The Rainbow Affair - McDaniel David - Страница 17

"Illya Kuryakin, of the U.N.C.L.E.," he said, as if inscribing a tag for an exhibit.

Illya gave him a slight nod of acknowledgment, and said, "And you must be Johnnie Rainbow."

Unexpectedly his host smiled. "My nom de guerre. Perhaps too melodramatic, but practical. It gives me an aura of the elusive, the imaginary, and the harmless - valuable first impressions in my business."

"And your business is...?"

"Selling advice and ideas, Mr. Kuryakin. And occasionally implementing ideas myself. I am akin to a theatrical producer in many respects."

"Your shows have short runs."

"But highly successful, both critically and at the cash box. And what more can an artist ask?"

Illya nodded. "I have heard nothing but praise for the recent gold robbery - except from Rothschild's."

"Admittedly prejudiced critics. But Mr. Kuryakin, I did not have you brought here to discuss the art of robbery. You and your partner have been seeking me with admirable fortitude for the last few days, and have attracted the attention of a great number of people. During this time I found out quite a bit about you and your organization, the U.N.C.L.E. And two days ago I decided to meet you."

"So you picked up my partner at the recent entertainment in New Bond Street and hustled him across England, only to see him avoid the engagement."

"In point of fact, this was one of the matters I wished lo bring up," said Johnnie Rainbow. He slid open a desk drawer and rummaged about in it. "Please accept these as tokens of my unwillingness to cause you unnecessary hardship."

He brought up from the drawer and laid on the desktop a familiar silvery cylinder, and a large black automatic pistol, still in its shoulder holster. The butt of the automatic had a white plastic initial "S" inlaid.

"Your partner's pistol and his communicating device. You will be allowed to take them with you when you leave, and return them to him when he returns to London tomorrow afternoon."

"I thank you on his behalf," Illya said uneasily. "But you could have had a messenger drop them by."

"I could have - and would, if I had no further interest in you or your partner. But I have found myself in an interesting position, and wish to discuss it with you."

"I'm flattered."

"Don't be. I greatly prefer to keep my own counsel. But I have an offer to make you, and you cannot consider it adequately until you have a complete grasp of the background."

"You understand that I cannot speak for any of the national agencies of law enforcement."

"Of course. Your powers are restricted by your nature. Local authorities generally cooperate with you, but cannot be forced to do so. You cannot officially arrest any one, but you can take them into custody and have them bound over for arraignment by governmentally constituted tribunals. I am also aware that you seldom deal with individual criminals - that you, personally, feel that your current assignment is somewhat beneath you."

Illya's face scarcely betrayed a fraction of his surprise, but Rainbow caught the flicker and smiled. "I am neither a mind-reader nor a magician, Mr. Kuryakin - merely an adept observer. But hear me out, and you should be able to guess my offer before I have stated it specifically."

The Russian agent settled back in the chair and crossed his legs as Johnnie Rainbow began.

"Over a year ago I was first contacted by representatives of an organization which I have reason to believe is not unknown to you - their acronym is Thrush. They openly admire my work, my organizational ability, my modest talent for timing. They told me something of their work, and I will admit to being most intrigued. And they offered me a position in their hierarchy.

"Their offer was moderately attractive, and I gave it some thought before rejecting it. My position here is, I feel, an enviable one. I am effectively at the top of my profession, popular, sought-after, respected. I also wield a fair amount of power, and am completely autonomous in my operations. If I were to agree to join Thrush, I would lose a good deal of the independence of action, which is very precious to me.

"I told their representative my decision, he increased their offer. At this moment, were I to accept, I would be directly in line for what they call their Supreme Council. But I do not plan to accept.

"There are many things about Thrush of which I do not approve. They suffer from the flaw of many large corporations, which is a lack of any human qualities in their relations with others. Everything is done strictly by orders. There seems to be no room for individual initiative."

Illya cleared his throat. "This is only true to a certain extent," he said. "In many Satraps, individuality is very highly prized - at least, by those in charge."

Rainbow shook his bead. "I know only the few men I have seen. They act very strangely, and seem incapable of making decisions on their own." He pondered a moment. "They seem very foreign.

"I don't think of myself as a prejudiced man, Mr. Kuryakin. But I do consider myself an Englishman first and foremost. The Crown was my only parent, from an orphanage through the Royal Army. Now, these Thrush people have been making noises about taking over everything, unifying the whole world under their own control. And I will not be a part of such a scheme. I fought against Hitler - working my way up through the ranks as an officer and a gentleman preventing other people from getting the whole world under their thumbs."

"The Army no longer seems to hold any warm feelings for you," Illya pointed out.

Rainbow grimaced slightly. "Perhaps not. I made a mistake - and I was quite justly punished for it. I defaulted in a position of responsibility. It was my only error in nineteen years of faithful service. I have never since proved false to an oath given.

"But Thrush has not proven easy to refuse. In the last several months they have been presenting me with samples of their technology for use in my own operations -"

"Those gas guns you used in the Rothschild job?"

"Those were part of a recent shipment, yes. But they have given me as well many items of hardware which I have as yet found no use for. I do not wish to become obligated to these men whom I distrust, yet their importunity is becoming annoying. They have become increasingly insistent on my agreeing to work with - or for - them, and refuse to entertain the thought that I sincerely might not wish to.

"My true headquarters is still maintained in utmost secrecy - this lovely manor house is only on loan for a short period for various conferences concerning an operation of great complexity and commensurate reward. So far, Thrush is only able to contact me by devious channels, which is the way it will remain."

Rainbow leaned back in his chair and reached for a cigar. He extended the humidor towards Illya, who shook his head politely, then clipped one end neatly, inserted it beneath his moustache, and ignited the other end. When a blue haze had formed around his head, and silence had filled the room for a good two minutes, he spoke again.

"This, then, is my position. I am being wooed by this distasteful but stubborn group, Thrush. You have come here after me, I believe, but you maintain a constant interest in Thrush. I would like to suggest that you go after the larger game, and leave me alone."

Illya nodded. "I understand your point of view," he said. "But you admit to some contact with these recruiters - could you not give us perhaps some more material assistance, such as names, addresses, descriptions?"