|
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
the plight of the native tribe. This was, of course, before Sapara threw out all the foreign journalists who would have spread the story around the world. He smiled sadly. All our plans fell when we were arrested, in the middle of the night, by Sapara s City Guards. Sapara thinks he s creating Nazi Germany here, Dr. Constantine added in a soft, weary tone. He has his version of the storm troopers, complete with fanatical overlord and bone-breaking training. How do you fight a man like that? he added heavily. I don t know. But I hope someone can. While she spoke she was looking around at the tops of the cells. Oh, there are no cameras here, Dr. Constantine said. We checked that out the minute we were installed here, several months ago. They don t have the money for surveillance, or for most city services, since Sapara is building his new mansion. Every penny goes to its construction. It looks like a palace, which is probably what he had in mind. Yes, we have one guard. He s old and fat and he doesn t like his job. He does like us, Dr. Fitzhugh added with a chuckle. I think he d let us out if we had anyplace to go. We don t, of course, except to our homes, where they d pick us up in a minute as soon as they realized we were gone. He glanced at Clarisse. As revolutionaries, I m afraid we leave a lot to be desired. Health concerns kept us both out of the military, so we have no training whatsoever. That makes three of us, Clarisse said quietly. I do wish my head would stop hurting. Dr. Fitzhugh frowned. He asked her several questions about her symptoms, but finally he smiled and nodded. Only a mild concussion, I think, although we d need an MRI scan to be sure. He shook his head. I did study medicine in my youth, but I thought I d like sleeping nights, so I switched to botany. No emergencies, you see. Clarisse smiled. I don t have any meds with me. They took my ID, my credit cards, cash, everything I had on me, including some meds for nausea and headaches. Lovely man, Sapara, Dr. Constantine said pleasantly. I hope we can repay his hospitality one day. He looked around. At that, this place is far more grand than the room I lived in while I was at university. Clarisse laughed. So did Dr. Fitzhugh. When I feel better, she said finally, perhaps we could discuss travel plans? The two men looked at each other. Travel plans? She smiled. I have friends. They turned to her, curiously. We might wish to pay them a visit, she clarified. I don t know the way, but I think I can find someone who will. Would it be possible for you to speak with some of your students if we managed to escape? Dr. Fitzhugh chuckled. Oh, yes. I memorized the phone numbers. If the phones still work, he added blithely. Since Sapara nationalized the phone company and put his own people in charge, it only works sporadically. Like his military communications, from what I ve been told. His computers are still running outdated programs, he said, and burst out laughing. Amazing that they haven t been hacked, like those in Iran. Dr. Constantine shrugged. As if any true hacker worth his salt would lower himself to hack an obsolete computer system. Dr. Fitzhugh pursed his lips. In fact, one of my students is a hacker with imagination and style. He actually suggested putting a virus into the military computer system here. I denied him the effort, thinking it would get us all arrested. He gave Clarisse a wicked grin. I do believe it might be warranted, now, however. Clarisse brightened. Grange would love it! In that case, we must get out of here and give him the opportunity to practice his craft. It s a she, actually, he said, laughing at Clarisse s consternation. One of the only female hackers I ve ever known. Her parents sent her down here in a last-ditch effort to keep the FBI from putting her in prison in America. She was quite obnoxious. Hacked into the Secretary of State s computer and published one of the more secretive, gossipy emails all over the web. Her parents promised to get her out of the country, or she d be in prison now, I expect. Like us, he added ruefully. The others laughed. The two men seemed suddenly less lethargic and far more energized. You think it s possible, really possible, that we might be able to get out of here? Dr. Fitzhugh asked slowly. Not only possible, dear man. Probable. She felt her head again and winced. And I want a bat, a very big bat, to hit Mr. Sapara in the head with, next time I see him. I ll provide one myself, Dr. Fitzhugh assured her. He grinned. I have a very old cricket bat, you see. Used to play when I was a boy. It s quite heavy, made of good wood. It would make a lovely knot on his head. How kind of you, she drawled and then winced, because every facial movement only aggravated the headache. Do try to sleep for a bit, Dr. Fitzhugh said gently. The two of us will discuss some hypothetical situations and have plans ready when you wake up. We can formulate a revolution while we re incarcerated. Many famous and infamous plans and books have come from people imprisoned for various reasons. The famous novel Don Quixote was written by Miguel de Cervantes in the sixteenth century, after he was put in debtors prison in Spain. She sighed. I loved Don Quixote. What a noble cause, to restore honor and morality to a decadent world. She closed her eyes. We could use him today. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ] |
Podobne
|