"Harrison, Harry- The Stainless Steel Rat for President" - читать интересную книгу автора (Harrison Harry)

106 The Stainless Steel Rat for President

dential candidate of the Nobles and Peasants and Workers Party, I intend to make a few appointments. Bolivar, you are secretary of the new party. So please fire up your recorder and take notes. James is rally organizerЧwhich job I will explain in a momeat. It is my hope that Angelina diGriz will accept the position of campaign manager, which position also includes the task of getting out the women's vote as well. Do

you accept?" I counted the nodding heads and nodded in return. "Good. That appears to take care of the appointments." "Not quite," de Torres said. "I have another and most important one to make, if I might?"
"Of courseЧyou're the vice-presidential candidate. If I've missed something, please let me know."
He clapped his hands and the door opened. A slight and unassuming man entered and bowed slightly in our direction.
"This is Edwin Rodriguez," de Torres said. "He will be the presidential bodyguard and will accompany you everywhere. We must not have a repeat of the near-disaster that happened in Primoroso. Rodriguez will guard you, detect and eliminate assassins and generally look after your good health."
I looked the man up and down and tried not to smile. "Thank you, marquez. But while I appreciate the thought I

can take care of myself. And I'm afraid this youth might get hurt..." "Rodriquez," the marquez said. "An assassin at the window!" My ears rang from the sound of the shotsЧand I realized that I was lying on the floor under the table and that Rodriguez

was kneeling on my back. There was a sizeable and smoking revolver in his hand which was pointed at the window. Most of which had been blown away by the flurry of well-placed shots.
"The attack is over," de Torres said, and the weight was removed from my back. I stood and dusted off my trousers and regained my chair. The marqubz nodded approval. "Just

a small demonstration. Rodriguez is my master-at-arms. I sent for him after he became planetary martial arts champion, as well as winning first place in the small arms competition. I have never regretted that decision."
"Nor will I," I said, looking at the now motionless form of

my new protector. "I appreciate the thought. And I am pretty sure that he will have plenty to do once the campaign begins. Which will be within a few days. We must catch

The Stainless Steel Rat for President 107

Zapilote off-balance and keep him that way. We will begin with an election irally." "And just what is that?" de Torres asked.
"A form of religious revival meeting where speeches are made, babies kissed, free food and drink consumed by the potential voters. A mixture of carnival, worship and bribery. We will make promises, attack the present regime, and see to it that we have excellent press coverage."
The marqu6z shook his head. "It will be suicide. There will be guns, assassination attempts. Zapilote will not let us get

away with it. I know the man. He is perfectly capable of dropping a tactical atom bomb on this rally to make sure he gets rid of us. He would take out an entire city to make sure he eliminated the competition."
I smiled and nodded. "I agree completely. Therefore we will not hold the rally in Primoroso, or Ciudad Aguilella or any of the other major cities. Instead we shall hold the first meeting in the small and undistinguished seaside resort of Puerto Azul."
"Why there?" The marquez was puzzled. Angelina caught

on instantly and clapped her hands with pleasure.
"It will be held there because that little town is stuffed full of offplanet tourists. This will guarantee our protection since he cannot permit any of them to be hurt. Nor will he commit

any violence in their presence. It is the perfect place for a rally. My husband is certainly using his brains." I nodded my thanks for the compliment, as well as for the fact that she had not added 'for a change'.
"How do we get there without being blown up on the way?" James asked. This was indeed a problem. "A good question. Do we go by road or by air?" "Air would be wisest," the marquez said. "Once past the Barrier, Zapilote's forces control the roads. We would have to fight our way through. But he has only a few fighter planes and no other air force to speak of. He has never needed one. He controls all the air traffic, owns all the aircraft, other than the few copters and transports that our people have." "But he could mount an air attack?"
"It is conceivable. There are police gunships in addition to the fighters."
"We'll take precautions." I pointed at Bolivar. "Make a note to use the MES to amolifv some weapon systems and

108 The Stainless Steel Rat for President

early warning detection apparatus. If they do try anything funny we'll get them first. " "As good as done. DadЧ1 mean President." "All right. The next order of business is a venue for the colligation..."
"You're not even a politician yet," Angelina said, "but you're talking like one already."
"Sorry. It must be catching. I mean, at what place will we hold the rally?"
"There is a large stadium in Puerto Azul," de Torres said. "That is where the bull fights are held every Sunday." "Bull fights?" I asked. It sounded nasty.
"Yes. It is an interesting taurine event. It features mutated bulls wearing boxing gloves . . . "
"Sounds nice. We must go some time. But for the present

we need the stadium for our rally. Which must be kept a secret until the last moment. Any suggestions?" "Let Jorge arrange it," Angelina said. "He was a tourist guide there so he will know whom to contact. We'll book it in the name of a front organization, a folklorico display for the tourists or something like that."
"Perfect. Then we swoop down during the day, stay in one of the tourist hotels, make speeches on street corners, distribute free tickets to all the voters. And the campaign is launched. Any more suggestions? No? Then I declare this meeting closed and suggest we all repair to the garden for a drink before lunch."