The Dagger Affair - McDaniel David - Страница 23

He shrugged and went back to eating.

Between dinner and dessert, Baldwin began talking about his own history with Thrush — or the Hierarchy, as he invariably referred to it.

"I came to this country as soon as I could after the War ended. I was embittered against the world, and came into contact with an old superior officer of mine in New York. He recommended me for trial membership, and I donned the gray uniform first in 1921.

"Mr. Waverly, do you remember a gas called Thornite? It was a poison gas of a particularly vicious type, for the time. There was a sort of free-lance spy by the name of Kosloff who had gotten a copy of the formula and a sample of the liquid form of the gas. The Hierarchy decided to join in the rush of bidding for the information, and because of my training in chemical warfare I was assigned as an aide for the team of representatives we sent to Kosloff.

"The man was a clever spy, but a clumsy technician. The arranged demonstration was highly successful, except that the gas escaped control and Kosloff as well as most of the witnesses were killed by it. My experiences in Salonica stood me in good stead — I improvised a mask which held together long enough to enable me to secure the last few drops of the gas and escape from the island. When I brought back this story, and the sample, I was rewarded with immediate advancement. The sample was analyzed, and the gas was added to our arsenal. It has some properties which kept it in demand until fairly recently.

"The Hierarchy has never been so large there has been a lack of opportunity for advancement. As failure brings punishment, so does success bring reward. An efficient system, and one which continues to meet with pragmatic validation."

He looked around, and then said, "Gentlemen, my apologies. If I were allowed to continue, I would talk about myself and the Hierarchy all night. We do have business to discuss — business of a serious nature. I suggest we adjourn back to the sitting room for a trade of information. Irene, I think the dishes can be left for the time being. I want you to join the discussion."

When they returned to the front room, the sky outside was dark. A few stars could be seen, and the lights of the city were visible past the bulk of the park across the street. The gaslight seemed not only sufficient illumination, but quite appropriate for the setting. Baldwin filled his pipe, and handed the humidor to Waverly, who stoked his ancient briar and settled back contented.

It was Illya who spoke first. "Mr. Baldwin, I think our first serious topic of discussion should be Kim Keldur — his history, his psychology, and his probable behavior. As his former...employer, your records should contain a wealth of data on him."

"Quite correct. Robin here takes care of such things for me in addition to her medical duties. She is a true wonder as far as paperwork is concerned." He nodded to Robin, who began to quote as though from memory.

"Kim Keldur joined Thrush in the fall of 1962, worked his way up in his Satrap rapidly and attracted the attention of Thrush Central. He underwent the full battery of tests, and passed all except the psychological. In effect, they indicated he had strong aptitudes for theoretical mathematics and for destroying the world. His lack of desire for material goods or power, and his positive distaste for mankind and all its works, were the deciding factors in his stabilization at a high local level. While an excellent field and research worker, Thrush Central found him unfit to advance to a policy-making level as his personal goals were too far divorced from those of our organization.

"In January of 1965, Keldur and two fellow agents were flying from Hawaii to San Francisco when their plane disappeared. When no traces were found, they were presumed dead and their files closed. Then, some six months ago, a series of petty crimes were reported in various locations up and down the West Coast, utilizing techniques and equipment which our Intelligence unit recognized as those with which our agents were supplied. A complete security check was made at once, and no leaks were found.

"Among the gear on the lost airplane were three complete field agent's kits. There was also a good assortment of other specialized items which had been employed on the Hawaiian trip — many of which had been there by Keldur's specific request.

"When his name was given by the captured member of DAGGER, the likelihood that he was connected with these crimes passed minimum probability, and his sister was placed under surveillance. She had been unaware of his connection with Thrush, and was therefore not alert for us. We quickly found out Keldur was alive and active. We also found he had gathered a small organization of cohorts and supporters, and was in the process of developing some horrible weapon about which nothing could be discovered. Our field agents reported rumors which were generally disregarded as impossible regarding a field which could prevent ordinary weapons from functioning, or snuff fires, but no eyewitnesses could ever be found."

Baldwin spoke. "The interrogation of the DAGGER member was a signal failure. There is no record of anyone in our experience ever having been so thoroughly indoctrinated against revealing information. If we can take another DAGGER with any information worth digging for, we will probably take as much time and care as we would in disarming a live bomb."

"I would suggest ?" Illya began, but was interrupted by a shattering of glass as the front window burst inward, showering Baldwin's chair with shards and splinters. A bottle, clad in flame, hit the rug near the center of the room and exploded in droplets of fire.

"Hold your breath!" Baldwin said sharply, and did something with the arm of his chair. In the same moment that the bottle burst, spreading its flaming contents across the room, gray clouds of white smoke thundered from a number of small holes in the wall and billowed across the floor.

A few seconds later the room was freezing cold, and dark. The only light came dimly through the broken window, filtered by the peasoup fog which seemed to fill the room.

Irene was on her feet. "I'll get the air-conditioner running and clean this stuff out," she said, and was gone.

Napoleon ventured a cautious inhalation, and choked. The clouds were water vapor condensing in the bitter cold, and carbon dioxide, from some dozen or so concealed fire extinguishers inside the walls.

"The molotov cocktail," said Baldwin, in the tone of a lecturer concluding a demonstration, "is unsophisticated and old-fashioned, quite out of place in a modern, technical society. But it is quite practical, inexpensive, and extremely effective when properly used.

"My apologies, gentlemen, for the foul odors. Irene had this installed some time ago, because my pipe occasionally gets out of hand and I cannot move fast enough to escape a fire. One of the penalties of living in a wood-paneled house of the late Victorian era." There was a distant rising hum, and the air began to feel colder. But the fog began to move out the shattered front window.

Baldwin re-lit the gas lamp and surveyed the burned patches and extinguisher stains. "Efficient, gentlemen, and we probably owe our lives to it. But it does seem to have ruined the rug...."

Chapter 11: "We May All Be Outnumbered!"

The shards of the bottle had been picked up and saved with the greatest of care by Illya, and the next day he accompanied Waverly to the San Francisco office of U.N.C.L.E. While Waverly was in conference with Jerry Davis, the local chief of staff, he took the black and broken pieces of glass down to the lab and found a technician to help him in his work.