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The film ended and the lights came up again。 Inskipp steepled his fingers on the desk and leered over them。
〃For your information； Mr。 Know…it…all； this invasion succeededand so did the other ones before it。 This film was taken by a smuggler； one of our regular informants； whose ship was just fast enough to get away during the battle。〃
This was a stopper。 I dragged deeply on the cigar and considered what little I knew about interplanetary warfare。 There was little enough to know。 Because it just doesn't work。 Maybe a few times in the galaxy when local conditions are right； say a solar system with two inhabited planets。 If one planet is backward and the other advanced industrially the primitive one might be invaded successfully。 But not if they put up any kind of a real defense。 The distance…time relationships just don't make this kind of warfare practical。 When every soldier and weapon and ration has to be lifted from the gravity well of a planet and carried across space the energy expenditure is considerable； the transport demands incredible and the cost unbelievable。 If； in addition； the invader has to land m the face of determined apposition the invasion is impossible。 And this is inside a solar system where the planets are practically touching on a galactic scale。 The thought of warfare between planets at different star systems is even more impossible。
But； once again； it has been proven that nothing is basically impossible if people want to tackle it hard enough。 And things like violence； warfare and bloodshed are still hideously attractive to the lurking violence potential of mankind； despite the centuries of peace and stagnation。 I had a sudden and depressing thought。
〃Are you telling me that a successful interplanetary invasion has been acplished？〃 I asked。
〃More than one。〃 That evil smirk was decorating his face as he spoke。
〃And you and the League would like to see this practice stopped？〃
〃Right on the head； Jim my boy。〃
〃And I am the sucker who has been picked for the assignment？〃
He reached out； took my cigar from my numb fingers and dropped it into the ashtray…then solemnly shock my hand。 〃It's your job。 Go out there and win。〃
I slipped my hand from his treacherous embrace； wiped my fingers on my pants leg and grabbed back my cigar。
〃I'm sure that you will see that I have the best funeral the Corps can afford。 Now； would you care to squeeze out a few details or would you prefer to blindfold me and shoot me out in a one…way cargo rocket？〃
〃Temper； my boy； temper。 The situation seems to be quite clear。 There has been little word about this in the news media because of a certain political confusion surrounding the invasions； plus a rigid censorship by the planets under consideration。 As we have reconstructed itand good men have died getting this informationthe responsible world is named Cliaand； the third planet in the Epsilon Indi system。 There are two score planets orbiting this sun； but only three are inhabitable。 And inhabited。 Cliaand took over both the sister worlds some years ago； but we considered this no cause for alarm。 What is alarming is the fact that they have expanded their scope。 Interstellar conquest； heretofore considered an impossibility。 They have invaded and conquered five other planets in nearby systems and seem poised for bigger and better things。 We don't know how they are doing it； but they must be doing something right。 We have had agents on the conquered worlds but have learned little of value。 The decision has been made； a high level one I assure youyou would stand and salute if you heard some of the names of the people involvedthat we must get a man to Cliaand to root out the problem at the core of the woodpile and cut the Gordian knot。〃
〃Other than being contained in a mixed and disgusting metaphor I think the idea is a suicidal one。 Instead of this we could 。 。 。〃
〃You are going。 There is no possible way to wriggle out of this one。 Slippery Jim。〃
I tried。 But nothing worked。 I was given a copy of all the known details； a cortex recording of the language and the master key to a fast pursuit ship to take me there。 I returned gloomily too our quarters where Angelina； tired of doing her hair and her nails； was throwing a knife at a head…sized target on the far wall。 She was very good。 Even underhand； after a quick draw from her arm sheath； she could hit the black spot of either eye。
〃Let me get a pic of Inskipp；〃 I said。 〃It will make a more interesting target and one that you can get a degree of pleasure out of。〃
〃Is that evil old man sending my darling out on a job？〃
〃That dirty old goat is trying to get me killed。 The assignment is so top secret I can't tell a soul about it； particularly you； so here are all the papers； read them for yourself。〃
While she did this I slipped the Cliaand language recording into the stamping machine。 This recorded the material directly on my cortex without the boring and time consuming intermediary of any learning process。 The first session would take about a half an hour with a dozen or more shorter reinforcing sessions after that。 I would aid up speaking the language and having one hell of a headache from all the electronic fingering of my synapses。 But there was a period of total unconsciousness while the machine operated and that was just what I felt like at the moment。 I slipped the helmet down over my ears； settled on the couch and pressed the button。
There was a flicker of no time and Angelina was carefully lifting off the helmet and handing me a pill at the same instant。 I swallowed it and kept my eyes closed while the pain ebbed away。 Soft lips kissed mine。
〃They are trying to kill you； but you will not let them。 You will laugh and win and someday you will have Inskipp's job。〃
I opened one eye a crack and looked at her jubilant expression。
〃e home with my shield or on it？ Go to glory or the grave？ Are you worried about me？〃
〃All of the time。 But that is a wife's job。 I certainly cannot stand in the way of your career〃
〃I didn't know I had one until you told me just now。〃
〃and will do everything I can to help。〃
〃You can't e with me； for a very obvious and protruding reason。〃
〃I know that。 But I will be with you in spirit all the time。 How are you going to land on this world？〃
〃Board my nimble pursuit ship； e in straight and fast behind a radar screen； zing down into the atmosphere〃
〃And get blasted into your ponent atoms。 Here； read this report by the survivor of the last ship to try this approach。〃
I read it。 It was most depressing。 I threw it back with the others。
〃I heed the warning。 This planet appears to be militarized to the hilt。 I'll bet even the house pets wear uniforms。 Bulling in like that is approaching these people on their own terms； peting in the area where they are best organized。 What they are not organized against is a little bit of guile； some larceny； a smooth approach covering a devious attack。 Insinuate； penetrate； operate and extirpate。〃
〃All at once I am beginning not to like it；〃 my love said； frowning。 〃You will take care of yourself； Jim？ I don't think worrying would be good for me right now。〃
〃If you wish to worry； worry about the fate of this poor planet with Slippery Jim unleashed against them。 Their conquests are at an end； they are as good as finished。〃
I kissed her resoundingly and walked out； head high and shoulders back。
Wishing that I was one tenth as sure of myself as I had acted。 This was going to be a very rough one。
Chapter 4
My planning had been detailed； the preparations plex； the operation gigantic。 I had received more than one shrill cry of pain from Inskipp about the cost； all of which I dutifully ignored。 It was my neck in the noose； not his； and I was hedging all the bets that I could to assure my corporeal survival。 But even the most plicated plan is eventually pleted； the last details sewed up； the final orders issued。 And the sheep led to the slaughter。
Baaa。 Here I was； naked to the world； sitting in the bar of the intersystem spacer Kannettava； a glass of strong drink before me and a dead cigar clutched in my fingers。 Listening to the announcement that we would be landing on Cliaand within the hour。 I was naked； figuratively speaking of course。 It had taken an effort of will and strong discipline to force myself to leave every article of an illegal nature behind。 I had never done this before in my entire life。 No minibombs； gas capsules； gigli saws； fingertip drills； card holdouts； phone tappers。 Nothing。 Not even the lockpick that was always fixed to my toenail。 Or 。 。 。
I grated my teeth at the thought and looked about me。 The other revelers were knocking back the tax…free booze in a determined manner and none was looking at me。 Slipping my wallet from my pocket I touched the seam at the top。 And felt a certain stiffness。 Memory； how it cuts both ways； revealing and clouding。 My own subconscious was f igniting against me。 Only my conscious mind was at all enthusiastic about landing on Cliaand without any illegal devices。 I squeezed the wallet hard in the right way and the tiny but incredibly strong