and authorized by Colonel Bowman.”
“That’s correct,” said Wilkins, stepping from a corner. “All is in readiness for the attack.”
Gilcrest waved a hand.
“Then I see no cause for alarm, gentlemen,” hesaid. “I’m confident that the Colonel’s recon transmission will be soon forthcoming, and the attack can commence.”
Wilkins seemed about to reply, but Hadrian spoke first.
“Those who side with me are greater in number than you think, Minister.”
“Oh?”
“Your influence in Government ebbs with every hour you delay in giving the citizens of Chicago what they want.”
Cassandra took a step forward.
The movement was not overlooked by Hadrian. Attempting a painful smile, he said: “My observation may have been unfortunate, but it is nonetheless true. However, it was intended merely as an observation.”
Gilcrest stirred in his chair. “You know, Hadrian—”
“But for now,” the other man interrupted him, “there is much to do. We must prepare for the attack.”
Hadrian gestured to his assistant and they walked out without another word.
Cassandra’s jaws snapped in anger.
“That arrogant—”
The old man chuckled and looked up at his youthful protector.
“Perhaps it is just as well that he left, Cassandra. I didn’t know what I was going to say to him anyway.”
“But, sir …”
Cassandra came around the chair to face him. She was momentarily startled at the age that had seemed to gather around his eyes.
“Sir, if I may express an opinion.”
“By all means.”
“Well, Minister, it is obvious what kind of man Hadrian is … and what he’s doing.”
“Extremely,” Gilcrest agreed, sighing. “I’m afraid political maneuvering has lost all subtlety in these times. The war fever allows him the priviledge of harboring ambition quite openly.”
“Then you agree …”
He patted her hand: an archaic gesture.
“I’ve watched Hadrian at Tactics sessions for some time now. Seen how he expresses his views in such a way that he convinces the other ministers he’s speaking for them as well. Hell, he convinces
me
half the time.”
“I still feel—”
He got to his feet with some effort and took Cassandra by the shoulders. Then, to her surprise, he drew her close and kissed her on the forehead.
“Cassandra,” he said quietly, “I’d like you to do something for me.”
She could only nod.
“I want you to go down to Records and pull the bio tapes on Hadrian. You might as well check up on that assistant of his, too … Wilkins. Okay?”
“Now, sir?”
“Yes. Right now.”
“But, sir, with all respects, you can tap Records for that information yourself … right from this room.”
“I’m aware of that, Guardian,” he said. “But all Records searches are logged, and I’d like this one kept confidential. Think you can slip in and out unobserved?”
“Of course. And I’m sorry, sir.”
He smiled, and she was touched by its warmth. “Just do as I ask. No reason why Hadrian should be the only one with tricks up his sleeve.”
“Pardon, sir?”
The old man chuckled as he walked her to the door. “An expression I heard once, when I was a boy. Leave it to me to date myself like that, and in front of an attractive young woman. Probably ruined my chances for sure.”
She turned at the door and looked at him through lowered lashes.
“Don’t be so sure, sir,” she said.
He laughed again and watched her walk down the corridor and then turn out of sight.
Gilcrest went back into his study and scanned the row of books on the shelves. He was looking for one in particular, one very old and —
It was a slip of paper.
Gilcrest bent closer, peered.
The paper had been placed between two old volumes, with enough extending so that he’d be sure to see it. He pulled it out and opened it, knowing what it was before reading the words.
They’d drawn a crude map, and written instructions on finding the place where his wife was being held. They wanted him to
“That’s correct,” said Wilkins, stepping from a corner. “All is in readiness for the attack.”
Gilcrest waved a hand.
“Then I see no cause for alarm, gentlemen,” hesaid. “I’m confident that the Colonel’s recon transmission will be soon forthcoming, and the attack can commence.”
Wilkins seemed about to reply, but Hadrian spoke first.
“Those who side with me are greater in number than you think, Minister.”
“Oh?”
“Your influence in Government ebbs with every hour you delay in giving the citizens of Chicago what they want.”
Cassandra took a step forward.
The movement was not overlooked by Hadrian. Attempting a painful smile, he said: “My observation may have been unfortunate, but it is nonetheless true. However, it was intended merely as an observation.”
Gilcrest stirred in his chair. “You know, Hadrian—”
“But for now,” the other man interrupted him, “there is much to do. We must prepare for the attack.”
Hadrian gestured to his assistant and they walked out without another word.
Cassandra’s jaws snapped in anger.
“That arrogant—”
The old man chuckled and looked up at his youthful protector.
“Perhaps it is just as well that he left, Cassandra. I didn’t know what I was going to say to him anyway.”
“But, sir …”
Cassandra came around the chair to face him. She was momentarily startled at the age that had seemed to gather around his eyes.
“Sir, if I may express an opinion.”
“By all means.”
“Well, Minister, it is obvious what kind of man Hadrian is … and what he’s doing.”
“Extremely,” Gilcrest agreed, sighing. “I’m afraid political maneuvering has lost all subtlety in these times. The war fever allows him the priviledge of harboring ambition quite openly.”
“Then you agree …”
He patted her hand: an archaic gesture.
“I’ve watched Hadrian at Tactics sessions for some time now. Seen how he expresses his views in such a way that he convinces the other ministers he’s speaking for them as well. Hell, he convinces
me
half the time.”
“I still feel—”
He got to his feet with some effort and took Cassandra by the shoulders. Then, to her surprise, he drew her close and kissed her on the forehead.
“Cassandra,” he said quietly, “I’d like you to do something for me.”
She could only nod.
“I want you to go down to Records and pull the bio tapes on Hadrian. You might as well check up on that assistant of his, too … Wilkins. Okay?”
“Now, sir?”
“Yes. Right now.”
“But, sir, with all respects, you can tap Records for that information yourself … right from this room.”
“I’m aware of that, Guardian,” he said. “But all Records searches are logged, and I’d like this one kept confidential. Think you can slip in and out unobserved?”
“Of course. And I’m sorry, sir.”
He smiled, and she was touched by its warmth. “Just do as I ask. No reason why Hadrian should be the only one with tricks up his sleeve.”
“Pardon, sir?”
The old man chuckled as he walked her to the door. “An expression I heard once, when I was a boy. Leave it to me to date myself like that, and in front of an attractive young woman. Probably ruined my chances for sure.”
She turned at the door and looked at him through lowered lashes.
“Don’t be so sure, sir,” she said.
He laughed again and watched her walk down the corridor and then turn out of sight.
Gilcrest went back into his study and scanned the row of books on the shelves. He was looking for one in particular, one very old and —
It was a slip of paper.
Gilcrest bent closer, peered.
The paper had been placed between two old volumes, with enough extending so that he’d be sure to see it. He pulled it out and opened it, knowing what it was before reading the words.
They’d drawn a crude map, and written instructions on finding the place where his wife was being held. They wanted him to
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