. Among other things, tax
• 1:32:51
  Speaker 1: systems were such that it became all but impossible for
• 1:32:55
  Speaker 1: a citizen born poor to accumulate a fortune through ability.
• 1:33:00
  Speaker 1: He might rise to the point of earning fabulous sums
• 1:33:03
  Speaker 1: and wind up in debt to the tax collector. A
• 1:33:07
  Speaker 1: great inventor, a great artist had little chance of breaking
• 1:33:11
  Speaker 1: into the domain of what finally became the small percentage
• 1:33:15
  Speaker 1: of the population now known as uppers. Then, too, the
• 1:33:20
  Speaker 1: rising cost of a really good education became such that
• 1:33:24
  Speaker 1: few other than those born into the middle or upper
• 1:33:27
  Speaker 1: casts could afford the best of schools. Castes tended to
• 1:33:32
  Speaker 1: perpetuate themselves. Politically, the nation had fallen increasingly deeper into
• 1:33:38
  Speaker 1: the two party system, both parties of which were tightly
• 1:33:42
  Speaker 1: controlled by the same group of uppers. Elections had become
• 1:33:46
  Speaker 1: a farce, a great national holiday in which stereotyped patriotic speeches,
• 1:33:52
  Speaker 1: pretenses of unity between all castes, picnics, beer busts, and
• 1:33:58
  Speaker 1: trank binges predominated for one day. Economically, too, the augurs
• 1:34:04
  Speaker 1: had been there. Production of the basics had become so
• 1:34:07
  Speaker 1: profuse that poverty in the old sense of the word
• 1:34:10
  Speaker 1: had become nonsensical. There was an abundance of the necessities
• 1:34:15
  Speaker 1: of life for all. Social security, socialized medicine, unending unemployment, insurance,
• 1:34:23
  Speaker 1: old age pensions, pensions for veterans, for widows and children
• 1:34:27
  Speaker 1: for the unfit, pensions and doles for this, that, and
• 1:34:31
  Speaker 1: the other had doubled and doubled again, until everyone had
• 1:34:35
  Speaker 1: security for life. The uppers, true enough, had opulence far
• 1:34:41
  Speaker 1: beyond that known by the middles, and lived like gods
• 1:34:44
  Speaker 1: compared to the lowers, but all had security. They had
• 1:34:50
  Speaker 1: agreed thus far Joe and Nadine. But then had come debate.
• 1:34:57
  Speaker 1: Then why Joe had asked her, haven't we achieve what
• 1:35:00
  Speaker 1: your brother called it. Why isn't this utopia? Isn't it
• 1:35:05
  Speaker 1: what man has been yearning for? Down through the ages?
• 1:35:09
  Speaker 1: Where did the wheel come off? What happened to the dream?
• 1:35:14
  Speaker 1: Nadine had frowned at him beautifully, He thought, It's not
• 1:35:18
  Speaker 1: the first time man has found abundance in a society,
• 1:35:22
  Speaker 1: though never to this degree. The Incas had it, for instance.
• 1:35:27
  Speaker 1: I don't know much about them, Joe admitted, an early
• 1:35:30
  Speaker 1: form of communism, with a sort of military priesthood at
• 1:35:34
  Speaker 1: the top. She had nodded, her face serious as always,
• 1:35:40
  Speaker 1: and for themselves. The Romans more or less had it
• 1:35:43
  Speaker 1: at the expense of the nations they conquered, of course,
• 1:35:47
  Speaker 1: And Joe prodded, and in these examples the same thing developed.
• 1:35:53
  Speaker 1: Society ossified Joe, she said, using his first name for
• 1:35:58
  Speaker 1: the first time, and in a manner that set off
• 1:36:01
  Speaker 1: a new countdown in his blood. A ruling cast and
• 1:36:05
  Speaker 1: a socioeconomic system perpetuate itself just so long as it
• 1:36:09
  Speaker 1: ever can, no matter what damage it may do to
• 1:36:13
  Speaker 1: society as a whole. It perpetuates itself, even to the
• 1:36:16
  Speaker 1: point of complete destruction of everything. Remember hitler ate off
• 1:36:22
  Speaker 1: the Aryan and his thousand year reich, when it became
• 1:36:25
  Speaker 1: obvious he had failed and the only thing that could
• 1:36:28
  Speaker 1: result from continued resistance would be destruction of germany cities
• 1:36:32
  Speaker 1: and millions of her people. Did he and his clique
• 1:36:35
  Speaker 1: resign or surrender? Certainly not. They attempted to bring down
• 1:36:39
  Speaker 1: the whole German structure in a gotter Dammerung. Nadine Hare
• 1:36:45
  Speaker 1: was deep into her theme, her eyes flashing her conviction.
• 1:36:49
  Speaker 1: A socioeconomic system reacts like a living organism. It attempts
• 1:36:54
  Speaker 1: to live on indefinitely, agonizingly, no matter how antiquated it
• 1:37:00
  Speaker 1: might have become. The Roman political economic system continued for
• 1:37:04
  Speaker 1: centuries after it should have been replaced. Such reformers as
• 1:37:09
  Speaker 1: the Gracchus Brothers were assassinated or thrust aside so that
• 1:37:13
  Speaker 1: the entrenched elements could perpetuate themselves. And when Rome finally fell,
• 1:37:19
  Speaker 1: darkness descended for a thousand years on Western progress. Joe
• 1:37:24
  Speaker 1: had never gone this far in his thoughts, He said, now,
• 1:37:29
  Speaker 1: somewhat uncomfortably, Well, what would replace what we have now?
• 1:37:34
  Speaker 1: If you took power from you uppers who could direct
• 1:37:37
  Speaker 1: the country the lowers, that's not even funny, take away
• 1:37:42
  Speaker 1: their fracases, and their trank pills, and they'd go berserk.
• 1:37:46
  Speaker 1: They don't want anything else. Her mouth worked. Admittedly, we've
• 1:37:52
  Speaker 1: already allowed things to deteriorate much too far. We should
• 1:37:57
  Speaker 1: have done something long ago. I'm not sure I know
• 1:38:00
  Speaker 1: the answer. All I know is that in order to
• 1:38:03
  Speaker 1: maintain the status quo, we're not utilizing the efforts of
• 1:38:06
  Speaker 1: more than a fraction of our people. Nine out of
• 1:38:10
  Speaker 1: ten of us spend our lives sitting before the telly
• 1:38:12
  Speaker 1: sucking trenks. Meanwhile, the motivation for continued progress seems to
• 1:38:17
  Speaker 1: have withered away. Our upper political circles are afraid some
• 1:38:22
  Speaker 1: seemingly minor change might avalanche, so more and more we
• 1:38:27
  Speaker 1: lean upon the old ways of doing things. Joe had
• 1:38:31
  Speaker 1: put up a mild argument. I've heard the case made
• 1:38:34
  Speaker 1: that the lowers are fools, and the reason our present
• 1:38:38
  Speaker 1: socioeconomic system makes it so difficult to rise from lower
• 1:38:42
  Speaker 1: to upper is that you cannot make a fool understand
• 1:38:45
  Speaker 1: he is one. You can only make him angry. If
• 1:38:49
  Speaker 1: some who are not fools are allowed to advance from
• 1:38:52
  Speaker 1: lower to upper, the vast mass who are fools will
• 1:38:56
  Speaker 1: be angry because they are not allowed to. That's why
• 1:39:00
  Speaker 1: the military categories made a channel of advance to take
• 1:39:04
  Speaker 1: that road. A man gives up his security, and he'll
• 1:39:08
  Speaker 1: die if he's a fool, Nadine had become scornful. That
• 1:39:13
  Speaker 1: reminds me of the old contention by racial segregationalists that
• 1:39:17
  Speaker 1: the negro smelled bad. First they put them in a
• 1:39:21
  Speaker 1: position where they had insufficient bathing facilities, their diet inadequate,
• 1:39:26
  Speaker 1: and their teeth uncared for, and then protested that they
• 1:39:30
  Speaker 1: couldn't be associated with because of their odor. To day,
• 1:39:34
  Speaker 1: we are born within our casts. If an upper is inadequate,
• 1:39:38
  Speaker 1: he nevertheless remains an upper. An accident of birth makes
• 1:39:43
  Speaker 1: him an aristocrat. Environment, family training, education, friends, traditions, and
• 1:39:50
  Speaker 1: laws maintain him in that position. But a lawer who
• 1:39:54
  Speaker 1: potentially has the greatest of value to society is born handicapped,
• 1:39:59
  Speaker 1: and he's hard put not to wind up before a
• 1:40:02
  Speaker 1: telly in a mental days from Trenk. Sure he's a fool.
• 1:40:07
  Speaker 1: He's never been allowed to develop himself. Yes, Joe reflected
• 1:40:13
  Speaker 1: now it had been quite an evening. In a life
• 1:40:17
  Speaker 1: of more than thirty years devoted to rebellion, he had
• 1:40:20
  Speaker 1: never met any one so outspoken as Nadine Hare nor
• 1:40:24
  Speaker 1: one who had thought it through as far as she had.
• 1:40:28
  Speaker 1: He grunted. His own revolt was against the level at
• 1:40:32
  Speaker 1: which he had found himself in society, not the structure
• 1:40:35
  Speaker 1: of society itself. His old raison d'etre was to lift
• 1:40:40
  Speaker 1: himself to upper status. It came as a shock to
• 1:40:43
  Speaker 1: him to find a person he admired who had been
• 1:40:46
  Speaker 1: born into upper caste, desirous of tearing the whole system down.
• 1:40:52
  Speaker 1: His thoughts were interrupted by the door opening and the
• 1:40:55
  Speaker 1: face of Max Mains grinning in at him. Joe was
• 1:40:58
  Speaker 1: mildly surprised at orderly not knocking before opening the door.
• 1:41:03
  Speaker 1: Max evidently had a lot to learn. The little man blurted,
• 1:41:08
  Speaker 1: Come on, Joe, let's go out on the town. Joe.
• 1:41:13
  Speaker 1: Joe Mouser raised himself to one elbow and stared at
• 1:41:17
  Speaker 1: the other, leaving aside the merits of your suggestion for
• 1:41:21
  Speaker 1: the moment. Do you think you should address an officer
• 1:41:24
  Speaker 1: by his first name? Max Mains came fully into the bedroom,
• 1:41:29
  Speaker 1: his grin still wider. You forgot it's election day, oh,
• 1:41:36
  Speaker 1: Joe Mouser relaxed into his pillow. So it is no
• 1:41:40
  Speaker 1: duty for today, eh, No duty for anybody, Max crowed,
• 1:41:46
  Speaker 1: what do you say we go into town and have
• 1:41:49
  Speaker 1: a few drinks in one of the upper bars. Joe grunted,
• 1:41:53
  Speaker 1: but began to arise, what'll that accomplish? On election day?
• 1:41:59
  Speaker 1: Most of the up get done up in their oldest
• 1:42:01
  Speaker 1: clothes and go slumming down in the lower quarters. Max
• 1:42:05
  Speaker 1: wasn't to be put off so easily. Well, wherever we go,
• 1:42:09
  Speaker 1: let's get going. Then, I'll bet this town is full
• 1:42:13
  Speaker 1: of fracas buffs from as far as Philly and on
• 1:42:17
  Speaker 1: election day to boot. Wouldn't it be something if I
• 1:42:20
  Speaker 1: found me a real fracas fan some upper upper dame.
• 1:42:24
  Speaker 1: Joe laughed at him, even as he headed for the bathroom.
• 1:42:28
  Speaker 1: As a matter of fact, he rather liked the idea
• 1:42:31
  Speaker 1: of going into town for the show. Max, He said
• 1:42:35
  Speaker 1: over his shoulder, You're in for a big disappointment. They're
• 1:42:38
  Speaker 1: all the same upper, lower, or middle. Yeah. Max grinned
• 1:42:45
  Speaker 1: back at him, Well, I like the pleasure of finding
• 1:42:48
  Speaker 1: out if that's true by personal experience. End of Part two,
• 1:43:07
  Speaker 1: Part three of Mercenary by Mack Reynolds. This LibriVox recording
• 1:43:13
  Speaker 1: is in the public domain. Mercenary seven In a Far
• 1:43:20
  Speaker 1: Away Past, Kingston had once been the capital of the
• 1:43:23
  Speaker 1: United States for a short time. When Washington's men were
• 1:43:28
  Speaker 1: in flight after the debacle of their defeat in New
• 1:43:31
  Speaker 1: York City, the Government of the United Colonies had held
• 1:43:34
  Speaker 1: session in this Hudson River town. It had been its
• 1:43:38
  Speaker 1: one moment of historic glory, and afterward Kingston had slipped
• 1:43:43
  Speaker 1: back into being a minor city on the edge of
• 1:43:46
  Speaker 1: the Catskills, approximately halfway between New York and Albany. Of
• 1:43:51
  Speaker 1: most recent years, it had become one of the two
• 1:43:54
  Speaker 1: recruiting centers which bordered the Catskill Military Reservation, which in
• 1:43:59
  Speaker 1: turn were as one of the score or so population
• 1:44:02
  Speaker 1: cleared areas throughout the continent where rival corporations or unions
• 1:44:07
  Speaker 1: could meet and settle their differences in combat, given permission
• 1:44:11
  Speaker 1: of the Military Category Department of the government, and permission
• 1:44:16
  Speaker 1: was becoming ever easier to acquire. It had slowly evolved
• 1:44:22
  Speaker 1: the resorting to trial by combat to settle disputes between
• 1:44:26
  Speaker 1: competing corporations, disputes between corporations and unions, disputes between unions
• 1:44:33
  Speaker 1: over jurisdiction. Slowly, but predictably, since the earliest days of
• 1:44:40
  Speaker 1: the First Industrial Revolution, conflict between these elements had often
• 1:44:44
  Speaker 1: broken into violence, sometimes on a scale comparable to minor warfare.
• 1:44:51
  Speaker 1: An early example was the union organizing in Colorado, when
• 1:44:55
  Speaker 1: armed elements of the Western Federation of Miners shot it
• 1:44:59
  Speaker 1: out with whis similarly armed detectives hired by the mine owners,
• 1:45:04
  Speaker 1: and later with the troops of an unsympathetic state government.
• 1:45:08
  Speaker 1: By the middle of the twentieth century, unions had become
• 1:45:12
  Speaker 1: one of the biggest businesses in the country, and by
• 1:45:15
  Speaker 1: this time a considerable amount of the industrial conflict had
• 1:45:19
  Speaker 1: shifted to fights between them for jurisdiction over dues paying members,
• 1:45:25
  Speaker 1: battles on the waterfront, assassination and counter assassination by gun
• 1:45:30
  Speaker 1: toting goon squads dominated by gangsters, industrial sabotage, phrase between
• 1:45:36
  Speaker 1: pickets and scabs all were common occurrences, but it was
• 1:45:42
  Speaker 1: the coming of Telly which increasingly brought such conflicts literally
• 1:45:47
  Speaker 1: before the public eye. Zealous reporters made ever greater effort
• 1:45:52
  Speaker 1: to bring the actual mayhem before the eyes of their viewers,
• 1:45:56
  Speaker 1: and never were their efforts more highly rewarded. A society
• 1:46:02
  Speaker 1: based upon private endeavor is as jealous of a vacuum
• 1:46:05
  Speaker 1: as his mother nature give a desire that can be
• 1:46:09
  Speaker 1: filled profitably, and the means can somehow be found to
• 1:46:13
  Speaker 1: realize it. At one point in the nation's history, the
• 1:46:18
  Speaker 1: railroad lords had dominated the economy. Later it became the
• 1:46:22
  Speaker 1: petroleum princes of Texas and elsewhere. But toward the end
• 1:46:26
  Speaker 1: of the twentieth century, the communications industry slowly gained prominence.
• 1:46:32
  Speaker 1: Nothing was more greatly in demand than feeding the insatiable
• 1:46:36
  Speaker 1: maw of the telefan. Nothing ultimately became more profitable, and
• 1:46:42
  Speaker 1: increasingly the telly buff endorsed the more sadistic of the
• 1:46:46
  Speaker 1: fictional and nonfictional programs presented him. Even in the earliest
• 1:46:52
  Speaker 1: years of the industry, producers had found that murder and mayhem,
• 1:46:57
  Speaker 1: war and frontier gunfights took presence over less gruesome subjects.
• 1:47:03
  Speaker 1: Music was drowned out by gunfire, the dance replaced by
• 1:47:08
  Speaker 1: the shuffle of cowboy and rustler advancing down a dusty
• 1:47:11
  Speaker 1: street toward each other, their fingertips brushing the grips of
• 1:47:15
  Speaker 1: their six shooters. The comedian's banter fell away before the
• 1:47:19
  Speaker 1: chatter of the gangster's Tommy gun, and increasing realism was demanded.
• 1:47:26
  Speaker 1: The tele reporter on the scene of a police arrest,
• 1:47:29
  Speaker 1: preferably a murder a rumble between rival gangs of juvenile
• 1:47:33
  Speaker 1: delinquents along Shoreman's Fray, in which scores of workers were hospitalized.
• 1:47:39
  Speaker 1: When attempts were made to suppress such broadcasts, the howled
• 1:47:43
  Speaker 1: of freedom of speech and the press went up, financed
• 1:47:46
  Speaker 1: by tycoons clever enough to realize the value of the
• 1:47:49
  Speaker 1: subjects they covered so adequately. The vacuum was there, the desire,
• 1:47:55
  Speaker 1: the need. Bread the populace had was available to all,
• 1:48:02
  Speaker 1: but the need was for the circus, the vicious, sadistic circus,
• 1:48:07
  Speaker 1: And bit by bit, over the years and decades, the
• 1:48:10
  Speaker 1: way was found to circumvent the country's laws and traditions
• 1:48:14
  Speaker 1: to supply the need. I a way as always found.
• 1:48:19
  Speaker 1: The final Universal Disarmament Pact, which had totally banned all
• 1:48:24
  Speaker 1: weapons invented since the year nineteen hundred and provided for
• 1:48:27
  Speaker 1: complete inspection, had not ended the fear of war, and
• 1:48:33
  Speaker 1: thus there was excuse to give the would be soldier
• 1:48:37
  Speaker 1: the potential defender of the country in some future internation
• 1:48:41
  Speaker 1: conflict practical experience. Slowly, tolerance grew to allow union and
• 1:48:47
  Speaker 1: corporation to fight it out, hiring the services of mercenaries. Slowly,
• 1:48:53
  Speaker 1: rules grew up to govern such fracases, Slowly a department
• 1:48:58
  Speaker 1: of government evolved, The military category became as acceptable as
• 1:49:03
  Speaker 1: the next, and the mercenary of valued, even idolized member
• 1:49:08
  Speaker 1: of society, and the field became practically the only one
• 1:49:12
  Speaker 1: in which a status co oriented socioeconomic system allowed for
• 1:49:16
  Speaker 1: advancement in Caste. Joe Mauser and Max Main strolled the
• 1:49:22
  Speaker 1: streets of Kingston in an extreme of atmosphere seldom to
• 1:49:26
  Speaker 1: be enjoyed. Not only was the advent of a divisional
• 1:49:30
  Speaker 1: magnitude fracas only a short period away, but the freedom
• 1:49:34
  Speaker 1: of an election day as well, the carnival, the mardi Gras,
• 1:49:39
  Speaker 1: the fete, the fiesta of an election election day, when
• 1:49:44
  Speaker 1: each aristocrat became only a man, and each man an aristocrat,
• 1:49:49
  Speaker 1: free of all societies, artificially conceived cast perpetuating rituals and taboos, carnival.
• 1:49:57
  Speaker 1: The day was young, but already the streets were thick
• 1:50:01
  Speaker 1: with revelers, with dancers, with drunks. A score of bands played.
• 1:50:06
  Speaker 1: Youngsters in particular ran about attired in costume. There were
• 1:50:10
  Speaker 1: barbecues and flowing beer kegs. On the outskirts of town
• 1:50:15
  Speaker 1: were roller coasters and ferris wheels, funhouses and drive it yourself,
• 1:50:20
  Speaker 1: miniature cars, carnival. Max said, happily, you'll drink, Joe, or
• 1:50:27
  Speaker 1: maybe you like trank better. Obviously he loved to roll
• 1:50:31
  Speaker 1: the other's first name over his tongue. Joe wondered in
• 1:50:35
  Speaker 1: amusement how often the little man had found occasion to
• 1:50:38
  Speaker 1: call a mid middle by his first name. No trank,
• 1:50:43
  Speaker 1: he said, alcohol for me, mankind's old faithful well, Max debated,
• 1:50:50
  Speaker 1: get high on alcohol and bingo a hangover in the morning,
• 1:50:55
  Speaker 1: but drank you wake up with a smile and a
• 1:51:00
  Speaker 1: desire for more trank to keep the mood going, Joe said, wryly,
• 1:51:05
  Speaker 1: Get smashed on alcohol and you suffer for it eventually. Well,
• 1:51:10
  Speaker 1: that's one way of looking at it, Max argued, happily.
• 1:51:14
  Speaker 1: So let's start off with a couple of quick ones
• 1:51:16
  Speaker 1: in this here upper joint. Joe looked the place over.
• 1:51:21
  Speaker 1: He didn't know Kingston overly well, but by the appearance
• 1:51:25
  Speaker 1: of the building and by the entry, it was probably
• 1:51:28
  Speaker 1: the swankiest hotel in town. He shrugged. So far as
• 1:51:33
  Speaker 1: he was concerned, he appreciated the greater comfort and the
• 1:51:37
  Speaker 1: better service of his middle cast bars, restaurants and hotels
• 1:51:41
  Speaker 1: over the ones he had patronized when a lower. However,
• 1:51:46
  Speaker 1: his wasn't an immediate desire to push into the preserves
• 1:51:49
  Speaker 1: of the uppers, not until he had won rightfully to
• 1:51:52
  Speaker 1: their status. But on this occasion, the little fellow wanted
• 1:51:57
  Speaker 1: to drink at an upper bar. Very well, it was
• 1:52:01
  Speaker 1: election day, let's go, he said to Max. In the
• 1:52:06
  Speaker 1: uniform of a rank captain of the military category, there
• 1:52:10
  Speaker 1: was little to indicate caste level, and ordinarily, given the
• 1:52:14
  Speaker 1: correct air of nonchalance, Joe Mauser in uniform would have
• 1:52:18
  Speaker 1: been able to go anywhere without so much as a
• 1:52:21
  Speaker 1: raised eyebrow until he had presented his credit card, which
• 1:52:26
  Speaker 1: indicated his caste. But Max was another thing. He was
• 1:52:31
  Speaker 1: obviously a lower, and probably a low lower at that,
• 1:52:37
  Speaker 1: But space was made for them at a bar packed
• 1:52:39
  Speaker 1: with election day celebrants, politicians involved in the day's speeches
• 1:52:44
  Speaker 1: and voting, higher ranking officers of the Hare forces having
• 1:52:48
  Speaker 1: a day off, and various uppers of both sexes in
• 1:52:52
  Speaker 1: town for the excitement of the fracas to come. Beer,
• 1:52:56
  Speaker 1: Joe said to the bartender, not me, Max crowed, shampagne,
• 1:53:03
  Speaker 1: only the best for Max mains. Give me some of
• 1:53:06
  Speaker 1: that shampagne. Lequa. I always been hearing about, Joe had
• 1:53:11
  Speaker 1: the bill credited to his card, and they took their
• 1:53:14
  Speaker 1: bottles and glasses to a newly abandoned table. The place
• 1:53:18
  Speaker 1: was too packed to have awaited the services of a waiter,
• 1:53:22
  Speaker 1: although poor Max probably would have loved such attention. Lower
• 1:53:27
  Speaker 1: and even middle bars and restaurants were universally automated, and
• 1:53:32
  Speaker 1: the waiter or waitress a thing of yesteryear. Max looked
• 1:53:37
  Speaker 1: about the room in awe, this is living, he announced.
• 1:53:43
  Speaker 1: I wonder what they'd say if I went to the
• 1:53:45
  Speaker 1: desk and ordered a room. Joe Mauser wasn't as highly
• 1:53:49
  Speaker 1: impressed as his batman. In fact, he'd often stayed in
• 1:53:53
  Speaker 1: the larger cities in hostelries as sumptuous as this, though
• 1:53:57
  Speaker 1: only of middle status. Kingston's best was on the mediocre side.
• 1:54:03
  Speaker 1: He said, they'd probably tell you they were filled up.
• 1:54:07
  Speaker 1: Max was indignant, because I'm a lower it's a lection day,
• 1:54:14
  Speaker 1: Joe said mildly, because they probably are filled up. But
• 1:54:19
  Speaker 1: for that matter, they might brush you off. It's not
• 1:54:22
  Speaker 1: as though an upper went to a middle or lower
• 1:54:24
  Speaker 1: hotel and asked for accommodations. But what do you want? Justice,
• 1:54:30
  Speaker 1: Max dropped it. He looked down into his glass. Hey,
• 1:54:35
  Speaker 1: he complained, what did they give me? This stuff tastes
• 1:54:38
  Speaker 1: like weak hard cider. Joe laughed, what do you think
• 1:54:43
  Speaker 1: it was going to taste like? Max took another unhappy sip.
• 1:54:48
  Speaker 1: I thought it was supposed to be the best drink
• 1:54:50
  Speaker 1: you could buy, you know, really strong. It's just bubbly wine.
• 1:54:56
  Speaker 1: A voice said dryly, Your companion doesn't seem to be
• 1:55:00
  Speaker 1: a connoisseur of the French vintages. Captain Joe turned Balt
• 1:55:06
  Speaker 1: Hare and two others occupied the table next to them.
• 1:55:10
  Speaker 1: Joe chuckled amiably and said, truthfully, it was my own
• 1:55:14
  Speaker 1: reaction the first time I drank sparkling wine. Sir Indeed,
• 1:55:20
  Speaker 1: Hare said, I can imagine he fluttered a hand. Lieutenant
• 1:55:26
  Speaker 1: Colonel Paul Warren of Marshall Cogswell's staff and Colonel Lajos
• 1:55:30
  Speaker 1: Arpad of Budapest Captain Joseph Mauser. Joe Mauser came to
• 1:55:36
  Speaker 1: his feet and clicked his heels, bowing from the waist
• 1:55:39
  Speaker 1: in approved military protocol. The other two didn't bother to
• 1:55:43
  Speaker 1: come to their feet, but did condescend to shake hands.
• 1:55:48
  Speaker 1: The soul of officer said, disinterestedly, Ah, yes, this is
• 1:55:53
  Speaker 1: one of your fabulous customs, isn't it on an election day?
• 1:55:57
  Speaker 1: Everyone is quite entitled to go anywhere, anywhere at all.
• 1:56:02
  Speaker 1: And ah, he made a sound somewhat like a giggle,
• 1:56:07
  Speaker 1: associate with anyone at all. Joe Mauser resumed his seat,
• 1:56:12
  Speaker 1: then looked at him. That is correct, a custom going
• 1:56:16
  Speaker 1: back to the early history of the country, when all
• 1:56:19
  Speaker 1: men were considered equal in such matters as law and
• 1:56:22
  Speaker 1: civil rights. Gentlemen, may I present rank Private max Mains.
• 1:56:27
  Speaker 1: My orderly balt Haire, who had obviously already had a few,
• 1:56:33
  Speaker 1: looked at him dourly. You can carry these things to
• 1:56:37
  Speaker 1: the point of ludicrous, Captain, For a man with your ambitions,
• 1:56:42
  Speaker 1: I'm surprised. The infantry officer the younger Hare had introduced
• 1:56:47
  Speaker 1: as Lieutenant Colonel Warren of Stonewall Cogswell's staff, said, idly, ambitions.
• 1:56:54
  Speaker 1: Does the captain have ambitions? How in zen can a
• 1:56:58
  Speaker 1: middle have ambitions? Bolt? He stared at Joe Mauser superciliously,
• 1:57:04
  Speaker 1: but then scowled. Haven't I seen you somewhere before? Joe
• 1:57:09
  Speaker 1: said evenly, yes, sir. Five years ago we were both
• 1:57:14
  Speaker 1: with the Marshal in a fracas in the Little Big
• 1:57:16
  Speaker 1: Horn reservation. Your company was pinned down on a knoll
• 1:57:19
  Speaker 1: by a battery of field artillery. The Marshal sent me
• 1:57:23
  Speaker 1: to your relief. We sneaked in up in arroyo and
• 1:57:26
  Speaker 1: were able to get most of you out. I was wounded,
• 1:57:31
  Speaker 1: the colonel said, the superciliousness gone, and a strange element
• 1:57:35
  Speaker 1: in his voice above the alcohol. There Earlier, Joe Mauser
• 1:57:39
  Speaker 1: said nothing to that. Max Mains was stirring unhappily. Now
• 1:57:44
  Speaker 1: these officers were talking above his head even as they
• 1:57:48
  Speaker 1: ignored him. He had a vague feeling that he was
• 1:57:51
  Speaker 1: being defended by Captain Mauser, but he didn't know how
• 1:57:55
  Speaker 1: or why. Baltaire had been occupied in shouting fresh drinks.
• 1:58:00
  Speaker 1: Now he turned back to the table. Well, Colonel, it's
• 1:58:04
  Speaker 1: all very secret, these ambitions of Captain Mauser. I understand
• 1:58:09
  Speaker 1: he's been an aide de camp to Marshall Cogswell in
• 1:58:12
  Speaker 1: the past. But the Marshal will be distressed to learn
• 1:58:15
  Speaker 1: that on this occasion Captain Mauser has a secret by
• 1:58:18
  Speaker 1: which he expects to rout your forces. Indeed, yes, the
• 1:58:23
  Speaker 1: Captain is quite the strategist. Balt Harell laughed abruptly. And
• 1:58:29
  Speaker 1: what good will this do? The captain. Why on my
• 1:58:32
  Speaker 1: father's word, if he succeeds, all efforts will be made
• 1:58:35
  Speaker 1: to make the captain a cast equal of ours. Not
• 1:58:39
  Speaker 1: just on election day, mind you, but all three hundred
• 1:58:42
  Speaker 1: sixty five days of the year. Joe Mauser was on
• 1:58:46
  Speaker 1: his feet, his face expressionless. He said, shall we go, Max, gentlemen,
• 1:58:53
  Speaker 1: It's been a pleasure, Colonel Arpad, A privilege to meet you,
• 1:58:57
  Speaker 1: Colonel Warren, A pleasure to renew acquaintance. Joe Mauser turned
• 1:59:02
  Speaker 1: and trailed by his orderly left. Lieutenant Colonel Warren Pale
• 1:59:09
  Speaker 1: was on his feet too. Balt Hare was chuckling. Sit down, Paul,
• 1:59:14
  Speaker 1: sit down, not important enough to be angry about the
• 1:59:18
  Speaker 1: man's a claud Warren looked at him bleakly. I wasn't angry,
• 1:59:24
  Speaker 1: balt The last time I saw Captain Mauser, I was
• 1:59:27
  Speaker 1: slung over his shoulder. He carried, tugged, and dragged me
• 1:59:31
  Speaker 1: some two miles through enemy fire. Balt Hare carried it
• 1:59:36
  Speaker 1: off with a shrug. Well, Mats's profession category military A
• 1:59:42
  Speaker 1: mercenary for hire. I assume he received his pay. He
• 1:59:47
  Speaker 1: could have left me. Common sense dictated that he leave me.
• 1:59:53
  Speaker 1: Balt Hare was annoyed. Well, then we see what I've
• 1:59:57
  Speaker 1: contended all along. The ambivicious captain doesn't have common sense.
• 2:00:03
  Speaker 1: Colonel Paul Warren shook his head. You're wrong there, common sense.
• 2:00:09
  Speaker 1: Joseph Mauser has considerable ability. He has He's one of
• 2:00:14
  Speaker 1: the best combat men in the field. But I'd hate
• 2:00:17
  Speaker 1: to serve under him. The Hungarian was interested. But why
• 2:00:23
  Speaker 1: because he doesn't have luck, and in the Dill you
• 2:00:27
  Speaker 1: need luck. Warren grunted in sour memory. Had the telecameras
• 2:00:33
  Speaker 1: been focused on Joe Mauser there at the Little Big Horn,
• 2:00:36
  Speaker 1: he would have been a month long sensation to the
• 2:00:39
  Speaker 1: Telly Buffs with all that means, he grunted again, There
• 2:00:44
  Speaker 1: wasn't a Telly team within the mile. The captain probably
• 2:00:49
  Speaker 1: didn't realize that. Balt Hare snorted, otherwise his heroics would
• 2:00:54
  Speaker 1: have been modified. Warren flushed with displeasure and sat down.
• 2:01:00
  Speaker 1: He said, possibly we should discuss the business before us.
• 2:01:05
  Speaker 1: If your father is in agreement, the Phrakus can begin
• 2:01:08
  Speaker 1: in three days. He turned to the representative of the
• 2:01:11
  Speaker 1: Soul of World. You have satisfied yourselves that neither force
• 2:01:16
  Speaker 1: is violating the disarmament pact. leJOS arpad nodded. We will
• 2:01:22
  Speaker 1: wish to have observers on the field itself, of course,
• 2:01:25
  Speaker 1: but preliminary observation has been satisfactory. He had been interested
• 2:01:30
  Speaker 1: in the play between these two and the lower caste officer.
• 2:01:34
  Speaker 1: He said, now, pardon me, as you know, this is
• 2:01:38
  Speaker 1: my first visit to the West. I am fascinated if
• 2:01:44
  Speaker 1: I understand what just transpired. Our captain Mauser is a
• 2:01:48
  Speaker 1: capable junior officer, ambitious to rise in rank and status
• 2:01:51
  Speaker 1: in your society. He looked at bald Hare. Why are
• 2:01:56
  Speaker 1: you opposed to his so rising ung Hair was testy
• 2:02:01
  Speaker 1: about the whole matter of what purpose is an upper
• 2:02:05
  Speaker 1: cast if every Tom, Dick and Harry enters it at will?
• 2:02:10
  Speaker 1: Warren looked at the door through which Joe and Max
• 2:02:12
  Speaker 1: had exited from the cocktail lounge. He opened his mouth
• 2:02:16
  Speaker 1: to say something, closed it again, and held his peace.
• 2:02:20
  Speaker 1: The Hungarian said, looking from one of them to the other.
• 2:02:24
  Speaker 1: In a soft world, we seek out such ambitious persons
• 2:02:28
  Speaker 1: and utilize their abilities. Lieutenant Colonel Warren laughed abruptly, so
• 2:02:34
  Speaker 1: do we hear? Theoretically we are free? Whatever that means, However,
• 2:02:41
  Speaker 1: he added sarcastically, it does help to have good schooling,
• 2:02:45
  Speaker 1: good connections, relatives, and positions of prominence, abundant shares of
• 2:02:50
  Speaker 1: good stocks, that sort of thing, and these one is
• 2:02:55
  Speaker 1: born with in this free world of ours. Colonel r Pad,
• 2:03:00
  Speaker 1: the SOUV military observer, clucked his tongue, an indication of
• 2:03:05
  Speaker 1: a declining society. Bald Hare turned on him. And is
• 2:03:10
  Speaker 1: it any different in your world? He said, sneeringly. Is
• 2:03:15
  Speaker 1: it merely coincidence that the best positions in the SUV
• 2:03:18
  Speaker 1: world are held by party members, and that it is
• 2:03:21
  Speaker 1: all but impossible for any one not born of party
• 2:03:24
  Speaker 1: member parents to become one. Are not the best schools
• 2:03:28
  Speaker 1: filled with the children of party members? Are not only
• 2:03:31
  Speaker 1: party members allowed to keep servants? And isn't it so that,
• 2:03:36
  Speaker 1: Lieutenant Colonel Warrant said, gentlemen, let us not start World
• 2:03:40
  Speaker 1: War IIE at this spot, At this late occasion, eight
• 2:03:48
  Speaker 1: Baron Malcolm Here's field headquarters were in the ruins of
• 2:03:51
  Speaker 1: a farm house in a town once known as Bearsville.
• 2:03:55
  Speaker 1: His forces and those of Marshall Stonewall Cogswell were on
• 2:03:59
  Speaker 1: the march, but as yet their main bodies had not
• 2:04:02
  Speaker 1: come into contact, save for skirmishes between cavalry units. There
• 2:04:07
  Speaker 1: had been no action. The ruined farm house had been
• 2:04:11
  Speaker 1: a victim of an earlier fracas in this reservation, which
• 2:04:15
  Speaker 1: had seen, in its comparatively brief time, more combat than Belgium,
• 2:04:20
  Speaker 1: that cockpit of Europe. There was a sheen of oily
• 2:04:24
  Speaker 1: moisture on the baron's bullet like head, and his officers
• 2:04:28
  Speaker 1: weren't particularly happy about it. Malcolm Hare characteristically went into
• 2:04:33
  Speaker 1: a fracas with confidence, an aggressive confidence so strong that
• 2:04:37
  Speaker 1: it often carried the day. In battles past, it had
• 2:04:42
  Speaker 1: become a tradition that Hare's morale was worth a thousand men.
• 2:04:46
  Speaker 1: The energy he expended was the despair of his doctors,
• 2:04:50
  Speaker 1: who had been warning him for a decade, but now
• 2:04:54
  Speaker 1: something was missing. A forefinger traced over the military chart
• 2:04:59
  Speaker 1: before them. So far as we know, Marshall Cogswell has
• 2:05:04
  Speaker 1: established his command here in Sograte's. Anybody have any suggestions
• 2:05:09
  Speaker 1: as to why a major grumbled? It doesn't make much sense, sir,
• 2:05:15
  Speaker 1: you know, the Marshal, it's probably a fake. If we
• 2:05:19
  Speaker 1: have any superiority at all, it's our artillery, and the
• 2:05:24
  Speaker 1: old Fox wouldn't want to join the issue. On the
• 2:05:26
  Speaker 1: planes down near the river. A colonel added, it's his
• 2:05:31
  Speaker 1: game to keep up into the mountains with his cavalry
• 2:05:33
  Speaker 1: and light infantry. He's got Jack Alshuler's cavalry, most experienced
• 2:05:39
  Speaker 1: veterans in the field. I know who he's got, Hare
• 2:05:44
  Speaker 1: growled in irritation. Stop reminding me, where is the devil
• 2:05:49
  Speaker 1: this Balt coming up? Sir Balt Hare said he had
• 2:05:54
  Speaker 1: entered only moments ago, a sheaf of signals in his hand.
• 2:05:58
  Speaker 1: Why didn't they make that date nineteen ten instead of
• 2:06:02
  Speaker 1: nineteen hundred? With radio we could speed up communications, his
• 2:06:07
  Speaker 1: father interrupted testily. Better still, why not make it nineteen
• 2:06:12
  Speaker 1: forty five? Then we could speed up to the point
• 2:06:15
  Speaker 1: where we could polish ourselves off. What have you got, Balt,
• 2:06:20
  Speaker 1: Hare said, his face in sulk. Some of my lads
• 2:06:24
  Speaker 1: based in West Hurley report concentrations of Cogswell's infantry and
• 2:06:28
  Speaker 1: artillery near Ashokun Reservoir. Nonsense, somebody snapped, we'd have him.
• 2:06:35
  Speaker 1: The younger Hare slapped his swagger stick against his bare
• 2:06:38
  Speaker 1: leg and kilt. Possibly it's a faint, he admitted. How
• 2:06:44
  Speaker 1: much were they able to observe? His father demanded, not much.
• 2:06:50
  Speaker 1: They were driven off by a superior squadron. The hovercraft
• 2:06:53
  Speaker 1: forces are screening everything they do with heavy cavalry units.
• 2:06:57
  Speaker 1: I told you we needed more. I don't need your
• 2:07:00
  Speaker 1: advice At this point, his father snapped. The older Hare
• 2:07:04
  Speaker 1: went back to the map, scowling still. I don't see
• 2:07:08
  Speaker 1: what he expects to do working out of Sogoty's. A
• 2:07:13
  Speaker 1: voice behind them said, sir, may I have your permission?
• 2:07:19
  Speaker 1: Half of the assembled officers turned to look at the newcomer.
• 2:07:22
  Speaker 1: Bald Hair snapped, Captain Mauser, why aren't you with your lads?
• 2:07:28
  Speaker 1: Turn them over to my second in command? Sir Joe
• 2:07:31
  Speaker 1: Mauser said, he was standing to attention, looking at Baron Hair.
• 2:07:36
  Speaker 1: The baron glowered at him. What is the meaning of
• 2:07:40
  Speaker 1: this cavalier intrusion? Captain? Certainly you must have your orders.
• 2:07:45
  Speaker 1: Are you under the illusion that you are part of
• 2:07:47
  Speaker 1: my staff now? Sir Joe Mauser clipped, I came to
• 2:07:52
  Speaker 1: report that I am ready to put into execution the
• 2:07:56
  Speaker 1: great plan balt Hare ejaculated. He laughed brittally. The second
• 2:08:02
  Speaker 1: day of the Frakas and nobody really knows where Old
• 2:08:05
  Speaker 1: Cogswell is or what he plans to do. And here
• 2:08:08
  Speaker 1: comes the Captain with his secret plan. Joe looked at him.
• 2:08:14
  Speaker 1: He said evenly, yes, sir. The Baron's face had gone dark,
• 2:08:19
  Speaker 1: as much in anger at his son as with the
• 2:08:22
  Speaker 1: upstart cavalry captain. He began to growl ominously. Captain Mowser,
• 2:08:29
  Speaker 1: rejoin your command and obey your orders. Joe Mauser's facial
• 2:08:35
  Speaker 1: expression indicated that he had expected this. He kept his
• 2:08:39
  Speaker 1: voice level, however, even under the chuckling scorn of his
• 2:08:43
  Speaker 1: immediate superior, bald Hair. He said, Sir, I will be
• 2:08:48
  Speaker 1: able to tell you where Marshall Cogswell is and every
• 2:08:51
  Speaker 1: troop at his command. For a moment, there was silence,
• 2:08:57
  Speaker 1: all but a stunned silence. Then the major, who had
• 2:09:00
  Speaker 1: suggested the Sagarate's field command headquarters were a fake, blurted
• 2:09:05
  Speaker 1: a curt laugh. There's no time for levity, Captain balt
• 2:09:10
  Speaker 1: Hair clipped, get to your command, the colonel said, just
• 2:09:16
  Speaker 1: a moment, sir. I fought with Joe Mauser before. He's
• 2:09:19
  Speaker 1: a good man. Not that good. Someone else huffed, Does
• 2:09:25
  Speaker 1: he claim to be clairvoyant? Joe Mauser said flatly, have
• 2:09:30
  Speaker 1: a semaphore man posted here this afternoon. I'll be back
• 2:09:34
  Speaker 1: at that time. He spun on his heel and left them.
• 2:09:39
  Speaker 1: Balt Hare rushed to the door after him, shouting, Captain,
• 2:09:43
  Speaker 1: that's in order return, but the other was obviously gone. Enraged,
• 2:09:49
  Speaker 1: the younger Hare began to shrill commands to a non
• 2:09:52
  Speaker 1: com in the way of organizing a pursuit. His father called, wearily,
• 2:09:58
  Speaker 1: that's enough. Bolt Tausser has evidently taken leave of his senses.
• 2:10:03
  Speaker 1: We made the initial mistake of encouraging this idea he
• 2:10:06
  Speaker 1: had or thought he had. We his son snapped in return,
• 2:10:12
  Speaker 1: I had nothing to do with it, all right, all right,
• 2:10:16
  Speaker 1: let's tighten up here. Now what other information have your
• 2:10:20
  Speaker 1: scouts come up with? Nine At the Kingston Airport, Joe
• 2:10:27
  Speaker 1: Mauser rejoined Max Mains, his face drawn. Now everything go
• 2:10:33
  Speaker 1: all right, the little man said anxiously. I don't know,
• 2:10:37
  Speaker 1: Joe said, I still couldn't tell them the story. Old
• 2:10:41
  Speaker 1: Cogswell is as quick as a coyote. We pull this
• 2:10:45
  Speaker 1: little caper today and he'll be ready to meet it tomorrow.
• 2:10:50
  Speaker 1: He looked at the two play sailplane, which sat on
• 2:10:52
  Speaker 1: the tarmac. Everything all set far as I know, Max said.
• 2:10:58
  Speaker 1: He looked at the motorless air You're sure you've been
• 2:11:02
  Speaker 1: checked out on these things. Captain Yes, Joe said, I
• 2:11:06
  Speaker 1: bought this particular soaring glider more than a year ago,
• 2:11:10
  Speaker 1: and I've put almost a thousand hours in it. Now,
• 2:11:13
  Speaker 1: where's the pilot of that light plane? A single engined
• 2:11:17
  Speaker 1: sports plane was attached to the glider by a fifty
• 2:11:20
  Speaker 1: foot nylon rope. Even as Joe spoke, a youngster poked
• 2:11:24
  Speaker 1: his head from the plane's window and grinned back at them. Ready,
• 2:11:29
  Speaker 1: he yelled, come on, Max, Joe said, let's pull the
• 2:11:33
  Speaker 1: canopy off this thing. We don't want it in the way.
• 2:11:36
  Speaker 1: While you're semaphoring, a figure was approaching them from the
• 2:11:40
  Speaker 1: Administration Building, a uniformed man and somehow familiar. A moment
• 2:11:46
  Speaker 1: Captain Mauser Joe placed him now, the sou of world
• 2:11:51
  Speaker 1: representative he'd met at balt Hare's table in the upper
• 2:11:54
  Speaker 1: bar a couple of days ago. What was his name?
• 2:11:58
  Speaker 1: Colonel rpad leJOS Arpad the Hungarian approached and looked at
• 2:12:04
  Speaker 1: the sail plane in interest, as a representative of my government,
• 2:12:10
  Speaker 1: a military attache checking upon possible violations of the Universal
• 2:12:14
  Speaker 1: Disarmament Pact. May I request what you are about to do,
• 2:12:18
  Speaker 1: Captain Joe Mauser looked at him emptily. How did you
• 2:12:24
  Speaker 1: know I was here and what I was doing? The
• 2:12:27
  Speaker 1: soul of colonel smiled gently. It was by suggestion of
• 2:12:31
  Speaker 1: Marshal Cogswell. He is a great man for detail. It
• 2:12:35
  Speaker 1: disturbed him that an what did he call it, an
• 2:12:39
  Speaker 1: old pro like yourself should join with vacuum tube transport
• 2:12:44
  Speaker 1: rather than continental hovercraft. He didn't think it made sense,
• 2:12:48
  Speaker 1: and suggested that possibly you had in mind some scheme
• 2:12:52
  Speaker 1: that would utilize weapons of a post nineteen hundred period
• 2:12:56
  Speaker 1: in your efforts to bring success to Baron Hare's forces. Soul,
• 2:13:00
  Speaker 1: I have investigated Captain Mauser, and the Marshal knows about
• 2:13:05
  Speaker 1: this sailplane. Joe Mauser's face was blank. I didn't say that,
• 2:13:11
  Speaker 1: so far as I know, he doesn't. Then, Colonel Arpad,
• 2:13:15
  Speaker 1: with your permission, I'll be taking off, the Hungarian said,
• 2:13:20
  Speaker 1: with what end in mind? Captain? Using this glider as
• 2:13:24
  Speaker 1: a reconnaissance aircraft? Captain, I warn you aircraft were not
• 2:13:30
  Speaker 1: in use in warfare until but Joe Mauser cut him
• 2:13:34
  Speaker 1: off equally briskly. Aircraft were first used in combat by
• 2:13:39
  Speaker 1: Pancho Villa's forces a few years previous to World War One.
• 2:13:43
  Speaker 1: They were also used in the Balkan Wars of about
• 2:13:45
  Speaker 1: the same period, but those were powered craft. This is
• 2:13:50
  Speaker 1: a glider invented and in use before the year nineteen hundred,
• 2:13:54
  Speaker 1: and hence open to utilization. The Hungarian clipped, the Right
• 2:14:00
  Speaker 1: brothers didn't fly even gliders until Joe looked him full
• 2:14:04
  Speaker 1: in the face. But you of the souv world do
• 2:14:08
  Speaker 1: not admit that the Rights were the first to fly,
• 2:14:10
  Speaker 1: do you? The Hungarian closed his mouth abruptly. Joe said evenly.
• 2:14:17
  Speaker 1: But even if Ivan Ivanovitch, or whatever you claim his
• 2:14:21
  Speaker 1: name was, didn't invent flight of heavier than air craft.
• 2:14:25
  Speaker 1: The glider was flown variously before nineteen hundred, including Otto
• 2:14:30
  Speaker 1: Lilienthal in the eighteen nineties, and was designed as far
• 2:14:33
  Speaker 1: back as Leonardo da Vinci, the soul of World. Colonel
• 2:14:38
  Speaker 1: stared at him for a long moment, then gave an
• 2:14:41
  Speaker 1: inane giggle. He stepped back and flicked Joe Mauser a salute.
• 2:14:46
  Speaker 1: Very well, Captain. As a matter of routine, I shall
• 2:14:49
  Speaker 1: report this use of an aircraft for reconnaissance purposes, and
• 2:14:53
  Speaker 1: undoubtedly a commission will meet to investigate the propriety of
• 2:14:56
  Speaker 1: the departure. Meanwhile, good luck. Joe returned the salute and
• 2:15:02
  Speaker 1: swung a leg over the cockpit's side. Max was already
• 2:15:06
  Speaker 1: in the front seat, his semaphore, flags, maps, and binoculars
• 2:15:10
  Speaker 1: on his lap. He had been staring in dismay at
• 2:15:13
  Speaker 1: the sou of officer, now was relieved that Joe had
• 2:15:16
  Speaker 1: evidently pulled it off. Joe waved to the plane ahead.
• 2:15:22
  Speaker 1: Two mechanics had come up to steady the wings for
• 2:15:24
  Speaker 1: the initial ten or fifteen feet of the modalist craft's
• 2:15:27
  Speaker 1: passage over the ground behind the towing craft. Joe said
• 2:15:31
  Speaker 1: to Max, did you explain to the pilot that, under
• 2:15:34
  Speaker 1: no circumstances was he to pass over the line of
• 2:15:37
  Speaker 1: the military reservation that we'd cut before we reached that point? Yes,
• 2:15:42
  Speaker 1: Sir Max said nervously. He'd flown before on the commercial lines,
• 2:15:47
  Speaker 1: but he'd never been in a glider. They began lurching
• 2:15:51
  Speaker 1: across the field slowly, then gathered speed, and as the
• 2:15:55
  Speaker 1: sail plane took speed, it took grace. After it had
• 2:15:59
  Speaker 1: been pulled a hundred feet or so, Joe eased back
• 2:16:02
  Speaker 1: the stick and it slipped gently into the air four
• 2:16:06
  Speaker 1: or five feet off the ground. The towing airplane was
• 2:16:09
  Speaker 1: still taxiing, but with its tow airborne, it picked up
• 2:16:13
  Speaker 1: speed quickly. Another two hundred feet and it too was
• 2:16:17
  Speaker 1: in the air and beginning to climb. The glider behind
• 2:16:20
  Speaker 1: it held to a speed of sixty miles or so.
• 2:16:24
  Speaker 1: At ten thousand feet, the plane leveled off and the
• 2:16:27
  Speaker 1: pilot's head swiveled to look back at them. Joe Mouser
• 2:16:31
  Speaker 1: waved to him and dropped the release lever, which ejected
• 2:16:34
  Speaker 1: the nylon rope from the glider's nose. The plane dove away,
• 2:16:38
  Speaker 1: trailing the rope behind it. Joe knew that the plane
• 2:16:42
  Speaker 1: pilot would later drop it over the airport where it
• 2:16:45
  Speaker 1: could easily be retrieved. In the direction of Mount Overlook,
• 2:16:49
  Speaker 1: he could see cumulus clouds and the dark turbulence, which
• 2:16:53
  Speaker 1: meant strong updraft. He headed in that direction. Except for
• 2:16:58
  Speaker 1: the whistling of wind, there is complete silence in a
• 2:17:01
  Speaker 1: soaring glider. Max Mains began to call back to his superior,
• 2:17:06
  Speaker 1: who was taken aback by the volume, and dropped his voice.
• 2:17:09
  Speaker 1: He said, look, Captain, what keeps it up? Joe grinned.
• 2:17:15
  Speaker 1: He liked the buoyance of glider flying. The nearest approach
• 2:17:19
  Speaker 1: of man to the bird and thus far everything was
• 2:17:22
  Speaker 1: going well, he told Max. An airplane plows through the
• 2:17:27
  Speaker 1: air currents, a glider rides on top of them. Yeah,
• 2:17:32
  Speaker 1: but suppose the current is going down, then we avoid it.
• 2:17:37
  Speaker 1: This sailplane only has a gliding angle ratio of one
• 2:17:41
  Speaker 1: to twenty five, but it's a workhorse with a payload
• 2:17:44
  Speaker 1: of some four hundred pounds. A really high performance glider
• 2:17:48
  Speaker 1: can have a ratio of as much as one to forty.
• 2:17:53
  Speaker 1: Joe had found a strong updraft where a wind ran
• 2:17:56
  Speaker 1: up the side of a mountain. He banked went into
• 2:17:59
  Speaker 1: a circling turn. The gauge indicated they were climbing at
• 2:18:03
  Speaker 1: a rate of eight meters per second, nearly fifteen hundred
• 2:18:06
  Speaker 1: feet a minute. Max hadn't got the run down on
• 2:18:10
  Speaker 1: the theory of the glider that was obvious in his expression.
• 2:18:16
  Speaker 1: Joe Mauser, even while searching the ground below, keenly went
• 2:18:20
  Speaker 1: into it further. A wind up against a mountain will
• 2:18:24
  Speaker 1: give an updraft, storm clouds will even a newly plowed
• 2:18:28
  Speaker 1: field in a bright sun. So you go from one
• 2:18:31
  Speaker 1: of these to the next. Yeah, great, But when you're
• 2:18:35
  Speaker 1: between Max protested, then when you have a one to
• 2:18:39
  Speaker 1: twenty five ratio. You go twenty five feet forward for
• 2:18:43
  Speaker 1: each one you drop. If you started a mile high,
• 2:18:47
  Speaker 1: you could go twenty five miles before you touched ground.
• 2:18:51
  Speaker 1: He cut himself off quickly. Look what's that down there?
• 2:18:55
  Speaker 1: Get your glasses on it. Max caught his excitement. His
• 2:18:59
  Speaker 1: binocan were tight to his eyes. Soldiers cavalry, they show
• 2:19:04
  Speaker 1: eight oz. They must be hovercraft lads, and look field artillery.
• 2:19:11
  Speaker 1: Joe Mauser was piloting with his left hand, his right
• 2:19:14
  Speaker 1: smoothing out a chart on his lap. He growled, what
• 2:19:18
  Speaker 1: are they doing there? That's at least a full brigade
• 2:19:21
  Speaker 1: of cavalry here. Let me have those glasses. While his
• 2:19:25
  Speaker 1: knees gripped the stick. He went into a slow circle.
• 2:19:28
  Speaker 1: As he stared down at the column of men. Jack Alshuler,
• 2:19:34
  Speaker 1: he whistled in surprise. The marshals crack, heavy cavalry and
• 2:19:40
  Speaker 1: several batteries of artillery. He swung the glasses in a
• 2:19:43
  Speaker 1: wider scope, and the whistle turned into a hiss of comprehension.
• 2:19:48
  Speaker 1: They're doing a complete circle of the reservation. They're going
• 2:19:52
  Speaker 1: to hit the barren from the direction of Phoenicia ten
• 2:20:01
  Speaker 1: Marshal Stonewall Cogswell directed his old fashioned telescope in the
• 2:20:05
  Speaker 1: direction his chief of staff indicated, what is it? He grunted,
• 2:20:11
  Speaker 1: It's an airplane, sir, over a military reservation with a
• 2:20:15
  Speaker 1: fracas in progress. Yes, sir. The other put his glasses
• 2:20:19
  Speaker 1: back on the circling object. Then what is it, sir?
• 2:20:23
  Speaker 1: Certainly not a free balloon? Balloons, the Marshal snorted, as
• 2:20:28
  Speaker 1: though to himself legal to use. The Union forces had
• 2:20:33
  Speaker 1: them toward the end of the Civil War, but practically
• 2:20:36
  Speaker 1: useless in a fracas of movement. They were standing before
• 2:20:40
  Speaker 1: the former Resort hotel, which housed the Marshal's headquarters. Other
• 2:20:44
  Speaker 1: staff members were streaming from the building, and one of
• 2:20:48
  Speaker 1: the ever present Telly reporting crews were hurriedly setting up cameras.
• 2:20:53
  Speaker 1: The Marshal turned and barked, does anybody know what in
• 2:20:56
  Speaker 1: zen that confounded thing circling up? There? Is Baron's wordling
• 2:21:01
  Speaker 1: The aging category transport magnate head of Continental Hovercraft hobbled
• 2:21:06
  Speaker 1: on to the wooden verandah and stared with the others.
• 2:21:10
  Speaker 1: An airplane, He croaked, Hare's gone too far this time,
• 2:21:14
  Speaker 1: too far, too far, This will strip him, strip him?
• 2:21:18
  Speaker 1: Understand Then he added why doesn't it make any noise?
• 2:21:24
  Speaker 1: Lieutenant Colonel Paul Warren stood next to his commanding officer.
• 2:21:29
  Speaker 1: It looks like a glider, sir, Cogswell glowered at him.
• 2:21:34
  Speaker 1: A what a glider, sir? It's a sport not particularly
• 2:21:39
  Speaker 1: popular these days. What keeps it up? Confounded Paul Warren
• 2:21:44
  Speaker 1: looked at him. The same thing that keeps a hawk
• 2:21:47
  Speaker 1: up and albatross, a gull, a vulture? You mean, Cogswell snarled.
• 2:21:54
  Speaker 1: He watched it for another long moment, his face working.
• 2:21:58
  Speaker 1: He whirled on his chief of artillery, jed, can you
• 2:22:01
  Speaker 1: bring that thing down? The other had been viewing the
• 2:22:05
  Speaker 1: craft through field binocuters, his face as shocked as the
• 2:22:08
  Speaker 1: rest of them. Now he faced his chief and lowered
• 2:22:12
  Speaker 1: the glasses, shaking his head. Not with the artillery of
• 2:22:16
  Speaker 1: pre nineteen hundred, No, sir, what can you do? Cogswell barked.
• 2:22:22
  Speaker 1: The artillery man was shaking his head. We could mount
• 2:22:26
  Speaker 1: some maxim guns on wagon wheels or something, keeping from
• 2:22:30
  Speaker 1: coming low. He doesn't have to come low, Cogswell growled. Unhappily.
• 2:22:36
  Speaker 1: He spun on Lieutenant Colonel Warren again. He jerked his
• 2:22:40
  Speaker 1: thumb upward those things. Warren was twisting his face in
• 2:22:45
  Speaker 1: memory some time about the turn of the sentry. How
• 2:22:50
  Speaker 1: long can the thing stay up? Warren took in the
• 2:22:54
  Speaker 1: surrounding mountainous countryside. Indefinitely, Sir, a single pilot as long
• 2:23:00
  Speaker 1: as he is physically able to operate. If there are
• 2:23:03
  Speaker 1: two pilots up there to relieve each other, they could
• 2:23:05
  Speaker 1: stay until food and water ran out. How much weight
• 2:23:09
  Speaker 1: do they carry? I'm not sure one that size, certainly
• 2:23:14
  Speaker 1: enough for two men and any equipment they need, say
• 2:23:17
  Speaker 1: five hundred pounds. Cogswell had his telescope glued to his
• 2:23:22
  Speaker 1: eyes again. He muttered under his breath, five hundred pounds.
• 2:23:27
  Speaker 1: They could even unload dynamite over our horses, stampede them
• 2:23:31
  Speaker 1: all over the reservation. What's going on? Baron's Wordling shrilled,
• 2:23:36
  Speaker 1: what's going on, Marshall Cogswell. Cogswell ignored him. He watched
• 2:23:41
  Speaker 1: the circling circling craft for a full five minutes, breathing deeply.
• 2:23:47
  Speaker 1: Then he lowered his glass and swept the assembled officers
• 2:23:51
  Speaker 1: of his staff with an indignant glare. Ten ache. He grunted.
• 2:23:57
  Speaker 1: An infantry colonel came to attention yes, Sir, Cogswell said, heavily,
• 2:24:03
  Speaker 1: deliberately under a white flag a dispatch to Barren Hare
• 2:24:09
  Speaker 1: my compliments and request for his terms. While you're at it,
• 2:24:14
  Speaker 1: my compliments also to Captain Joseph Mauser. Swerdling was bug
• 2:24:19
  Speaker 1: eyeing him. Terms, he rasped. The Marshal turned to him. Yes, sir,
• 2:24:27
  Speaker 1: face reality, we're in the dill. I suggest you sue
• 2:24:32
  Speaker 1: for terms as short of complete capitulation as you can
• 2:24:35
  Speaker 1: make them. You call yourself a soldier. The transport tycoon
• 2:24:41
  Speaker 1: began to shrill. Yes, Sir Cogswell snapped, a soldier, not
• 2:24:46
  Speaker 1: a butcher. Of the lads under me. He called to
• 2:24:49
  Speaker 1: the Teley reporter, who was getting as much of this
• 2:24:51
  Speaker 1: as he could. Mister Sulligan, isn't it? The reporter scurried forward,
• 2:24:58
  Speaker 1: flicking signals to his cameramen for proper coverage. Yes, Sir
• 2:25:02
  Speaker 1: Freddy Salligan, Marshall, could you tell the Telly fans what
• 2:25:06
  Speaker 1: this is all about? Marshall Cogswell. Folks, you all know
• 2:25:09
  Speaker 1: the famous Marshal Marshall Stonewall Cogswell, who hasn't lost a
• 2:25:14
  Speaker 1: fracas in nearly ten years now, commanding the forces of
• 2:25:18
  Speaker 1: continental hovercraft. I'm losing one now, Cogswell said grimly. Vacuum
• 2:25:25
  Speaker 1: tube transport has pulled a gimmick out of the hat,
• 2:25:29
  Speaker 1: and things have pickled for us. It will be debated
• 2:25:32
  Speaker 1: before the Military Category Department, of course, and undoubtedly the
• 2:25:36
  Speaker 1: soul of world military attaches will have things to say.
• 2:25:40
  Speaker 1: But as it appears now, the fracas as we have
• 2:25:42
  Speaker 1: known it has been revolutionized, revolutionized. Even the telly reporter
• 2:25:49
  Speaker 1: was flabbergasted. You mean by that thing? He pointed upward,
• 2:25:55
  Speaker 1: and the lenses of the cameras followed his finger. Yes,
• 2:26:00
  Speaker 1: Ugswill growled, unhappily. Do all of you need a blueprint?
• 2:26:04
  Speaker 1: Do you think I can fight a fracas with that
• 2:26:06
  Speaker 1: thing dangling above me throughout the day hours? Do you
• 2:26:10
  Speaker 1: understand the importance of reconnaissance in warfare? His eyes glowered.
• 2:26:16
  Speaker 1: Do you think Napoleon would have lost Waterloo if he
• 2:26:19
  Speaker 1: had the advantage of perfect reconnaissance such as that thing
• 2:26:21
  Speaker 1: can deliver? Do you think Lee would have lost Gettysburg?
• 2:26:26
  Speaker 1: Don't be ridiculous, he spun on Baron's Wordling, who was
• 2:26:30
  Speaker 1: stuttering his complete confusion. As it stands, Baron hare knows
• 2:26:36
  Speaker 1: every troop dispensation. I make all I know of his
• 2:26:39
  Speaker 1: movements are from my cavalry scouts. I repeat, I am
• 2:26:43
  Speaker 1: no butcher, sir. I will gladly cross swords with Baron
• 2:26:47
  Speaker 1: Hair another day when I too have what do you
• 2:26:50
  Speaker 1: call that confounded things? Paul Gliders, Lieutenant Colonel Warren said eleven.
• 2:27:00
  Speaker 1: Major Joseph Mauser, now attired in his best off duty
• 2:27:04
  Speaker 1: category military uniform, spoke his credentials to the receptionist. I
• 2:27:09
  Speaker 1: have no definite appointment, but I am sure the Baron
• 2:27:12
  Speaker 1: will see me. He said, yes, sir. The receptionist did
• 2:27:17
  Speaker 1: the things that receptionists do, then looked up at him
• 2:27:19
  Speaker 1: again right through that door. Major Joe Mauser gave the
• 2:27:24
  Speaker 1: door a quick double rap and then entered before waiting
• 2:27:27
  Speaker 1: an answer. Balt Hare, in Mufty, was standing at a
• 2:27:32
  Speaker 1: far window, a drink in his hand rather than his
• 2:27:35
  Speaker 1: customary swagger stick. Nadine Hare sat in an easy chair.
• 2:27:41
  Speaker 1: The girl Joe Mauser loved had been crying. Joe Mauser,
• 2:27:45
  Speaker 1: suppressing his frown, made with the usual amenities. Bald Hare,
• 2:27:50
  Speaker 1: without answering them, finished his drink in a gulp and
• 2:27:53
  Speaker 1: stared at the newcomer. The old stair, the aloof stair.
• 2:27:58
  Speaker 1: An aristocrat looking at an underling, as though wondering what
• 2:28:02
  Speaker 1: made the fellow tick. He said, finally, I see you
• 2:28:07
  Speaker 1: have been raised to rank Major. Yes, sir, Joe said,
• 2:28:12
  Speaker 1: we are obviously occupied. Major. What can either my sister
• 2:28:17
  Speaker 1: or I possibly do for you? Joe kept his voice
• 2:28:21
  Speaker 1: even he said I wanted to see the baron. Nadine
• 2:28:26
  Speaker 1: Hare looked up, a twinge of pain crossing her face. Indeed,
• 2:28:32
  Speaker 1: Balt Hare said flatly, you are talking to the baron,
• 2:28:36
  Speaker 1: Major Mauser. Joe Mauser looked at him, then at his sister,
• 2:28:42
  Speaker 1: who had taken to her handkerchief. Again, consternation ebbed up
• 2:28:46
  Speaker 1: and over him in a flood. He wanted to say
• 2:28:49
  Speaker 1: something such as oh no, but not even that, could
• 2:28:53
  Speaker 1: he utter. Hare was bitter. I assume I know why
• 2:28:58
  Speaker 1: you are here, Major. You have come for your pound
• 2:29:01
  Speaker 1: of flesh. Undoubtedly, even in these hours of our grief,
• 2:29:06
  Speaker 1: I didn't know. Please believe you are so constituted that
• 2:29:10
  Speaker 1: your ambition has no decency. Well, Major Mauser, I can
• 2:29:15
  Speaker 1: only say that your arrangement was with my father. Even
• 2:29:20
  Speaker 1: if I thought it a reasonable one, I doubt if
• 2:29:23
  Speaker 1: I would sponsor your ambitions myself. Nadine here looked up wearily. Oh, Balt,
• 2:29:31
  Speaker 1: come off it, she said. The fact is the here
• 2:29:35
  Speaker 1: fortunes contracted a debt to you major. Unfortunately, it is
• 2:29:39
  Speaker 1: a debt we cannot pay. She looked into his face. First,
• 2:29:45
  Speaker 1: my father's governmental connections do not apply to us. Second,
• 2:29:50
  Speaker 1: six months ago, my father, worried about his health and
• 2:29:54
  Speaker 1: attempting to avoid certain death taxes, transferred the family stocks
• 2:29:58
  Speaker 1: into Balt's name and Bolt saw fit immediately before the
• 2:30:02
  Speaker 1: fracas to sell all vacuum Tube Transport stocks and invest
• 2:30:07
  Speaker 1: in hovercraft. That's enough, Nadine, her brother snapped testily, I see,
• 2:30:15
  Speaker 1: Joe said. He came to attention doctor Hare. My apologies
• 2:30:21
  Speaker 1: for intruding upon you in your time of bereavement. He
• 2:30:24
  Speaker 1: turned to the new baron Baron Hair, My apologies for
• 2:30:28
  Speaker 1: your bereavement. Balt Hare glowered at him. Joe Mauser turned
• 2:30:35
  Speaker 1: and marched for the door, which he opened then closed
• 2:30:38
  Speaker 1: behind him. On the street before the New York offices
• 2:30:42
  Speaker 1: of Vacuum Tube Transport, he turned and for a moment
• 2:30:46
  Speaker 1: looked up at the splendor of the building, well at
• 2:30:50
  Speaker 1: least the common shares of the concern had skyrocketed following
• 2:30:54
  Speaker 1: the victory. His rank had been up to major, and
• 2:30:57
  Speaker 1: Old Stonewall Cogswell had offered him a permanent position on
• 2:31:01
  Speaker 1: his staff in command of Aerial Operations, no small matter
• 2:31:05
  Speaker 1: of prestige. The difficulty was he wasn't interested in the
• 2:31:10
  Speaker 1: added money that would accrue to him, nor the higher rank,
• 2:31:14
  Speaker 1: nor the prestige for that matter. He turned to go
• 2:31:18
  Speaker 1: to his hotel. An unbelievably beautiful girl came down the
• 2:31:22
  Speaker 1: steps of the building. She said, Joe. He looked at her. Yes.
• 2:31:29
  Speaker 1: She put a hand on his sleeve. Let's go somewhere
• 2:31:33
  Speaker 1: and talk, Joe about what he was infinitely weary now
• 2:31:40
  Speaker 1: about goals. She said, as long as they exist, whether
• 2:31:45
  Speaker 1: for individuals or nations or a whole species, life is
• 2:31:49
  Speaker 1: still worth The living things are a bit bogged down
• 2:31:53
  Speaker 1: right now. But at the risk of sounding very trite,
• 2:31:56
  Speaker 1: there's tomorrow. End of Mercenary by Mack Reynolds.