human
I'm sorry you saw that, Mallon said.
gpt
It could cause misunderstandings.
human
Where's Banner?
gpt
He ... died. I told you--
human
You told me a lot of things, Toby. Some of them might even be true. Did you make him the same offer you've made me?
gpt
You've got the wrong idea, Jackson--
human
You and he came out about the same time, I said.
gpt
Or maybe you got the jump on him by a few days. It must have been close; otherwise you'd never have taken him. Don was a sharp boy.
human
You're out of your mind! Mallon snapped.
gpt
Why, Banner was my friend!
human
Then why do you get nervous when I find his lighter on your table? There could be ten perfectly harmless explanations.
gpt
I don't make explanations,
human
That attitude is hardly the basis for a lasting partnership, Toby. I have an unhappy feeling there's something you're not telling me.
gpt
Look here, Jackson. We've no reason to fall out. There's plenty for both of us--and one day I'll be needing a successor. It was too bad about Banner, but that's ancient history now. Forget it. I want you with me, Jackson! Together we can rule the Atlantic seaboard--or even more!
human
You hold the aces, Toby. Shooting me would be no trick at all.
gpt
There's no trick involved, Jackson! Mallon snapped.
human
After all, he went on, almost wheedling now,
gpt
I don't think I'd trust him if I were you, Mr. Jackson, Renada's quiet voice cut in. I looked at her. She looked back calmly.
human
You're more important to him than you think.
gpt
That's enough, Renada, Mallon barked.
human
Go to your room at once.
gpt
Not just yet, Toby, she said.
human
I'm also curious about how Commander Banner died.
gpt
You're fools, both of you, he grated.
human
I gave you everything, Renada. I raised you like my own daughter. And you, Jackson. You could have shared with me--all of it.
gpt
I don't need a share of your delusions, Toby. I've got a set of my own. But before we go any farther, let's clear up a few points. Why haven't you been getting any mileage out of your tame Bolo? And what makes me important in the picture?
human
He's afraid of the Bolo machine, Renada said.
gpt
There's a spell on it which prevents men from approaching--even the Baron.
human
Shut your mouth, you fool!
gpt
So Don was too smart for you after all. He must have been the one who had control of the Bolo. I suppose you called for a truce, and then shot him out from under the white flag. But he fooled you. He plugged a command into the Bolo's circuits to fire on anyone who came close--unless he was Banner.
human
You're crazy!
gpt
It's close enough. You can't get near the Bolo. Right? And after twenty years, the bluff you've been running on the other Barons with your private troll must be getting a little thin. Any day now, one of them may decide to try you.
human
I won't argue with you, Jackson. You're right about the command circuit. Banner set it up to fire an anti-personnel blast at anyone coming within fifty yards. He did it to keep the mob from tampering with the machine. But there's a loophole. It wasn't only Banner who could get close. He set it up to accept any of the _Prometheus_ crew--except me. He hated me. It was a trick to try to get me killed.
gpt
So you're figuring I'll step in and de-fuse her for you, eh, Toby? Well, I'm sorry as hell to disappoint you, but somehow in the confusion I left my electro pass behind.
human
I told you we need each other, Jackson: I've got your pass. Yours and all the others. Renada, hand me my black box.
gpt
Where'd you get my pass, Mallon?
human
Where do you think? They're the duplicates from the vault in the old command block. I knew one day one of you would come out. I'll tell you, Jackson, it's been hell, waiting all these years--and hoping. I gave orders that any time the Great Troll bellowed, the mob was to form up and stop anybody who came out. I don't know how you got through them....
gpt
I was too slippery for them. Besides, I added,
human
I met a friend.
gpt
A friend? Who's that?
human
An old man who thought I was Prince Charming, come to wake everybody up. He was nuts. But he got me through.
gpt
Let's have the key, Mallon,
human
Is it a magical charm?
gpt
Just a synthetic crystalline plastic, designed to resonate to a pattern peculiar to my E.E.G. I said.
human
It amplifies the signal and gives off a characteristic emission that the Psychotronic circuit in the Bolo picks up.
gpt
That's what I thought. Magic.
human
Call it magic, then, kid. I dropped the electropass in my pocket, stood and looked at Renada.
gpt
I don't doubt that you know how to use that gun, honey, but I'm leaving now. Try not to shoot me.
human
You're a fool if you try it, Mallon barked.
gpt
If Renada doesn't shoot you, my guards will. And even if you made it, you'd still need me!
human
I'm touched by your concern, Toby. Just why do I need you?
gpt
You wouldn't get past the first sentry post without help, Jackson. These people know me as the Trollmaster. They're in awe of me--of my _Mana_. But together--we can get to the controls of the Bolo, then use it to knock out the sentry machine at the Site--
human
Then what? With an operating Bolo I don't need anything else. Better improve the picture, Toby. I'm not impressed.
gpt
It's _Prometheus_, do you understand? She's stocked with everything from Browning needlers to Norge stunners. Tools, weapons, instruments. And the power plants alone.
human
I don't need needlers if I own a Bolo, Toby.
gpt
You'll leave your liver and lights on the palace altar, Jackson. I promise you that!
human
Tell him what he wants to know, Toby. Renada said. Mallon narrowed his eyes at her.
gpt
You'll live to regret this, Renada.
human
Maybe I will, Toby. But you taught me how to handle a gun--and to play cards for keeps.
gpt
All right, Jackson, he said, almost in a whisper.
human
It's not only the equipment. It's ... the men.
gpt
What men, Toby?
human
The crew. Day, Macy, the others. They're still in there, Jackson--aboard the ship, in stasis. We were trying to get the ship off when the attack came. There was forty minutes' warning. Everything was ready to go. You were on a test run; there wasn't time to cycle you out....
gpt
Keep talking,
human
You know how the system was set up; it was to be a ten-year run out, with an automatic turn-around at the end of that time if Alpha Centauri wasn't within a milli-parsec. He snorted.
gpt
It wasn't. After twenty years, the instruments checked. They were satisfied. There was a planetary mass within the acceptable range. So they brought me out. He snorted again.
human
The longest dry run in history. I unstrapped and came out to see what was going on. It took me a little while to realize what had happened. I went back in and cycled Banner and Mackenzie out. We went into the town; you know what we found. I saw what we had to do, but Banner and Mac argued. The fools wanted to reseal _Prometheus_ and proceed with the launch. For what? So we could spend the rest of our lives squatting in the ruins, when by stripping the ship we could make ourselves kings?
gpt
So there was an argument?
human
I had a gun. I hit Mackenzie in the leg, I think--but they got clear, found a car and beat me to the Site. There were two Bolos. What chance did I have against them? Mallon grinned craftily.
gpt
But Banner was a fool. He died for it. The grin dropped like a stripper's bra.
human
But when I went to claim my spoils, I discovered how the jackals had set the trap for me.
gpt
That was downright unfriendly of them, Mallon. Oddly enough, it doesn't make me want to stay and hold your hand.
human
Don't you understand yet! Mallon's voice was a dry screech.
gpt
Even if you got clear of the Palace, used the Bolo to set yourself up as Baron--you'd never be safe! Not as long as one man was still alive aboard the ship. You'd never have a night's rest, wondering when one of them would walk out to challenge your rule....
human
Uneasy lies the head, eh, Toby? You remind me of a queen bee. The first one out of the chrysalis dismembers all her rivals.
gpt
I don't mean to kill them. That would be a waste. I mean to give them useful work to do.
human
I don't think they'd like being your slaves, Toby. And neither would I. I looked at Renada.
gpt
I'll be leaving you now, I said.
human
Whichever way you decide, good luck.
gpt
Wait. She stood.
human
I'm going with you.
gpt
I'll be traveling fast, honey. And that gun in my back may throw off my timing.
human
Don't kill him, Mr. Jackson. He was always kind to me.
gpt
Why change sides now? According to Toby, my chances look not too good.
human
I never knew before how Commander Banner died, she said.
gpt
He was my great-grandfather.
human
So long, Toby, I said.
gpt
I ought to shoot you in the belly just for Don--but--