models of efficiency. The gun with the tipped bullets is in the cardiac arrest unit. This is wax-sealed and the seal has to be broken before the unit can be opened. The unit is sealed. Not that it would matter very much if it were opened. The gun lies in a false bottom and you have to know how to open it. I mean, it can't be done by accident. You have to know.
'You seem to be positively enjoying yourself, Doctor.'
'Well, yes. It makes a change from treating ingrowing toe-nails.'
'I hope you'll enjoy coming under the heading of 'Classified' for the rest of your life. How come you carry those peculiar units in your hospital?'
'We don't. But your director appears to be on very close terms with his counterpart in the CIA. I tell you, we were completely taken over by experts.'
That means you're double classified for life. My cord and containers?' O'Hare seemed a mile away.
'My cord and containers?' O'Hare returned to the world.
'Modesty compels me to admit that I came up with this one. Four containers. Empty. Lab. samples printed on the outside. Who's going to question that? The cord is wrapped round a square wooden framework with two hooks and two lures attached to one end.'
'You're going fishing over the side of the bridge?'
'I'm going fishing. It can get quite boring out here, you know.'
'Something tells me it's not going to be that way long. I suppose it's unnecessary to ask you about the nerve gas?'
O'Hare smiled broadly. 'I'd rather you did, actually.'
'Must you speak English English?'
'I told you. London educated. It's an aerosol can, clamped just above my note-desk. Anyone can see it. Product, ostensibly, of a nationally-known aerosol company. People called Prestige Fragrance of New York. Rather charming, really. The colour, I mean. Forest brown, I believe. A scaled-down version of their seven-ounce can. Freon pressure three times normal. Effective range ten feet.'
'Do the Prestige people know about this?'
'Heavens, no. The CIA are not overly concerned with patent rights.' O'Hare smiled, almost dreamily. 'On the back of the can it says 'fragrant and piquant' and 'keep away from children' On the front it says 'Sandalwood'. Can't you just see Branson or any of his minions who don't know what sandalwood smells like giving themselves an exploratory whiff.'
'No, I can't. I'll pick up the pens later tonight. Now, what were Hagenbach's instructions?'
'Hagenbach and company. A committee meeting and an agreed decision. The Vice-President was there, along with Admiral Newson, General Carter, Headrix, Quarry and Milton.'
'And yourself and April Wednesday.'
'We plebs know our place. Total silence on our part. First off, there's no possibility of electrifying the bridge. Nothing to do with the possibility of a President or king sitting where we are now and having their pants roasted. The voltage could be produced, but not the wattage. Not for umpteen thousand tons of steel. Besides, the potential victims would have to be earthed. A bird can perch in perfect safety on a high-tension wire.'
'Second piece of expert advice was about laser beams. You wondered if they would slice through the canvas wrapping of the explosive belts. Certainly, say the boys in Berkeley. But the tremendous heat generated when a laser beam strikes a solid object would turn the bridge wire — I think that's what they called it — in the detonator white-hot immediately.'
'Poof?'
'As you so rightly observe, 'poof'. Four things they did agree on, however.'
'A submarine they can provide. Apparently, it will call for some critical underwater navigation to get there and a fair bit of fancy juggling to keep the boat in position once it gets there. Apart from the tides there are lots of very nasty currents in the Golden Gate. But the Admiral reckons he has just the man for the job. And in the absence of any instructions to the contrary they propose to park this boat under the front coach, your press coach, that is.'
'My omission. They're right, of course.' Revson glanced idly round but no one was paying any undue attention to them except General Cartland, a physical fitness fanatic who was counter-marching briskly to and fro along the central section of the bridge. He gave them a keen glance in passing but that signified nothing, General Cartland invariably gave everyone a keen glance in passing. Hansen, the energy czar, with the excess nervous energy to burn, was also engaged in the same exercise, but his attention was devoted exclusively to the toes of his shoes. He did not walk with Cartland. There was no antipathy between the two men: they simply had nothing in common.
O'Hare continued.' They agreed with your suggestion that the south tower be occupied. As you didn't specify whether it was the east or west section which should be occupied, they're a bit in the dark. The meteorological forecast is rather good. Heavy fog is expected before dawn and to remain until about ten in the morning. They'd better be right. The wind tomorrow will be westerly so that any cover from the smoke of burning oil will be out of the question. But they still don't know which section of the tower to occupy.'
'One item I forgot to ask you about. It was about this hooded flashlight with the variable shutter that — '
'I have it.'
'If Branson and company come across it?'
'Medical requisite, my dear fellow. Eye examination, dilation of pupils and so forth. You know morse?'
Revson was patient. 'I just want to read books at night in the coach.'
'Sorry. One of my off-moments. From the east side of the bridge aim approximately forty-five degrees right. They'll have two men on watch in relays, all night. They can't signal you back, of course, so for 'message acknowledged and understood' they'll send up a firework rocket from Chinatown. Followed by lots of others so as not to arouse any suspicions. The setting off of fireworks, bangers, crackers or whatever you call them is illegal in this city, but in Chinatown the police bend a tolerant and indulgent eye towards it. Chinese national pastime, you know. You should see the Chinese New Year. Shortly after I arrived — just a few months ago-'
Revson was even more patient. 'I am a San Franciscan.
'Ah, well. But you still don't know which section of the south tower — '
'I'll find out.'
'You seem very sure of yourself?'
'Not at all. But I'm sure of our April Wednesday. Branson has given her more than a passing glance. I shall have her employ her feminine wiles to discover which cable is next for the explosive treatment. And when.'
'You're still very sure of yourself. Now. Your suggestion about drugged food. Unanimous approval. This evening meal. Dr Isaacs — he's our narcotics wizard in the hospital-has been busy stirring up his witch's cauldron. Seventeen unpleasant surprises.'
'Very quick work.' Revson was uneasy. 'How are the surprises to be identified?'
'No problem. The usual airline plastic food in the usual airline plastic trays. Those trays have carrying lugs. The bad trays, if I may put it that way, will have indentations on the underside of the lugs. Tiny, but enough to be detected by normally sensitive finger-tips.'
'Well, Doctor, you haven't been wasting your time, that I have to say. Obviously we'll have to be very careful. If anything can go wrong it will go wrong — one of Parkinson's laws or something like that. I shall appoint myself head waiter — with Branson's prior approval. Second, you will have April Wednesday in for a routine check as the meal wagon arrives and will remain there until the meals have been distributed. In the ambulance, I mean.'
'Why?'
'Parkinson's Law. If something goes wrong, you two would be the first under suspicion — you've left the bridge and returned. Third, I can get word to the Presidential coach.'
'How?'
'I'll figure a way.'
'And the press coach?'
'No guarantee. I'm no master-mind. If one or two of them get the wrong trays — well, I can take care of the one or two villains who get the right trays.'
O'Hare looked at Revson with a certain lack of admiration. 'You don't care how you use peonle, do you?'
