Гарри Гаррисон - The QE2 Is Missing

With a tiny snap the lock broke. Klaus went through the door quickly and closed it behind him. He remembered what they had said about this girl’s ability with the pistol. Hopefully she did not sleep with the thing. Nevertheless, he raised the bar over his head at the same lime as his fingers felt for the light switch. If she had a gun, the bar would get her in the face as she pulled the trigger. There was some risk invovled, but Klaus liked risks; life was too easy at times.

The light came on and he hurled himself to one side, his arm swinging towards the bed.

He did not release the bar because the bed was empty. So was the rest of the room — and the bathroom when he looked inside.

Now what did this mean? Could she be in the bar? He did not think that likely, not at this time of night. Then where else? The Czech’s room; that answer was easy. Maybe they were staying together for mutual defense. Or maybe they were in bed together, screwing. That would be something to see! This was getting better all the time.

There was a Bible on the end table by the bed and he took it up and tore the thick cover off it. Finally one of these was good for something! When he closed the door the cover was over the broken lock, jamming the door shut. Now it appeared to be locked; he did not want to draw attention to the empty cabin until he had finished with these two.

It might be tricky if both of them were in Chvosta’s cabin. He listened at the door but could hear nothing. Better to break the lock, slam the door open and go through fast, knock on the light switch as he went by, then hit the deck in a roll. And stay there if she had the gun on him. This night’s business wasn’t worth getting killed for.

Taking a deep breath, he cracked the lock and went through the door with a rush. As he hit the floor he had a quick glimpse of the empty room and the bed, still made up for the day — and empty.

“Now what the hell…?”

It was exceedingly puzzling. He closed the door and prowled through the empty cabin. What was going on? There was a bottle of vodka on the table and he opened it and took a healthy drink, then grimaced. What foul stuff. Where were Chvosta and the girl? Not here and not in her cabin. Something not too good was going on. Klaus sensed it, more of an animal feeling than a rational conclusion. He felt the short hairs stir on the nape of his neck. Something very wrong was happening. Dr. Wielgus must hear of it at once. As he left he jammed the door shut, as he had done in the other cabin, and made his way towards the elevator. He pressed the button and while he waited he decided to make one more stop before reporting to Wielgus. He would get the Uruguayan doctor and have him look at Fritz again. This would disturb all of them in the Admiral’s suite which was a good thing. He wanted them all awake and bothered just as he was.

But no one came when Klaus knocked on the door. He knocked a second time and, suddenly, had a gut feeling that something was very wrong. He had not had this sensation in years — but he recognized it well enough. It was the worry you got when everything was quiet before an attack — or before the bombers came in on you. Something was happening on this ship and it was not good. He did not knock again but instead inserted the end of the bar and heaved. The door moved open slowly. The lights were on and the room was empty. He went in, the bar ready in his hand, closing the door and looking around. Nothing. No signs of disturbance or fuss. Just nothing. And all three men were gone. He grabbed for the phone and quickly dialled a number. It rang twice before Wielgus’s sleepy voice answered.

“Something is very wrong, Herr Doktor, very wrong indeed. I went to the cabin of the Czech and the girl and they are gone, not in their cabins…. “

“What are you saying, Klaus? Do you know what time it is?” Wielgus was annoyed, his night’s rest disturbed.

“Yes, sir. It is after four in the morning. But more important — there is no one in the suite of the Uruguayans. Not a soul.”

Wielgus was wide awake in an instant. Treachery and deceit were about him at all times. Now that they had passed over the diamonds, and the arms shipment was on the way, were these little tinpot dictators planning to squeeze him out? It was possible. But it wasn’t going to happen. They could play their murderous little games with one another — but not with him!

“Stay there!” he ordered. “The Paraguayan suite is right across from that one. Turn off the lights, try to see if anything is going on there. If these swine are trying to pull a fast one they have another guess coming. They must all be in on it, the Czech and all. They have set us up, that’s what they have done. Perhaps the munitions ship does not even exist and all of those cables were fakes! Verdammte! Stay there, observe, I’ll wake the others and get them here. We must plan. We must hit them before they discover that their little ruse has been discovered.”

Klaus clicked off the light and smiled into the darkness. The Doctor would appreciate him even more after this night’s business was over. He had uncovered a plot of some kind and would help to set things straight. After this had been done there would be gratitude and Klaus would see to it that it was financial gratitude in a large measure. Enough to buy a house, a barn, a few horses, some women. The future was going to be very, very good indeed.

He eased the door open a crack to look out into the empty corridor. Nothing. He held it that way, patiently, for a long time. He would stay on watch until he saw something or the Doctor phoned him back. He was on watch, on guard, defending his comrades. It was like the war again….

There was the sound of approaching footsteps and the mutter of men’s voices. He eased the door shut until they had passed, then opened it. There were two of them and they were using a key to let themselves into the Paraguayan suite. They only stayed a few minutes;

Klaus saw their faces clearly when they left. He hurried to the phone; Wielgus picked it up on the first ring.

“Two men,” Klaus said. “They went into the other suite, then left again. South Americans. It is very interesting, sir…. “

“What do you mean? Speak up.”

Klaus smiled, pleased with himself. “One of the men I have never seen before, though I am sure he is not with either government party. The other man, I have seen his picture often in Uruguay^ His name is Josep and he is the leader of the revolutionaries, the Tupamaros.”

“You are absolutely sure? Positive?”

“Without a doubt. My life upon it.”

“Then it can only mean one thing.” Seething anger filled Wielgus; his teeth grated together so loudly with uncontrollable rage that Klaus could hear the sound at the other end of the telephone conversation.

“This entire operation has been penetrated, spied upon by the resistance forces — and now they have captured these stupid play-acting politicians! They are after the diamonds, the arms ship, who knows — they must want everything. They shall not get it, Klaus. All they will get is a bullet. Stay there. Do you have a gun with you?”

“No, I’m sorry…”

“We’ll bring you one. We will hit them now, instantly, before they discover that they have been found out. Wait for us.”

Klaus, again at the door, heard his comrades coming down the corridor a few minutes later. He hurried silently to meet them.

“Nothing changed,” he reported.

“Good,” Wielgus said. He handed Klaus a pistol. His face was grim; the same expression mirrored by the four Nazis who stood behind him. “I have thought about what we must do while we were on the way here. I will knock on the door and say that I must talk to Stroessner about the arms shipment at once. They will open the door. You will take care of whoever opens the door____”