“You’re joking.”
“Why should I be joking? Personally, I’d like to see it happen. We can’t afford to waste talent like his. With reeducation, I’m sure Darrow would have reinstated him eventually.”
“That’s not what I heard,” Finn said.
“Well, perhaps not. Mongoose made Darrow look bad. Still, he can be helped and the director doesn’t always have the final word in these things.”
“No? Who does?”
“I’m afraid I can’t say,” the agent said. “You see, the agency is not set up the same way as the Temporal Corps or the Observers. We can’t work that way. The director always has a certain amount of authority, but there’s a limit to what even the director is given access to. It wouldn’t do to have one man in a position to know everything that goes on in the organization. That would be very bad for security. Also, it helps to have someone, like Darrow, to take the fall if necessary.”
“You’re telling me that Darrow resigned to cover for someone else?” said Finn.
“Is that what I said? Perhaps you misunderstood me. Anyway, now that we’ve been placed under the direct control of the Observer Corps, there’s a new director and a certain amount of reorganizational instability-”
“You mean a power struggle.”
“-and, as a result, my team of agents and myself have been placed under the command of the Observer on this mission. That means I’ll be taking orders from Fitzroy, at least for the time being. And his orders are to direct me in apprehending Mongoose and making certain that he doesn’t jeopardize this mission; but as I said, I don’t believe he’ll do that. At least, not intentionally.”
“No, of course not,” Finn said, dryly. “Whatever could have made me think such a thing?”
“Relax, Finn, will you? I’m on your side, believe me. The way things stand right now, I’m in a position to cooperate with you and I’d really like to do that. However, in order for us to be able to work together, there are certain things you’re going to have to understand. It’s what I’ve been trying to explain to you. You were a big help to me on that last mission and I’m trying to return the favor. Fitzroy doesn’t like you very much. As far as he’s concerned, you’re a maverick and you’re insubordinate. He doesn’t want me to confer with you.”
“So how come you’re disobeying orders?”
“Because I want to help you. And because I need your help. You know that reorganizational instability I mentioned? It could go either way. If it goes one way, certain conditions will prevail that will result in my having to continue working under Fitzroy. If it goes the other way, well, let’s just say that the agency will then go back to doing business as usual. You can draw your inferences from that. I’ll tell you what that means to you and me, in real terms.”
“Please do,” said Finn, “I’m beginning to get lost in these semantics.”
“Then I’ll try to make myself as clear as possible. If the present conditions change, then…the ‘old leadership’ will return to power. I’ll be able to act independently of Fitzroy and bring Mongoose in for interrogation and reeducation. He can be helped and made useful and productive once again. I’d very much like to see that happen.”
“What’s the alternative?” said Finn.
“The alternative is that the ‘new leadership’ will emerge preeminent, with a vested interest in seeing that no further reorganizational instability occurs, you get my meaning?”
“I think so,” said Finn, “but how does that change anything with regard to-”
“I’ll still have to apprehend Mongoose and deliver him for reeducation,” Cobra said, “but in that case, I’d be delivering him to different people. Remember that he used to be the senior field operative.”
“And as the senior field operative, he would know who-”
“Exactly.”
“You’re saying that they’d kill him to keep him from talking during reeducation? To keep the new director from finding out who really used to give the orders?”
Cobra nodded. “I have no idea whom they’d send to do the job. I’m a company man, Finn. I follow company leadership.”
“But there are others who wouldn’t,” Finn said, “who would maintain loyalty to the old leadership, as you put it.”
“That’s right. I was contacted by them just before I clocked out on this mission and told the score. I told them what I told you, that I follow company leadership. I don’t think I could have made myself any plainer. My job is to take Mongoose back and I intend to do it.”
“But if the covert boys lose their bid for power, Mongoose will have to be eliminated. If you’ve made it clear that you’re following the rulebook, you’ll have to be eliminated, too.”
“That’s right,” said Cobra. “There’s every reason to believe that at least one member of my team here is awaiting orders to that effect.”
“Jesus,” Finn said, “you’ve got a problem. What are your people into that they’re running so scared?”
“I honestly don’t know,” said Cobra. “If it becomes my job to find out, then I will, otherwise I’d just as soon remain ignorant. It’s safer that way.”
“What the hell do you expect me to do?”
“My problem is my problem,” said the agent. “With a little luck and some cooperation on your part, it won’t become your problem, as well. I don’t want to push Mongoose into doing anything foolish. If I can find him and talk to him, I can make him understand what the situation is. Perhaps I can even convince him to lay low and refrain from any further interference in your adjustment until it’s over, I don’t know. What I’m asking you to do is back off.”
“What do you mean, ‘back off’?” said Finn.
“Just what I said. Give him room. Don’t try to go after him on your own. I know how you feel about him, but I’m asking you to leave him alone, so long as he doesn’t actively endanger the adjustment.”
“How am I supposed to determine that?” said Finn.
“I’m asking you to trust my judgment. I need to stall for time, at least until it becomes clear which way the power play will go. When the situation gets finally resolved, I’ll know. I don’t want to have to go against my own people if I can help it. By the time it gets resolved, this adjustment might be over and then you’ll be out of it. If I take Mongoose before it all gets settled, they’ll try to hit both him and me, just to be on the safe side.”
“And you said that this might not be as serious as I think?” Finn said. “This isn’t only serious, it’s turning into a full-fledged disaster!”
“It doesn’t have to,” Cobra said. “All I’m asking you to do is to continue playing your part and to leave Mongoose alone. Let me handle it. It doesn’t have to involve you.”
“Brother, I can’t get any more involved! Do you realize what you’re asking us to do?”
“I know,” said Cobra. “I know how it sits with you and I know that it’s not going to be easy, but I’ve got to make you understand that the alternatives are far less attractive.”
“Is that a threat?”
“I sincerely don’t want it to be,” said Cobra.
“Suppose I refuse?”
“It would not be in your interest. Your job is to insure temporal continuity. Mongoose has thus far shown no inclination to interfere with that aspect of your job. He’s not out to create any disruptions, only to prove himself superior to you. You have my personal guarantee that I will back you up in every way possible in order to help you complete your mission. But I know that you’re itching to get your hands on Mongoose, to settle both this score and an old one. I’m asking you to forget about it.”
“If I don’t?”
“Then I’ll be forced to run interference for him to make sure that you don’t get him,” Cobra said. “I don’t want to have to do that, Finn, believe me. Mongoose is not your job; he’s my job. Your job is to play Percy Blakeney. All I’m asking you to do is to do your job and to let me do mine, in my own way, in my own time.”
“I know you didn’t have to tell me any of this,” said Finn. “I appreciate your candor.”
“Figure I owed it to you.”
“What makes you think I won’t go to Fitzroy with what you just told me?” Finn said.
“You could,” said Cobra. “I wouldn’t try to stop you. But if this conversation goes beyond the two of us, especially to Fitzroy, you’ll be signing his death warrant and mine, as well; possibly, even yours.”
