"Destroyer 078 - Blue Smoke and Mirrors.pdb" - читать интересную книгу автора (Williams Remo)

55
Chiun cocked an ear in the man's direction and his face grew more intent. He whispered something to Remo, who in response shook his head and hissed, "Not now."
"Where are the launch officers?" Robin shouted, turning around. "Step forward!"
Captains Auton and McCrone stepped forward sheepishly.
Robin Green shoved her flashlight into their faces. They fliched from its hard glare.
"Don't look away when I'm addressing you. Stand easy. I'm Green. OSI. Let's make this easier all the way around. You were both on duty. You sat twelve feet apart in full view of each other. Neither one of you could have lifted the module without collusion on the part of the other. Therefore, you're both guilty of theft and treason. Who wants to talk first?"
Captain Auton spoke up. "Ma'am, I had nothing to do with this. And I can vouch for Captain McCrone."
Robin frowned. "You!" she barked, switching the beam into Captain McCrone's dark eyes.
"Ma'am, I was sitting at my board, as was Captain Auton. The module may be missing from his console, but I can assure you that Captain Auton was at his post at all times."
"I see," Robin said tightly. "A pair of collaborators."
"Hold," Chiun said. "Allow me to speak with them."
"What good will that do?" Robin demanded hotly.
"I believe they speak the truth. I wish to verify this."
"And how do you propose to accomplish that?" Robin said, eyeing Chiun's scrawny arms as he shook them free of his sleeves.
"A simple interrogation," Chiun said blandly.
"That's up to OSI. This isn't your department." Robin turned to the stony-faced SP. "Guard, these two are not to interfere with my interrogation. Got that?"
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The SP took a tentative step forward.
Chiun turned to Remo. "Remo."
"Gotcha, Little Father," Remo said, flashing an A-okay sign.
Remo stepped back and took the surprised guard by one wrist. He pivoted in place, sending the man slip-sliding out of the control room. Remo shut the door after him. The guard could be heard beating on the thick metal with his truncheon and blowing his whistle furiously.
"Go ahead, Little Father," Remo said calmly.
The Master of Sinanju stepped up to the trembling officers.
"Do not be afraid," he murmured. "I wish merely to speak with you. Will you answer one, possibly two, simple questions from a harmless old man?"
The pair hesitated, looking to Robin Green.
Robin shrugged. "Go ahead."
"Here," Chiun said, extending clawlike fingers. "Take my infirm old hand, if it will reassure you."
When the pair took Chiun's hand in theirs, they suddenly fell to their knees, faces twisting, their bodies writhing in agony.
"Speak now!" Chiun urged them. "Only the truth will stop the pain."
"I don't know anything! Really!" Auton howled.
McCrone shrilled that she knew nothing either.
Auton pointed out that they were locked in this control room. If either of them had lifted the module, it would still be here.
Chiun released their hands. He faced Robin Green and tucked his hands together solemnly.
"They speak the truth," he announced.
"Nonsense," she retorted.
"Check out their story, then," Remo suggested. "Have the place searched."
"I'll need the guard."
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Remo released the door and the guard crashed in, his sidearm out and wavering between Remo and Chiun.
"Oh, put that away," Robin said in an annoyed tone.
When the SP hesitated, Remo relieved him of his helmet. He clamped it over the automatic and manipulated the helmet with swift finger strokes. The helmet rapidly compressed into a mashed ball that enveloped the guard's hand and weapon. The SP looked at it stupidly.
"How did you do that?" Robin Green wanted to know.
"Do what?" Remo asked casually.
"Oh, never mind," Robin said exasperatedly. She ordered the SP to go get his hand attended to.
The SP retreated from the room. Other SP's came, summoned by the first one's whistle. Robin ordered them to take apart every square inch of the room until they found the missing module.
After a three-hour search, no module turned up.
"I give up," Robin Green said morosely.
"Good," Chiun said. "Now it is my turn. Remo, the trunk."
"Over there, Little Father."
Chiun bent over his trunk and unlocked it with a brass key. He flung the lid back and came away with his hands full of what seemed to Remo like ceremonial objects.