human
Time for business, Jackson, Mallon said. He blew out smoke and looked at me through it.
gpt
How did things look--inside.
human
Dusty. But intact, below ground level. Upstairs, there's blast damage and weathering. I don't suppose it's changed much since you came out twenty years ago. As far as I could tell, the Primary Site is okay.
gpt
Now, you made it out past the Bolo. How did it handle itself? Still fully functional?
human
It damn near gunned me down. It's getting a little old and it can't see as well as it used to, but it's still a tough baby.
gpt
It was Mackenzie's idea. A last-minute move when the tech crews had to evacuate. It was a dusting job, you know.
human
I hadn't heard. How did you find out all this?
gpt
There were still a few people around who'd been in it. But never mind that. What about the Supply Site? That's what we're interested in. Fuel, guns, even some nuclear stuff. Heavy equipment; there's a couple more Bolos, moth-balled, I understand. Maybe we'll even find one or two of the Colossus missiles still in their silos. I made an air recon a few years back before my chopper broke down--
human
I think two silo doors are still in place. But why the interest in armament?
gpt
You've got a few things to learn about the setup, Jackson. I need that stuff. If I hadn't lucked into a stock of weapons and ammo in the armory cellar, Jersey would be wearing the spurs in my palace right now!
human
You said something about conquering the world, Toby. I don't suppose by any chance you meant that literally?
gpt
They all want what I've got! They're all waiting. He walked across the room, back.
human
I'm ready to move against them now! I can put four thousand trained men in the field--
gpt
Let's get a couple of things straight, Mallon, I cut in.
human
You've got the natives fooled with this Baron routine. But don't try it on me. Maybe it was even necessary once; maybe there's an excuse for some of the stories I've heard. That's over now. I'm not interested in tribal warfare or gang rumbles. I need--
gpt
Better remember who's running things here, Jackson! Mallon snapped.
human
It's not what you need that counts.
gpt
Look, Jackson. I know how to get around in this jungle; you don't. If I hadn't spotted you and given some orders, you'd have been gunned down before you'd gone ten feet past the ballroom door.
human
Why'd you let me in? I might've been gunning for you.
gpt
You wanted to see the Baron alone. That suited me, too. If word got out-- He broke off, cleared his throat.
human
Let's stop wrangling, Jackson. We can't move until the Bolo guarding the site has been neutralized. There's only one way to do that: knock it out! And the only thing that can knock out a Bolo is another Bolo.
gpt
So?
human
I've got another Bolo, Jackson. It's been covered, maintained. It can go up against the Troll-- he broke off, laughed shortly.
gpt
That's what the mob called it.
human
You could have done that years ago. Where do I come in?
gpt
You're checked out on a Bolo, Jackson. You know something about this kind of equipment.
human
Sure. So do you.
gpt
I never learned,
human
Who's kidding who, Mallon? We all took the same orientation course less than a month ago--
gpt
For me it's been a long month. Let's just say I've forgotten.
human
You parked that Bolo at your front gate and then forgot how you did it, eh?
gpt
Nonsense. It's always been there.
human
I know different.
gpt
Where'd you get that idea?
human
Somebody told me.
gpt
You'll point the scum out to me!
human
I don't give a damn whether you moved it or not. Anybody with your training can figure out the controls of a Bolo in half an hour--
gpt
Not well enough to take on the Tr--another Bolo.