"Robert Weinberg - Logical Magician 02 - A Calculated Magician" - читать интересную книгу автора (Weinberg Robert)

“He poisoned his fellow countrymen to test the effect of a plague virus?” repeated the Rager,
sounding properly outraged. “What happened?”
“Exactly what you would expect,” said Boris. “Anthrax symptoms are very similar to those of
pneumonia but the treatment for one and the other are entirely different. The disease is deadly unless
handled properly. Nearly a hundred people died before Karsnov’s crime was detected. It took a
massive effort by the army and the KGB to stop the spread of the plague. By the time Karsnov was
implicated in the crime, the scientist had managed to flee the country.”
“And now you want him dead,” said the Retaliator. “You want justice for those who died.”
“Of course,” said Bronsky, knowing he was treading on dangerous ground. The assassins
demanded motivation as well as money. In a strange manner, they were highly moral killers. “The blood
of their mother, of Mother Russia, demands revenge.”
“The rules of the state must be obeyed,” said the third killer, who had remained silent until now.
Her voice was cold and remote. She was called “the Endless.”
“That is the law,” said the Retaliator in agreement.
“That is the law,” repeated the Rager.
Sighing deeply, Boris nodded. By those words, he knew that the three had taken the assignment.
Karsnov was as good as dead.
“You said he fled,” continued the Retaliator. “Where did he go?”
“To America, we think,” said Boris. “Karsnov has two passions. A protégé of hard-liners in the
Kremlin, he hates the United States with an all-consuming mania. He has spent most of his adult life
perfecting weapons to he used against the Americans. With the cold war over and peace between our
two nations, we suspect he plans to use the anthrax plague to fulfill his own twisted agenda.”
“His other passion?” asked the Endless.
“Karsnov loves to gamble. He plays cards compulsively, for hours, sometimes days on end. The
desire to win at any cost engulfs him and sweeps him away. That is why we think he is in America. My
colleagues in the Secret Service believe he is in Las Vegas, Nevada. Gambling,” he added unnecessarily,
“is legal there.”
“You have warned the Americans?” asked the Rager.
“Of course not,” said Boris. “They would never believe that Karsnov has turned rogue and is
working on his own. Like my superiors, they see a plot under every rock. Comrade Yeltsin is in the midst
of delicate negotiations for more aid from the United States. One mention of the anthrax plague would
destroy any hopes of that mission.”
“How did the scientist escape your own KGB?” asked the Retaliator. “Usually they are quite
capable of dealing with traitors.”
“We are not sure,” said Boris. “According to several reliable though not official sources, Karsnov
is being aided by an ultrasecret group of Islamic terrorists based in the United States. The group’s plans
are not known to us, but evidently they want revenge against the United States for the humiliation suffered
by Iraq in that war of a few years ago. What better way than to unleash a plague virus on the
unsuspecting citizens of a major American city?”
“We have dealt with fanatics before,” said the Endless.
“Those same unnamed sources,” said Boris slowly, “reported that members of this group, The
Brotherhood of Holy Destruction, wielded seemingly supernatural powers. According to unconfirmed
reports, they smuggled Karsnov out of Russia on a magic carpet. I knew it sounded incredible, but I
thought it only proper I should mention the story to you.”
 “We have dealt with sorcery before as well,” said the Endless, her voice unchanged. “It exists,
but it can be stopped. We shall not fail.”
“I’m not worried,” said Boris, thinking of the previous sixty-three assignments. The meeting was
drawing to a close. There were only a few things left to be done. He reached into the attaché case at his
feet. “I brought along Karsnov’s files for you.”
“And a personal effect?” asked the Rager.