[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

verdict as Bragen. And now Bragen held Quinn s post.
 We could take over the colony now, she suggested. She
licked her lips in anticipation of the event.
 No, Bragen said flatly.  No, it has to be absolutely
right. Do you think I want to take over a colony full of
rebels, Janley?
 I don t understand, she confessed.  Why put me in with
the rebels, then, and get me to help them?
He smiled coldly.  It s perfectly simple. With your skills
and appeal, you ve been able to build up the rebels. Not too
much, just enough to stir them up so that they can create
the right amount of trouble to get rid of Hensell. And
then, he said, swinging his feet up on to the polished desk,
 then we crush them. Without your leadership their
backbone will crumble and it will be a simple matter for
my men to crush them  publicly. The colony will be
grateful, the corporation will he grateful, and I ll be the
new Governor.
Janley smiled. It sounded perfect.  And we will rule the
planet, she said softly.
 Precisely. Bragen returned her smile.  So you just carry
on encouraging our ignorant friends. He nodded at the
wrapped bundle.  Is that the thing you told me about? Can
you persuade the rebels that this will help them?
 I m sure of it. Janley unwrapped the device, revealing
the gun-stick that Lesterson had carefully removed from
the activated Dalek.  Valmar thinks that he can work in a
switch that will turn this Dalek weapon on and off.
Bragen laughed.  It s amazing what people will fall for,
he sneered. Valmar was the driving force behind the rebels
 a brilliant, creative engineer. He had made only one
mistake falling in love with Janley. He believed her
implicitly. Lying convincingly was one of Janley s greatest
talents.
 It really works, Janley replied. She tapped the sleek
barrel of the gun.  It killed Lesterson s assistant Resno.
Bragen swung his legs from the desk and stood up. He
eyed the gun with new respect.  Did it, indeed?
 Yes. But if we attach a switch, we ll be able to control
its power.
 Excellent. A real weapon will make the rebels more of a
threat, and cement your position with them He considered
for a moment.  And does Lesterson know how powerful
this device is ?
 No. Lesterson believes that Resno s simply shaken up,
that he s taking a few days off under Thane s care, and is
resting.
Bragen nodded. As ever, Janley had planned well.  And
the body?
 Valmar disposed of it in one of the mercury pools. It
won t be found unless we wish it. Janley gave a tight-
lipped smile.  Lesterson was the indirect cause of Resno s
death. It s a good hold to have over him if he makes
trouble. She rewrapped the gun.  I ll give this to Valmar,
then?
 Yes. Bragen dismissed the matter, his mind clearly on
other things.
 When do we move? Janley asked. Power was so close to
being in her grasp, she was getting greedy for action.
 Not quite yet, Bragen replied. Seeing the
disappointment in her eyes, he added:  I need another card
in my hand. The Examiner bothers me.
 That ridiculous man? Janley scoffed.  I thought Quinn
was the only danger to our plans.
 Not any more. Bragen rubbed his chin, deep in
thought.  And don t dismiss the Examiner as a fool. A lot
of that s merely an act to disarm suspicions. He wouldn t
be where he is today if he were really that idiotic. What we
need is something else, some other card in play... Then the
answer came to him. A wolf-like smile slowly spread across
his features as he carefully told Janley what she had to do.
 I told you they wouldn t let you see Quinn, Ben
grumbled, following Polly down the latest corridor. The
place was beginning to get on his nerves, it was so bleak.
Every corridor looked like the last, without individuality
or interest.
 Then we ll have to talk to somebody else, won t we?
Polly replied firmly.  The Doctor is relying on us to get
him the background information he needs about the rebels
while he concentrates on the Daleks.
Ben hated it when Polly got into one of her moods.
Sometimes she could get quite bossy, especially when she
was on one of her crusades. She was quite determined to
vindicate Quinn and get him freed, that much was obvious.
 So, who else is there? he asked.  We can hardly ask
Hensell to tell us. And Bragen s the Security Chief  he
won t admit that there s any problems he hasn t solved.
Polly gave him a cheerful smile.  Then we ll have to talk
to Thane, won t we?
 The medic? Ben considered the suggestion.  You may
have something there, Duchess. People tell all their aches
and pains to their doctors, don t they? But do you think
she ll see us?
Polly halted beside the community notice board.  I
know she ll see us, she replied brightly. She tapped a piece
of paper on the board.  I spotted this last time we walked
past. It s a note from her asking you, me and the Doctor to
stop by for a check-up. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]