Parker said to Gonor, “How many more?”
Gonor looked at him in surprise. “How many more what?”
“People. First there were four of you, and one was no good. Plus Hoskins, General Goma, Goma’s ex-colonist friends, Karns from the syndicate, and now this one. How many more people are on the inside of this thing?”
Gonor was shocked. “Major Indindu is in charge!”
“In charge of what?”
The older man showed a thin smile. “Your surprise is natural, Mr Parker,” he said. He had a heavily British accent. “As is your mistrust. As, I hope you will agree, is my mistrust.”
“The Major will be our next president,” Gonor said.
Parker looked at him. “You mean, after the Colonel’s out?”
Major Indindu said, “If we succeed in restoring the stolen assets, we will allow Colonel Lubudi to announce his retirement during his stay in New York. A new election will be held in Dhaba, and after I am elected, the Colonel will be free either to return or to stay in New York.”
Parker said, “What if you’re not elected?”
“I will be.”
Gonor said fervently, “Major Indindu is our only hope!”
“All right. What about the situation? The diamonds, and how they’re protected.”
“That’s too fast, Mr Parker,” said the Major.
Parker looked at Gonor. “Up to now,” he said, “I’ve dealt with you. If this thing takes place, you’ll be doing the robbery. Is that right?”
Gonor nodded.
“Who else?”
“Mr Formutesca and Mr Manado.”
“Manado?”
Gonor gestured to the man sitting beside Formutesca. “I’m sorry, I thought I had introduced you on our first meeting.”
“What about the Major?” Parker said.
Gonor was surprised again. “With us on the robbery? Naturally not!”
“Then he doesn’t belong here.”
“Surely you can trust”
“It isn’t trust or not trust. We’re not here for a party, we’re here to do a thing. Anybody who isn’t involved in doing that thing shouldn’t be here.”
“The Major had to approve you before”
“No,” Parker said. “You’re the man who’s going out on the limb; you’re the one who’ll make it or lose on the basis of how good I am. What the Major has to do is take your word about me and keep out of our way.”
The Major said something in his native tongue. Gonor, looking unhappy, said something back to him. The Major said something else.
There was a whole conversation starting there. Parker turned away and went over to Formutesca and Manado. Manado was looking slightly shocked and slightly scared, but Formutesca was looking amused.
Parker said to Manado, “How old are you?”
He’d been listening to the Major and Gonor, and now he blinked, focused on Parker, and said, “Sir? I beg your pardon?”
“How old are you?”
“Twenty-three, sir.”
Parker turned to Formutesca. “You?”
Formutesca was smiling happily. “Thirty-one,” he said.
“You both went to college?”
“Yes, sir,” said Manado, and Formutesca nodded.
“Do any sports?”
“Track team, sir,” said Manado.
“Baseball,” said Formutesca. “Third base. And some gymnastics.”
“You know how to handle guns?”
“Yes, sir,” said Manado, and Formutesca said:
“Naturally.”
“Why naturally?”
