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and place for a trip point."
Moosic was not pleased at that. "Am I so easy to read?"
"In many ways we all are, Mr. Moosic. Don't take it so hard. Had you tripped
in any other time or place, I might never have found you. Even if you'd shown
up here after that, I'd merely know an enemy agent was here, not you.
But come. Let us be off. I'm afraid I'm overstaying my welcome in this period
even now, and our power is far more limited than yours. Shall we get your belt
now?"
"I don't think so. It'd lead you right back to the base, which you've already
caused to jump around. Even if they could escape again, I doubt if I'd be any
good in the ten years it'd take them to get the power back on.
No, I think you might as well shoot me now and be done with it."
Eric Benoni's manner was such that it was impossible to determine through the
cool, aristocratic tone if he was serious or sarcastic, but he at least
sounded surprised. "I have no intention of shooting you, Mr.
Moosic, unless you make it an imperative. I
could, however, use rather un-pleasant means to make you reclaim that belt and
give it to me."
Moosic returned a sardonic smile. "So why haven't you? Partly because you've
overstayed your welcome in this time frame, I'd say, and are in very close
danger of getting assimilated here yourself. Those methods take time. And
partly because you know, as I do, that this body couldn't stand very much
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before it gave put."
"Brave talk. You're going noble on me, and that's unbecoming. However, I will
be honest enough to say that you are correct in both assumptions. I can waste
no more time here, nor can you stand harsh methods."
He turned to one of the gargoyles. "Strap a belt on him!"
With those guns trained on him, Moosic couldn't argue with them. He allowed
the belt to be strapped to his waist because there was no alternative. "Where
are we going? To make me a healthier torture victim?''
he asked the blond man.
"Well, yes and no. If you think I'm going to take the risk on assimilation
just to get you in better shape, you are wrong. Too chancy. Come. Activate!"
he commanded. The belt must have been voice actuated, because every-thing
blacked out and he was falling once more.
Ultimately, the world returned, a world of artificial light. It was not any
place he'd been to before, but he could guess what it was. There was a delay
of sorts on his belt as well, because they were all there just waiting for him
to materialize.
He materialized, of course, as the prematurely aged and terminally ill Moosic
of the island.
There was no mistaking Benoni's shock and surprise at seeing him like this. He
sighed. "Well, now it's clear why you required a trip point."
"Failed again," Moosic almost taunted him, feeling pretty good about it
despite his desperate situation.
"This body's in at least as bad shape as the other one." He looked around.
"Your base in the Safe Zone, I
presume?"
Benoni nodded. "Yes. Exactly so. Founded, I might add, only two decades after
those first experiences, as soon as they had the capability. The ultimate
retreat and escape for the rich and powerful when and if the bombs are
launched. The world's most luxurious, and secure, bomb shelter. Never used for
what it was intended, of course, but still here." He sighed. "So what are we
to do with you, Mr. Moosic? I suspect we could easily gain the location of the
belt from you, but we could hardly force you to go up, retrieve it, and hand
it to us. Either your body or your mind would give, and you are a trained
security agent." He thought for a moment. "Perhaps a different tack is
warranted."
"You're going to be my buddy now, right?"
"I wouldn't insult you like that. But consider. Why am I doing this? Money?
What use is money to a nightsider? Power? What sort of power am I wielding
beyond what I could have by other means?''
"I assume you're a soldier doing your duty as you see it."
He nodded. "Exactly! But unlike you, I have had an advantage. I have been on
both sides in this terrible conflict."
That piqued Ron Moosic's interest. "Both sides?"
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