Edward Llewellyn - Prelude to Chaos

“He won’t want to bolt. He wants to talk to me.”

“Then take him back among the trees so you can talk without being targets.”

She considered my suggestion. “And where will you be?” “Prone—behind Gramps’ grave. Covering Drummond and ready to shoot anybody who interrupts your conversation.” “Gavin-—I tell you—there’s no need for guns! Doctor Drummond’s not a violent man.”

“He’s a timid little man. But he’s got the guts to meet a convicted murderess at dusk in a deserted graveyard. I was watching his face when he heard your voice. He was either genuinely glad to hear you, or he’s a character actor of talent. He’s not trying to trap you. I don’t think he even knows that you’ve escaped from the Pen. He wants to believe they’ve let you go. And I’ll bet he hasn’t the sense to arrive armed.”

“Doctor Drummond has the sense not to own a gun!”

“Good for the Doctor. But the goat on a tether doesn’t know it’s bait for tigers—or jackals. If they arrive—then there’ll be shooting.”

“Gavin—I don’t want any shooting!”

“Nor do I. But my neck’s on the block beside yours. If the Feds arrive—bolt for that loose railing, push it closed behind you, and take off. When you reach that mess of cloverleaf traffic—get lost!”

“What about you?”

“I’ll have cover and a clear field of fire. The fence will delay ’em. I’ll only wait long enough to confuse, and then I’ll be away before they surround the cemetery. It’ll probably be hours before they realize we’re not in it. They won’t expect to be shot at. And nobody likes going in among trees at night after a marksman!”

“Promise you’ll head for Sutton Cove?”

“Maybe. But not tonight. Probably not for months. I’ve got my own job to do. And I don’t want to bring grief with me.” She touched my hand. “Gavin, aren’t you being theatrical?”

“Worst case theater. What do you want me to do with Drummond if the worst happens? Kill him? Slug him? Or leave him hiding among the graves?”

“You’re not to hurt him! He trusts me. I can’t leave him. If I have to run I’ll take him with me. I’ll drop him off when I’m safe.” She made a gesture. “But I don’t think there’ll be any need—”

“Dragging Drummond along will cut down your chances of getting clear.”

“Gavin, if things go wrong—if we lose the Light—then look after yourself. It’s because of me you’re here.”

“Judy, I’m here because I want to be.”

“If I’ve led Eugene Drummond into a trap, then I’ve got to get him out of it.”

I started to protest, then shrugged. She was probably right. I was being frightened by memory-shadows. “Okay! Eugene’s your baby. Make sure he snaps the gate locked behind him. Take him back out of sight. And, for God’s sake, stay out of sight. However safe it seems.” I kissed her.

She touched my cheek, then moved into the darkness under the trees. I went to lie behind Gramps’ grave, fitting the shoulder stock, the thirty centimeter barrel, and the night sights to my 9mm Luger. I was now armed with something close to a sniper’s carbine, and I started to estimate a range-table while waiting for Drummond.

He arrived exactly at seven and there was enough light for me to recognize his silhouette when he stepped from his car. He flashed the headlights four times, then stood waiting. I could almost smell his fear.

“Doctor Drummond! Over here!” Judith was calling to him from the cemetery gate. I cursed the silly girl.

“Judy!” He ran toward her across the parking lot, pushed the gate open, and took her in his arms. Judith remembered to slam it, but they remained beside it, looking into each oth-ers’ faces, overcome by God knows what emotions. I didn’t want to show myself to this Drummond and whoever else might be watching so I could only lie on the damp ground and damn them both.

“Judy! Thank God they let you out. And still you! I thought I’d never have a chance to explain.”

“They didn’t let me out, Eugene. I escaped.”

“You escaped from the Federal Penitentiary? How could you? Nobody escapes from that place!”

“I have. Mind unwiped. And you’re the first person I had to see. To tell you the truth.”

“I already know the truth. Or most of it. I realized the truth soon after they’d taken you away. I went to the Director. I went to everybody I could think of. All I could get from anybody was that, guilty or not, it was already too late. You were now a new person, living a new life. I was told not to try to find you. To leave you alone to be happy. And Paxin’s still covered by the Social Stability Act. Judy, they’re clamping down on everything to do with pharmaceuticals. This Impermease business—”

“Impermease is something else. It’s the facts about Paxin I broke out to publish. If I tell you where my data are hidden, what will you do with them?”

“What I’ve decided to do anyway. Go to Europe. Visit every research center where there are colleagues I can trust. Tell them the truth about Paxin. It’s Impermease they’re really worried about now, but that Paxin business is still damnable. And the way they murdered Audrey and Jim—the way they treated you—” He shuddered. “Horrible!”

“Who killed them?” Judith’s voice was fierce and too loud. “I don’t know. At the time I assumed it was you. May God forgive me! Then—after you’d said my life was in danger— that made me think.” Drummond stood back from her and spoke in clear clipped tones. “I don’t know who did the actual killing. But I’m certain about who ordered it. Gerald Fu-trell—the Attorney General! He’s the man who’s running America now, Judy. Only those of us who see the inside workings of the Administration seem to realize it. He’s got the President—all the cabinet—following his orders. He’s using the Impermease disaster to justify every kind of subtle tyranny—”

“Eugene, are you still in danger?”

“Me?” He gave a little laugh. “No more than anybody else. They left me alone after they’d frightened me into keeping my mouth shut. And they seem to have forgotten about Paxin. Even if the public knew what Paxin does, I doubt that they’d stop taking it” Through the dusk I could see him pass his hand across his forehead. “With things going the way they are—I’ve used it myself. It helps at times.”

“I’ve used it too. But not all the time.” She caught Drummond’s arm and turned him to face her, his back to the gate. “If I tell you where the report’s hidden, will you swear to publish?”

I began to relax, although I still wished she would move him away from the gate.

“I swear I’ll do my best to have it published. It’ll have to be in Europe. No American journal will touch anything that’s ever been covered by Social Stability.”

“If you can’t publish in Europe, will you swear to have it duplicated and copies mailed to everybody who’ll understand what my report means?” She was gripping him by both arms, almost shaking him.

A searchlight struck from across the parking lot. A bullhorn bellowed, “Hold it! Hands high! You’re both under arrest!”

The tableau held for an instant, then vanished as I shot out the searchlight. Somebody beside it shrieked. A hail of bullets came humming through the trees, ricochets screaming high into the night above the cemetery.

Judith had reacted the instant I fired, pulling Drummond down with her. Both were flat on the ground. She seemed unhurt. He was moaning, “Judy, I didn’t know. I had no idea!”

I scrambled to them. He was bleeding. “Back to your car, Judy!” I hissed. “Take off before they cut you off! I’ll follow in mine. Get moving while I cover.” I rolled to the nearest grave as another spotlight flashed on, probing erratically. I shot it out before it picked us up.