human
Confound it, Elmer, Crawford said.
gpt
What'd you have to go and do that for? I wanted to talk to him some more and send a message back to Zetterberg. Sooner or later we've got to make our peace with the Reunited Nations.
human
Sorry, it just happened. I was merely going to knock the gun out of his hand, but then I couldn't help myself. I was tired of hearing that holier-than-thou voice of his.
gpt
He'll be out for an hour. You're lucky you didn't crack his skull.
human
Holy Mackerel, Cliff Jackson said.
gpt
I'm going to have to learn to operate one of those things.
human
Best hand-to-hand combat weapon ever invented, he said.
gpt
The British yeoman's quarterstaff. Of course, this is a modernized version. Made of epoxy resin glass-fiber material, treated to look like wood. That stuff can turn a high-velocity bullet, let alone a sword, and it can be bent in a ninety degree arc without the slightest effect, although it'd take a power-driven testing machine to do it.
human
All right, all right, Homer said.
gpt
We haven't got time for lessons in the use of the quarterstaff. Let's put some thought to this situation. If Ostrander here was able to find us, somebody else would, too.
human
He was probably following me. Remember, I told you Homer?
gpt
If he had anyone with him, he'd have brought them along to cover him. You've got to give him credit for bravery, taking on the whole bunch of us by himself.
human
Um-m-m, Homer said.
gpt
I wish he was with us instead of against us.
human
Well, this solves one problem.
gpt
Just as sure as sure, he's got a car parked somewhere. A car with some sort of United States or Reunited Nations emblem on it.
human
So what?
gpt
So you've got to get out of town before the search for you _really_ gets under way. With such a car, you can get past any roadblock that might already be up between here and the Yoff airport.
human
Why the Yoff airport?
gpt
Our plane is there, Jake told him.
human
The one assigned Isobel, Cliff and me by the AFAA. You're going to have to make time. Get somewhere out in the ah, boondocks, where you can begin operations.
gpt
He's right, Homer. Anybody against us, like our friend here --he nodded at Ostrander--
human
O.K., let's get going. Jake, you'll stay in Dakar, and at first play innocent. As soon as possible, take plane for Geneva. As soon as you're there, send out press releases to all the news associations and the larger papers. Announce yourself as Foreign Minister of El Hassan and demand that he be recognized as the legal head of state of all North Africa.
gpt
Wow,
human
Then play it by ear,
gpt
Bey, where'd you leave our two hover-lorries when you came here to Dakar?
human
Stashed away in the ruins of a former mansion in Timbuktu. Hired two Songhai to watch them.
gpt
O.K. Cliff, you're the only one in European dress. Take this wallet of Ostrander's. You'll drive the car. If we run into any roadblocks between here and the Yoff airport, slow down a little and hold the wallet out to show your supposed identification. They won't take the time to check the photo. Bluff your way past, don't completely stop the car.
human
What happens if they do stop us?
gpt
That'll be just too bad for them.
human
Here we go again,