"05 - The SSR for President" - читать интересную книгу автора (Harrison Harry)

"Just a few minutes ago. I had the call just as I was leaving. A carload of them attacked the farm where she was staying." "Is this farm far away?"
"Not very farЧa half an hour's drive perhaps." "Then we can cut them off before they bring her in." "YesЧit is possible!" Enthusiasm replaced despair. "Turn left here, quickly. There is only the single road. But I must

warn you, they are heavily armed and dangerous." Jorge looked around at us as though we were mad, as we all burst out laughing at once. Then fell back into our seats as Bolivar gunned the car to roaring life. Armed and dangerous indeed!
It took us less than five minutes to reach the road that led down from the plateau. Hopefully we were ahead of the heavies. I stood up in the back seat and surveyed the scene for long seconds, working out a plan.
"Right," I said pointing at James. "Dig out a full-size debonder and some needle guns. Everyone out of the car.

46 The Stainless Steel Rat for President

Bolivar, take it back down the road out of sight. Angelina,

you are going to be the bait in the trap." "How thoughtful!"
As the car thundered away I pointed my flashlight at a large tree that hung over the road. "Use the debonder to drop that tree right across the road . . ." I tilled my head as I heard the sound of a distant car. "And quickly, since I can hear them coming."
We could see the advancing headlights as we took up our positions of concealment on both sides of the road. Angelina lay sprawled beside the tree, her legs under the trunk as though trapped. The headlights grew brighter, sending swooping beams through the trees, then the car was around the bend with the downed tree directly before it. Brakes squealed and for one horrified moment I thought the thing would hit Angelina. But it shuddered to a stop in time, and she waved

an arm feebly and called out for help.
And that's all there was to it. The driver emerged and while his door was open there was the slight rustle of the needle guns firing. Powerful electromagnetic fields hurled out the tiny slivers of steel. Each one tipped with a powerful sleeping drug. The driver folded down neatly onto the road

as I jumped forward, flashlight in one hand, gun ready in the other.
My precautions were not needed. The car was filled with the gross and snoring forms of the secret policemen. And, as

a measure of our marksmanship, a frightened and conscious Flavia sat in their midst.
"You have been saved," I said taking her hand and helping her from the car. And dropping the hand quickly as my wife appeared, brushing dust from her skirt and firing up the furnaces in her eyes. Jorge took over where I left off, not only taking the abandoned hand but kissing it passionately. He

was a great one for kissing was Jorge.
"Other than the fact they almost ran me down it was a satisfactory operation," Angelina said. "All we have to do

now is put the driver back into the car with a thermite grenade in his lap."
I sighed and gave her hand a good kissing, a la Jorge, since it seemed a nice thing to do. "I died a thousand deaths while the ancient brakes on this vehicle labored to do their job. Next time I lie under the tree and you shoot the Ultimados. James, Bolivar, would you be so kind as to lay these sleeping

The Stainless Steel Rat for President 47

uglies out of sight in the woods. Please help yourself to what you might need from their pockets. JorgeЧthat's it, let her hand dry off for a minuteЧcan you drive this car?" "Of course! Do you think I am a peasant?"
"Never! Sorry. Can you think of a place to drive it to where it won't be found for awhile?"
"Of course, A nice high cliff above the bay where it will hurtle down into the sea and rest there for eternity. " "I think that will be long enough. So that is your job. Yes, that's right, a few last quick kisses for Flavia's hand and you

can take off."
We all waved as the police car rocketed away. Flavia turned to face us and I noticed for the first time that one eye

was half-closed and she had bruises on her face.
"I'll get the medkit," Angelina said. "And if I had known that they had worked you overЧthose Ultimados would be having a far longer sleep."
"I can find no way to thank you," Flavia said, with feeling. "Not only for saving me, but for what you plan to do. Jorge told me everything. Can you do all that you say?" "He can do anything," Angelina replied, applying antiseptic cream. "With a few certain exceptions as long as I'm around. "
"All finished. Dad," Bolivar said, emerging from the woods with an armload of clothing. James was behind him, laden with shoes. "We saw what they did to this young lady so we figured it would be nice if they had to walk back to town naked and barefoot."
"Most considerate. Flavia, these are our sons, James and Bolivar."
They shook hands enthusiastically, while Angelina patted

my arm and smiled. "Love at first sight, I can tell by the way they crinkle their eyes. Now shouldn't we get moving?" We got. Climbing up the road to the plateau, then turning onto the main highway, following Flavia's instructions.
"Once we get into the interior we will be safe, for the Ultimados only dare venture there in armed convoys. But there will be immense difficulties in penetrating the Barrier. " "What is that?" I asked.
"It goes right across the continent and is impossible to get past except at the guard stations. Barbed wire, layers of it, electrified steel mesh fence with poison barbs in the top,