"Дон Пендлтон. Doomsday Disciples ("Палач" #49) " - читать интересную книгу автора

"advice" and "guidance." They were necessary evils, and would someday
outlive their usefulness.
Mitchell Carter might have outlived his usefulness already.
If he had participated in the girl's escape, for whatever reasons of
his own, Minh would see him dead.
He had planned to kill the man, looked forward to it from the first day
of their association. Hanoi would not object if he could demonstrate that
Carter had betrayed them. Minh would probably receive congratulations for
initiative, perhaps promotion.
First, though, he would need proof. And if Carter was not
responsible...
He faced Tommy Booth, found the man watching him intently.
"Is it possible to trace the girl?" he asked.
Tommy shrugged.
"We're checking out her friends locally," he said. "There aren't many."
"Good. If she contacts anyone, I want to know about it."
"Done."
He considered telephoning Carter, but decided the lines should not be
trusted.
"Send a team for Mitchell Carter," he instructed. "It's important that
I see him."
The soldier raised an eyebrow.
"He's not gonna like it."
Minh allowed himself a thin smile.
"Be persuasive." And he paused, thinking. "I assume you have mobilized
the elders."
Booth nodded.
"Ready and waiting. Shall I pull 'em in?"
Minh shook his head in a gentle negative.
"Leave them in place. I don't want to concentrate our force until we
know the enemy by name."
Tommy rose to leave, and Minh's voice stopped him at the door.
"The girl's disappearance is a serious mistake," he said. "It must be
rectified without delay. Any leak would be... unfortunate."
There was a sudden pallor under Tommy's sun-lamp tan.
"I understand."
Minh held the soldier with his eyes, letting him sweat.
"You must redeem yourself, at any cost."
A jerky nod, and Tommy Booth got out of there, leaving Minh alone. The
Vietnamese dismissed him, concentrating on solutions to his problem.
There was Carter. If the man was guilty, Minh would know soon enough.
And if he wasn't, they would face the common enemy together.
Whoever it turned out to be.
Minh had not believed in God for many years, but he accepted the
reality of fate. His people and their revolution were predestined for
eventual success. They would prevail.
It was a faith that taught him patience, made him strong.
A man of confidence, he could afford to wait.

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