Mack Reynolds: Computer War

One yelled over, “Why didn’t you characters keep on talking? It was like being rocked to sleep.”

Gonzales headed for the electronics equipment in the corner, and Ross, looking after him, wondered what complicated Rube Goldberg devices they could have dreamed up to avoid detection by Mark Fielder’s Surety.

He turned to Tilly and said, “How many men can you gather?”

Tilly thought about it, twisting her mouth. “ ’Bout five hundred to a thousand, as of this morning. Maybe some of them have been killed or taken since then.”

Pater Riggin said, “We’ve got to get working on that speech. Wait for me here. I’ll have to check with Jim. He’ll be boiling, I’ve been gone so long from where I’ve got him stashed out.”

“Who’s Jim?” Combs growled.

Pater Riggin looked at him. “Number One.”

Combs grunted. “It never occurred to me the cloddy had a first name.”

Pater Riggin murmured, “Everybody has a first name—to the right person.” He added softly. “It’s been a task remaining that right person for so many years, waiting for this moment.” He was gone.

The room was a bedlam as men sought their weapons and other equipment.

Ross and Tilly Trice stood alone, momentarily, looking into each other’s faces.

“And when it’s all over?” he said.

“Like I said,” she told him.

It all hit him at once. He said in pure astonishment, “But you people have won. And you haven’t had the use of a single computer to figure it out”

She grinned at him mockingly.

“Oh, I’ve had a computer. So’ve we all.”

He scowled at her, uncomprehending.

She tapped her head.