Cargo 069

“Yes, Sir! Miss Gordon, one of (our) best mages, wants to revenge for the death of Harry Menvil, her child’s father.

“To revenge! I told you we shouldn’t be driven by revenge,” Wood said angrily.

“Then by what?” replied Gottlieb noticing a tiny gap in the defensive redoubts of his boss.

“Our cold mind, Archie. So, is our madam really that good? I mean, in a sensitive way,” Lieutenant Colonel added quickly fearing that Major would understand him wrong.

“Well, she’s not Astral Harry but something close to that.”

They went silent thinking their own thoughts.

From Wood’s point of view, “Betsey” mission was worth it, especially since there has been a delayed calm on the astral front. And bosses usually become irritable if you don’t please them with successes, even if they are small.

Major Gottlieb’s point of view in this strategically important issue coincided with the Wood’s one. However, he had his own opinion too. The mission would certainly stir up the battle mages’ activity and strengthen their enthusiasm for service. This was obvious, since any individual access to the infrared space required the maximum support of the entire sensitive community. And if Miss Gordon succeeded, his efforts – the efforts of Archibald Gottlieb – would definitely be noticed. He could certainly gain considerable points in this hard game called life. No wonder the Scripture says: “Knock, and it shall be opened unto you”.

Henry Wood promised to issue an appropriate order, so the Deputy Commander of the Unit for Practical Application of Sensitive Skills left the office. He forgot to ask whether they could render him the same relax “corner” he, Archibald Gottlieb, certainly deserved for his important and responsible position.

Well, it shall not open if you don’t knock…

Chapter 5

1

“Sergei Petrovich, let’s leave this topic. I mean, this… consciousness transfer, right. You’re trying to say that anyone can easily transfer to the body of another person?” the Analytical Department curator said thoughtfully, pushing aside the papers containing Larin’s written report on the newly formed military unit.

He took his thin little glasses off his nose and started to twirl them in his narrow long fingers. It seemed like he admired his dexterity as he twisted his glasses. But suddenly they slipped onto the polished table. The glasses arms turned upwards resembling a man who fell on his back with his limbs up. Lieutenant General frowned.

“You do know what might happen?” he forced out strained. “And… what exactly, Igor Ivanovich?” Larin asked cautiously as he couldn’t understand the reason why his boss’s mood changed. Obviously, it was not because of the glasses?..

Lieutenant General was sometimes called Eagle for his flexibility, the ability to maneuver and for the consonance of his name with the famous bird. Sometimes, in a narrow circle, someone even made mistakes, mentioning the witty Deputy Head of the department who knew how to get out of any delicate situation: “Eagle Ivanovich said yesterday…”

But words that flew out of the office owner’s mouth were not from yesterday, they were told today, right now:

“Up there,” he made a characteristic gesture pointing index finger to the ceiling. “They can interpret your obsession with Colonel Burlak in a different way.”

For a moment there was a silence in the office.

“Let me explain,” said Igor Ivanovich. For some reason he put his anemic glasses on his nose again, perhaps, to be more persuasive in a hard conversation with the stubborn analyst. “The fact is that anyone can use this opportunity. Imagine, Comrade Larin, someone who can also transfer to the One.

“The One?” exclaimed Sergei Petrovich. “What exactly do you mean?”

“This is exactly what I mean! This experimenter of yours can enter the consciousness of, say, our President. Our President, as you know, is also the Commander-in-Chief!”

“Yes, that’s… but wait, what’s the point in…” Larin startled to find the right words surprised by the unexpected Eagle’s speech. Igor Petrovich interrupted his subordinate:

“Why do you think they dissolved a similar unit headed by General Savin? You know it!.. And you also know how much the heroes of that legendary unit have done for the Motherland. And then bang! – they are dissolved!..”

“Then what should Colonel Burlak’s boys do?” Larin asked in amazement, surprised more by the short inappropriate slang word “bang”.

“Let them continue. They are doing the right thing, since the Americans are trying to attack us lifting their tails. We should cut their tails off so that we could see their asses! But we should not get into all these transfers and settlements.”

“Is this your official opinion, Comrade Lieutenant General?” The analyst asked with pressure.

“Just a recommendation, nothing more!” laughed the office owner. “Sergei Petrovich, please do not take it to heart. But… no arbitrariness in the direction indicated.” Lieutenant General was pleased with the fact that he explained the whole thing to his zealous subordinate so he uttered the words from Larin’s report: “Recipient! Percipient!..”[1 - Percipient is the one who perceives the subject.]

He turned his head with a certain admiration for the wise terms he learned.

2

After coming back to his office, General Larin called the commander of the secret military unit to have the so-called “negotiations”.

The negotiations between the head of Analytical Department and Colonel Burlak were pretty short. Leonid Mikhailovich was not surprised by Eagle’s Solomon decision and suggested, as he said, an “alternative solution”:

“Sergei Petrovich, you should explain to Lieutenant General that we have the opportunity to put a hypnotic block against the experimenters. In this case, they will not be able to influence our political elite in any way.”

“I’m afraid that Igor Ivanovich,” General emphasized his boss’s name, “will not be satisfied with this measure because of… some features of his character.”

“The trait of being careful first of all!” The Colonel said cheerfully.

“I didn’t say that, Leonid Mikhailovich!” Larin allowed himself to smile.

“But we both thought about it…” Burlak suddenly went serious and made a suggestion: “I know how can we impress our dearest Igor Ivanovich. Lieutenant General, you will need to convince our Deputy Head that the Americans have already started preparing for such a settlement.

First, it gives a unique opportunity to control any politician. Second, it’s a way to physical immortality. Why wouldn’t our Commander-In-Chief clone himself, for example, and then easily transfer the consciousness into his own clone?”

“Is that really possible?..” “Well, it’s not us who’ll decide on the clone,” General replied to the long Colonel’s speech and turned thoughtful. “As for the Americans… that’s a great idea.” Our curator will definitely agree with the suggestion to throw cold water on the frisky Yankees. Meanwhile, let Lieutenant Colonel Bystrov and Captain Kotov work out the program. And then, well, let’s see. I also think that the advanced level of the Americans in this will force our dearest Igor Ivanovich to take a fresh look at the essence of the issue.

Chapter 6

That morning Lieutenant Colonel Wood was inspecting the military unit he commanded. They were waiting for a very important person here in Fort Myers, Congressman Jimmy Scott, the recently appointed Head of the Secret Missions Commission.

The funding of battle mages depended largely on him. Yes, these guys were funded from Pentagon but they were involved in special missions not only by orders of the Armed Forces. Mostly, it was behind-the-scene specialists from Langley office who were interested in sensitives’ capabilities.

Major Archibald Gottlieb was obediently following his commander.

“Faithful Gottlieb” – this is how Archie once called himself at a friendly feast. But was it true? Without any doubt, Major was an excellent professional in his specific field. But was he loyal indeed and should his boss expect some weird tricks from him?..

Gottlieb was eager to go to India and Tibet. It was nice, since a trip to the East could help getting some fresh knowledge. But they should keep an eye on Archie and Miss Betsy there. They should appear unexpectedly. This is how they could see whether Gottlieb was faithful or not. This couple could easily apply knowledge and skills for their own selfish purposes. In this case, it’s not only the reputation of him, Flenry Wood, who can go down the drain, but also all further career opportunities.

The class jumped up, showing genuine reverence, as soon as the big brass appeared in the room.

“At ease!” Wood commanded.

The students and the teacher took their seats.

He paid attention to Miss Gordon teaching the class: “Very pretty although she recently gave birth to a child…”

The teacher of sensitive disciplines and Major Gottlieb were the most powerful mages of the unit, its so-called “core”. That’s why a certain caution and endurance were required when dealing with Archibald. Like the Russians say, measure thrice and cut once, or, as they sing, “better do it once forty times…” This tactic is especially applicable to Betsy.