Frank Herbert - High-Opp

“How would you like to have Glass, Gerard, Addington and company learn about your secret organization, your charts, your plans, your position as advisor to the Seps?”

The Bu-Psych chief paled.

“That’s a much better threat, isn’t it? If anything happens to me they will learn.” He paused for effect. “You will select the expert staff I have requested. Four men. More would cause delay. Outline to this staff exactly what they will be doing. Have them ready for me at a half-hour’s notice.”

O’Brien seemed in a trance. “Half an hour’s notice.” He swallowed. “You can’t…” He broke off, studied the look on Movius’ face. “Where will they report?”

“At the new Separatist headquarters. It’s under the street between here and the Bureau of Education Building. The entrance is in your sub-basement, conduit tunnel two on your plans. We’re using your building air-conditioning system.”

“Under my…”

“We’re also going out with your phones through a section of your switchboard.”

“But…”

“The Sep movement really started here, O’Brien. It’s only fair that it make its big bid from here.”

O’Brien sank into a chair.

“In case Gerard goes for The Coor’s deal, I want asylum in Bu-Psych,” said Movius.

O’Brien had trouble finding his voice. “Can’t do it,” he piped. “We haven’t the strength to fight an open…”

“Then Grace and I will hide in the new headquarters.”

“Grace and you…”

Movius glanced at his watch. “I’m due back at Gerard’s office right now.”

As he left the building, climbed into his car, Movius noted that it hadn’t been too difficult to turn the tables on the omnipotent O’Brien.

Upstairs in Bu-Psych, O’Brien was repairing Movius’ torn decision chart, replacing it on the wall.

Gerard leaned back in his chair, put a hand over the mouthpiece of his phone, glanced at Movius. He looked like a small bald devil sitting behind the big desk, Movius thought. Gerard said, “It’s…” He talked back to the phone. “Yes, I’m still waiting.” He leaned forward, scribbled on a slip of paper, “It’s Glass wanting to talk to me,” shoved the paper across the desk.

Movius bit a hangnail off his thumb, retrieved the paper. He glanced at it, tossed it back to the desk.

“Hello,” said Gerard. “Oh, hello, Helmut. Haven’t heard from you since last month’s conference…. Oh, I’ve been quite well, thank you. And you?… Good to hear it. What can I do for you?… Movius? Yes, I believe I have a man by that name working for me. His order came to us through the selector.” Gerard smiled at Movius as he listened. “Are you sure it’s the same man? You make him sound dreadful. Leader of the Seps? Goodness! Say… now that you remind me, wasn’t he once engaged to that blonde I saw with you at the Festival? I believe I heard some story about Movius throwing her over before you met her…”

Movius smiled at the fierce grin on Gerard’s face.

“Oh, that’s the way it was,” said Gerard. “I guess I had the story twisted. Well, what do you want me to do about him?” Gerard nodded, listened. “Oh, I couldn’t do that, Helmut. You should see the requirements I fed into the Sorter to get him. Why, they… Oh, you’ve seen his card. Well, then you understand when I say he’s a valuable man. I think this Sep business is nonsense… You don’t say… Have you really?” Gerard leaned back, stared at the ceiling, the phone held loosely against his ear. His expression became thoughtful. “I’ll tell you what, Helmut; let me consider it. I’ll call you back and let you know my decision.” He nodded. “Yes. Right away. Good opps.” He replaced the phone on its hook, looked at Movius pensively.

“He wants to trade you something attractive for my hide,” said Movius.

Gerard swung around to face his desk. “My own man in Addington’s job.”

“He’s finally gotten wise to Addington,” said Movius. “What does he propose to do with owl guts?”

“I can only guess. Hoist him out a window, maybe.”

Movius thought of the three men Gerard had caused to be dropped from the window, fought down a shudder. He took a deep breath. “Why not ask Glass if you can put me in Addington’s job?”

Gerard jerked his eyes up, suddenly leaned back and laughed.

The realization came to Movius that Gerard actually had not come to a decision on The Coor’s office. He said, “You know what this means, don’t you?”

The laughing stopped. “What?”

“Glass is spooked.”

“Because you knocked over a minor cog like Rafe Newton?” Gerard shook his head. “Even if Rafe was his nephew, don’t give yourself airs on that account.”

“Newton? I wasn’t thinking about Newton.” Movius fell silent, looked at his fingernails. What would temp the man? How much would Gerard believe? He believed in the loyalty index, certainly.

“You were saying,” prompted Gerard.

“I’ve assumed you might want to be Coordinator,” said Movius.

Steepled hands came up in front of Gerard’s mouth, masking his expression. “What ever gave you that idea?”

Movius set his face in what he hoped was a candid, loyal expression. “I figured that if you were Coordinator and I was say in charge of Bu-Trans and Bu-Con, both of us might get a decent night’s sleep.”

“You what?” Gerard leaned forward, hands flat on top of his desk.

“Glass is afraid of a Sep uprising. He knows the Seps are organized as they’ve never been before and are all ready to move.”

A crease appeared on Gerard’s forehead above his nose. He passed a hand across his bald head. “He made some crazy charge about you being the leader of the Seps.”

Here it is , thought Movius. He said, “That was no crazy charge. I am just that.”

Gerard arose half out of his chair, sank bank. He put a hand in his pocket.

“What would happen if there was a Sep revolt in which The Coor was killed?”

In a cautious tone, Gerard asked, “The Coor, Addington and a few others?”

“That’s right. One man would not be enough.”

An eager note crept into Gerard’s voice. “There are about fifty who would have to be eliminated.”

“You know them all, of course?” asked Movius.

“I could give you a complete list, including their habits and the easiest way to get them.” Gerard’s voice grew cool. “How could such a revolt be arranged and still…”

“They will do what I say without question,” said Movius. “They were completely disorganized before I took over.”

Gerard leaned forward, toyed with a stylus. “What did you plan to do?” he asked, looking at the stylus.

Movius pressed his hands against his legs to steady them. “I hadn’t planned any farther ahead than killing Glass until I hooked up with you.”

Gerard’s eyes glittered. “Now you want to make me Coordinator? What’s to keep you from just taking the top spot yourself if you know the way?”

Movius breathed a silent prayer to Gerard’s belief in the loyalty index. “You saved my life. Besides, what do I know about the job? You’ve served two terms in it.”

“So I have.” Gerard seemed to bask in a memory, suddenly frowned. “But that was before Glass decided he could pass out the job as a payment for services.”

“I propose we low-opp Glass,” said Movius.

Gerard came to a decision. He reached down, jerked up the phone. “Get me Helmut Glass at Com-Burs.” He waited. “Helmut, this is Warren Gerard…. Yes, I’ve decided not to accept. Movius is too valuable to me… No, I’m not holding out for more… Sorry, I haven’t any price to name… I don’t think that would be advisable at all, Helmut… Certainly I realize you’re the head of the government, but you have to obey the opps just like the rest of us. Movius was legally opped to me by the Sorter. He’s a legal government employee working in my department. He’s… You’re a fatuous bastard yourself, Helmut!” Gerard slammed down the phone.