Michael Moorcock - A Cure for Cancer

Frank took notes and the European commanders stared in faint surprise at the C-in-C. Those nearest the door were already leaving and the others were rising from their chairs.

'American love, American humour, Anierican health, American beauty, American virility...'

The last general quietly closed the door behind him and General Cumberland raised his head at the sound. '

'Have they deserted us, Frank?'

'I think they got the picture, general. I think their confidence is won.'

'I hope so, Frank. I tried to raise their morale. It sometimes seems to be the hardest job. They're all fairies, of course. Decadence is a terrible thing to witness. But maybe if we improve their conditions — give them a chance...'

They'll pull through.'

'God willing, Frank.'

When Frank came back Jerry was still looking at General Cumberland whose lips moved as he scribbled rapidly in a notebook.

Frank stood beside Jerry and watched for a while. Then he turned the general off.

'It's rotten for him, really.' Jerry was sympathetic.

'He takes it well. The responsibility.' Frank crossed to the window and peered in the direction of St James's Park. 'Sometimes it seems there'll never be an end to it, Jerry. Or a beginning, in one sense, I suppose. There's so much to do — and so little time.'

True.'

'! hope you're not brooding on our differences any more. After all, if brothers can't fall out occasionally, who can?'

'It all depends, a bit, on your position, Frank.'

Frank shrugged and spread his thin hands. 'You know me, Jerry. It's easy for you.'

'It is easier. You've got the heat death to contend with. I've always granted you that, Frank.'

'After all, what is a memory?'

'Perhaps nothing more than a hologram.'

'Exactly. Remember that dream of mine when we were young? A hologram on every billboard. A billboard the length of every street. A grid of streets that covered the globe...' Frank shrugged. 'But it didn't prove to be as simple as that, did it, Jerry?'

'That's the difference between you and me. Where's my machine?'

'It's a question of cycles, I suppose.'

'Or equilibrium.' Jerry rested his hand on his vibragun. 'Come along, Frank.'

'You'd never get out, Jerry. And you'd lose a lot of potential friends.'

'I don't need friends.'

'You don't need enemies, either. I only want to strike a bargain with you. It could make us both rich — and extremely powerful. You've got to look to the future, old man.'

'I'm not too happy about these artificial divisions, Frank. I want to look at it all at once. I don't like the way you and your allies slice up time.'

'Somebody's got to do the dirty work.'

Jerry drew his gun. Frank drew his gun.

Jerry sighed. 'There doesn't seem a lot of point. Couldn't you just tell me where the machine is?'

'You tell me what it is, then.'

'It's a simple diffusion device,' lied Jerry. 'A randomizer. Nothing complicated.'

'It replicates conditions in the Shifter, is that it?'

'That's it.'

'Well, it wouldn't suit me, Jerry. I've never had much sympathy for that sort of thing. You know me — live and let live -but it wouldn't...'

Jerry raised his gun.

'Well, it wouldn't! Christ — there are much better ways of having fun.'

'Where's the machine?'

'Deny and Toms Famous Roof Garden.'

'Thanks,' said Jerry and waited until Frank had put his gun back. 'Let me know something I can do for you.' He holstered his own vibragun.

'Nothing at this stage,' Frank said, riding swiftly into the new situation. 'You haven't got much of a chance of getting to that machine or of getting out of London alive. But if you should manage both things, then it's quite likely I'll be in a difficult position and you'll owe me a favour, won't you.'

'You've mellowed, Frank.'

'I'm coming apart, Jerry. I'm desperate.'

'It seems to be doing you good.' Jerry grinned. 'You're more mature.'

Frank sniffed. 'Call it what you like. I call it caution. You have to look after yourself when you get into my condition.'

'Well, let's hope I make it to Derry and Toms.'

Frank glanced at his watch. 'You just might, if they don't get around to that sector right away. I'm off to Milton Keynes in a few minutes. That's our new base. The general thinks it's cleaner. No population, you see. They never had a chance to fill it.'

'Sure. Well, don't take any wooden nickels.'

'Not from you, Jerry.'

'I'll be off, then.'

Jerry opened the door and the swords clashed under his nose.

'Let him through,' said Frank in a peculiar voice.

Jerry closed the door and looked up and down the corridor. He frowned as he contemplated the rigid guards and then came to a decision.

It was just as well to be on the safe side, to give himself some sort of edge. Frank was so shitty.

'If you ask me,' he said quietly, 'he's not what he seems to be. He's all bits and fucking pieces.'

He trod the soft carpets. The sunlight poured through the big. window at the far end of the corridor and through it Jerry could see the green and gold of quiet autumn trees.

It looked a nice day for a picnic.

It wasn't far to Derry and Toms, but the napalm was coming on heavy as Jerry drove west to the sound of Ronald Boyle's recorded voice booming in even tones from loud speakers mounted in every flying thing. BURN OUT THE CANCER BURN OUT THE CANCER BURN OUT THE CANCER BURN OUT THE CANCER BURN OUT THE CANCER BURN OUT THE CANCER The day was grey; the sunlight blocked by the planes whose steady roar echoed through the city. BURN OUT THE CANCER BURN OUT THE CANCER BURN OUT THE CANCER BURN OUT THE CANCER BURN OUT THE CANCER BURN OUT THE CANCER BURN OUT THE CANCER The napalm sheets kept falling.

BURN OUT THE CANCER BURN OUT THE CANCER BURN OUT THE CANCER BURN OUT THE CANCER BURN OUT THE CANCER BURN OUT THE CANCER BURN OUT THE CANCER Jerry waited impatiently at Knightsbridge for the lights to change. Several buildings, including the recently rebuilt barracks of the Royal Horse Guards, were beginning to burn.

BURN OUT THE CANCER BURN OUT THE CANCER BURN OUT THE CANCER BURN OUT THE CANCER BURN OUT THE CANCER BURN OUT THE CANCER BURN OUT THE CANCER He decided to go through the park and turned right. As he did so the first B52s came in low, streaming clouds of defoliants and making a thick fog that reduced visibility to a few feet.

Jerry slowed down and switched to his own air supply, turned his most powerful lamps into the swirling white mist, and kept going. He could see just far enough ahead to avoid hitting any large obstacles. Derry and Toms was in Sector D-7 and this was Sector G-6. Depending on their sweep, he had a little time before they started on D-7.