12
The following week was busy. Each morning, Two Hawks spent three hours with language lessons. After these, he worked until midnight or later in his office. This was in a huge factory on the outskirts of Berlin. He rode to work in a car which was preceded and followed by armored cars. He knew they were there not only to bar his escape but to guard him against assassination.
Raske gave him the task of building a device to synchronize machine-gun fire with the revolutions of an airplane propeller. Two Hawks knew the basic principles. Even so, it took him four days to construct a prototype. His first job done, he then supervised a group working on rockets to be fired from an airplane. This took him a week. After that, he was made head engineer of a group that was designing machines, tools, and techniques for building aircraft on a mass basis.
Two Hawks had only gotten started on this when Raske removed him. The German said, ‘I have a much more interesting job. You and I are going to train pilots. These will be the nucleus of the Imperial Perkunishan Air Force. How does it feel to be cofounder of an air force?’
Raske glowed with joy. He was always enthusiastic, happy, and optimistic. Two Hawks knew that Raske would have him shot if he thought Two Hawks was a traitor, but he could not help liking Raske. The feeling certainly made it easier to work with, and for him.
Three weeks passed. Fall came swiftly; winter would soon be here. Two Hawks asked Kwasind if he had received any more messages from the Blodland agents. Kwasind replied, ‘No. I was told I would not be contacted again until they’re ready to act.’
Two Hawks did not tell Kwasind that he was not, at the moment, concerned about escape. Despite himself, he was getting enthusiastic about the pilot-training. By then, there were four tandem two-seater monoplanes ready, all hand-built. Each had a rotary, water-cooled, 12-cylinder engine, dual controls, and a range of 150 miles. They could cruise at 100 mph.
They were far from being what Raske could have built if he had had more time and better materials. Aluminium was lacking, and the steel was not even up to the 1918 A.D. standards of Earth 1. The gasoline was low grade. Thus, the airplane had to be of utmost simplicity and confined in speed and range. Still, they were adequate for the present purposes of the Perkunishan Air Force, which were scouting and strafing and bombing of near-front ammunition dumps. And the destruction of dirigibles.
Raske planned on building more rugged and faster pursuit planes later and also hoped to have a force of two-motored bombers. The Perkunishan High Command said that this would have to be much later. It expected to have finished conquest of Europe before these were needed. When the time came to tackle the Ikhwani of South Africa and the Saariset (the Finnic speakers of the Japanese islands of Earth 1), then better and more varied aircraft could be designed.
The day that Raske flew the first one, the Kassandras himself came out with the High Command to observe.
The Perkunishan ruler was a tall, heavily bearded man in his early fifties. He had lost his right arm in the last war when he led an infantry charge against the only Blodlandish fort holding out on the European mainland. During the face-to-face combat that followed, a Blodlandish officer had severed the young officer’s arm during a sword-fight. The outraged Perkunishan troops had executed the Blodlandish victor and then massacred all the defenders.
Two Hawks was introduced to the Kassandras. Having been drilled for an hour on the ritual phrases and gestures used during the occasion, he got through it without disgracing himself. The Kassandras had Two Hawks stand by him since he wanted his technical questions answered while Raske was aloft. Raske swaggered out of the hangar. He wore a red, black, and blue uniform he had designed himself as the dress of the new air force. On his head was a helmet with a spike on top, a long yellow scarf was tied around his neck, and he carried a pair of goggles with hexagonal rims.
The Kassandras’ daughter, Persinai, went to him, and he put his arm around her waist and kissed her lightly on the cheek. Her father did not seem to mind what they were doing, but some of the noblemen scowled. They belonged to a faction that did not like the princess being in love with a foreigner and, far worse, a commoner. Nor did they like the power he had in military affairs. It was no secret that the head of Internal Security, himself only a lesser nobleman, half-Rasnan, was a very good friend of Raske’s.
Raske climbed into the plane and started the engine. This made the High Command gasp, since internal-combustion ground vehicles so far had to be cranked and the dirigible motors had to be turned over by auxiliary steam-engines before starting. The silvery low-wing monoplane took off, climbed to 3,000 feet, and then went through a series of spins, loops, and Immelmans. It came in for a three-point landing. Two Hawks winced at the impact on the rubberless rims of the wheels. While the others clustered around Raske to congratulate him, Two Hawks examined the landing gear. The spokes of the wheels were bent a little. After a few more landings, the wheels would have to be replaced. It would be two or more years before synthetic rubber would be available. The chemists were experimenting on the basis of information from Raske, but he had only a vague idea about the making of neoprene from chloroprene.
The next five days, the German and the American tested out all four prototypes. They also made machine-gun strafing attacks on dummies on the ground, shot rockets, and dropped bombs. Two Hawks noticed that, when he took a plane up, its tank was always only a quarter-full. Raske was taking no chances that his colleague might cut and run for the sea-coast, only 90 miles away.
The aircraft factory was working in three shifts at top speed. Despite this, the first mass-produced planes would not be turned out for at least a month. Raske and Two Hawks were up in the air every daylight hour training pilots. When ten had enough skill (not in Two Hawks’ estimation), they began to instruct others. The inevitable happened. One plane spun in with both instructor and student. Another stalled during takeoff and was completely demolished, although the pilot suffered only minor injuries.
Raske was furious. ‘We’ve only two left. And we’re losing time on those, what with repairs and changing wheels!’
Two Hawks shrugged, but he was more concerned than he appeared. He had a plan which required one of the planes. If the accidents continued, he would be grounded for a long time.
One evening, while he was working on a design for auxiliary detachable fuel tanks, Kwasind came into his study.
‘Day after tomorrow,’ he said. ‘The Blodlandish agent says we must be ready when dusk comes. Just before we leave the airfield to come here.’
‘What’s the plan?’
Kwasind said that the two armored cars which usually accompanied them would be ordered off to deal with a fake emergency. The order would be given by a Blodlandish agent in the uniform of a Kreion (general). After the guards had driven off, Kwasind would kill the soldier that rode with them, and Two Hawks would dispose of the chauffeur. Should the commander of the armored cars refuse to obey the pseudo-kreion’s orders, both cars would be bombed and the survivors shot by agents hidden near the field. However, the Blodlandish hoped this would not be necessary.
‘Where are they taking us?’
‘They’ll drive us through the country at night and we’ll hide out during the day at various stations. When we get to the coast, a boat will take us to Tyrsland (Sweden). Perkunisha hasn’t invaded Tyrsland yet, it isn’t strong enough to worry about. In Tyrsland, we’ll be flown out by a dirigible to Norway. From there, a ship will take us to Blodland.’
‘Sounds risky to me,’ Two Hawks said. ‘But I guess they know what they are doing.’
Raske greeted him as he came into the hangar just after the second of the morning’s instruction flights. The German had a peculiar smile. Two Hawks wondered if the escape plot had somehow been exposed. He looked around for arresting officers, but everything seemed normal. The workers were putting together two new planes, the parts for which had been rushed through factories and shipped to the field. A group of students was listening to a lecture by one of the recently graduated aviators. The only soldiers in sight were the usual guards. Nevertheless, he patted the derringer stuck inside his belt to reassure himself that it was there. The Itskapintik police had missed it when they had searched him, they were so eager to get to Ilmika. And the Perkunishans had never searched him because they presumed the Itskapintik had done so.
Raske said, ‘You once told me you admired the Lady Ilmika. How would you like to have her?’
‘What do you mean?’ Two Hawks said. He was not sure that Raske was not trying to trap him, although he did not know how an interest in her could do it.
‘Don’t you know what’s happened to her?’
Two Hawks shook his head.
‘I don’t suppose anybody told you. She’s in disgrace; she’s in prison. The Kassandras himself offered her her freedom if she would renounce Blodland for allegiance to Perkunisha. The stupid bitch slapped his face! Can you imagine that? Struck the Kassandras in the face and before the entire court! It’s a wonder she wasn’t executed on the spot! Believe me, His Majesty was angry enough to do it.
‘But his wife pleaded for the girl, and the Kassandras merely had her imprisoned. He couldn’t stand being humiliated, however, so he’s been thinking of some suitable punishment for her.’
Raske grinned and continued, ‘I remembered how you said she was so beautiful, but you’d never be able to touch her. So, my red-skinned friend, just to show what a high regard I have for you, and also how I take care of my own. I’ve arranged for you to have your heart’s desire. I spoke to the Kassandras this morning, and he was delighted. He believes my plan will provide the abasement and the hurt she deserves. And you’ll be benefited. I wish I were in your shoes. I’d love to have her for myself. Only I wouldn’t dare. The Kassandras’ daughter isn’t very liberal minded.’
‘Are you serious?’ Two Hawks said.
Raske laughed and said, ‘The Lady Ilmika, niece to the Milka (king) of Blodland and grandniece to the Kassandras, is yours! She’s to be your slave! You have carte blanche with her. I … What’s the matter, Zwei Habichteril I thought you’d be delighted. Or are you …?’
‘Overwhelmed is the word,’ Two Hawks said. ‘Only. Never mind. What happens to her if I don’t accept her?’
‘Not accept? You must be out of your mind! Seligl If you are so insane to reject my offer—well, I don’t know. I heard that Ilmika could be placed in solitary until she dies. Or perhaps sent to a military brothel, although I don’t really think the Kassandras would do that to his grandniece. Who knows? Who cares?’
Two Hawks should not have cared. But he did. Without considering the realities and logic of his situation, he knew he had to take Ilmika in as his slave. This was the only way to save her. Her presence would complicate the escape plan. The Blodlandish agents would be furious. Or would they? She was the daughter of a noble and niece to the ruler of their country. Why wouldn’t they be glad to include her?
He said, ‘O.K. Send her over.’
Raske clapped him on the shoulder and winked. ‘Tell me how it works out, heh?’
Two Hawks wanted to hit him but forced himself to unclench his fists and to smile.
‘I might do that.’
Raske said that they had had enough fun; they must get back to work. Two Hawks would have to handle the aviation school today. Raske had to attend a conference with the head of Ordnance.
‘He’s the most reactionary and stupid man I ever met,’ Raske said. ‘I designed a clip-loaded carbine which will give the infantryman ten times the firepower he now has. Do you think that pighead will accept it? No, he says the common soldier will misuse it; he’ll spray the bullets instead of taking careful aim. The carbine will waste ammunition.
‘However, that isn’t his only reason for not wanting my carbine! Did you know that the gatling gun crews are all officers? No noncoms or privates are allowed to handle a gatling except in extreme emergencies. This ridiculous rule is based on what happened thirty years ago. When Perkunisha was defeated, part of the army and a great number of workers, serfs, and slaves revolted. The uprising was stamped out, but ever since then the aristocracy has made sure the commoner doesn’t get his hands on powerful weapons. The rule might have been necessary at one time, but now it’s absurd! The swine!’
Two Hawks waited until an hour before dusk to begin the initial stage of his plan. Raske was not likely to come to the field at this late hour, so Two Hawks felt safe. On the pretext that one of the planes had a motor that sounded peculiar, he grounded the plane. Then, as if the thought had suddenly come to him, he announced that he wanted to try an experiment. While some mechanics were trying to locate the source of the ‘funny noise,’ others were welding attachments to two gasoline tanks. These, Two Hawks explained, were to be installed on the underside of the wings. The tanks were fitted to the mounting apparatus for the rockets. Hoses were connected to the tanks and run up to the motor’s gasoline intake. He supervised the installation of necessary valves. By then, those working on the motor said that they could not locate the supposed trouble. Two Hawks told them to forget about it; he might have been mistaken. He climbed into the cockpit and restarted the motor. The main gas tanks had been drained until they were almost empty. Two Hawks let the motor run for several minutes before turning on the valve to the auxiliary tanks. The motor continued to turn over without a single miss during the switchover.
It was midnight by then. Two Hawks ordered the auxiliaries disconnected and removed. He had the tanks carried back to the hangar rear, where they would be out of Raske’s sight. On the way back to the apartment in Berlin, he explained what he had done to Kwasind.
‘I want you to get hold of your contact and find out what he intends to do. Tell him the plans have been changed. No, better still, have him talk directly to me. I have to explain in detail what’s needed.’
Kwasind protested that the Blodlandish would refuse. It was too dangerous to contact Two Hawks personally.
‘Tell him if he doesn’t, the whole thing’s off. Now, when can I meet him?’
‘Early tomorrow morning. Before you leave for the airfield,’ Kwasind said.
When they walked into their suite, they found two soldiers with Ilmika Thorrsstein. She sat on a sofa, her hands folded on her lap, her back straight, her face haughty. Despite her dignity, she looked washed out. The coil of long blonde hair on top of her head was loose, with strands of straying hair, and she wore no makeup. Moreover, she wore a loose-fitting blouse and skirt of cheap dyed cotton, a slave girl’s garments.
When she saw Two Hawks enter, her eyes widened and her lips parted. Evidently she had not been told whose apartment this was. Perhaps, she did not know what her lot was to be.
Two Hawks dismissed the soldiers.
She spoke first. ‘What am I doing here?’
Two Hawks told her bluntly. She took the news without flinching.
‘You must be tired and hungry,’ Two Hawks said. ‘Kwasind, bring her some food and wine.’
‘And then?’ she said. She gazed steadily at him. He grinned at her until she flushed.
‘Not what you think,’ he said. ‘I don’t want a woman who doesn’t desire me. I won’t force you.’
She looked at the two Kinnukinuk girls, who had just come out of the kitchen.
‘What about them?’
‘They’re slaves. They won’t be staying tonight. You can sleep in their room. What’s more, you can lock the door on the inside.’
Suddenly, tears ran down her cheeks. Her lips quivered. She rose to her feet and then began to sob loudly. He put his arm around her shoulders and pressed her face against his chest. She cried violently for a few minutes before drawing away from him. He gave her a handkerchief to dry her tears. Kwasind appeared and said that her supper was ready in her room. Ilmika, without a word, followed Kwasind.
When the giant had returned, Two Hawks said, ‘I’ll talk to her before she goes to sleep. She has to know what’s going on.’
‘Why are you doing this for her?’
‘Maybe I’m in love with her. Or maybe I’m hopelessly chivalric—a red-skinned Gawain. I don’t know. I do know I can’t just let her be locked up for the rest of her life or be sent to an army whorehouse.’
Kwasind shrugged to indicate that he did not understand. But if Two Hawks wanted it that way, so be it.
After a short and unrefreshing sleep, Two Hawks left the bedroom to go to the kitchen. He stopped when he saw a man in the recreation room talking to Kwasind. The stranger wore the blue-and-grey of a servant and carried a bundle of linen. He had long brown hair, a thick brown moustache, and a hawk nose. His name—his real name—was Rulf Andersson.
Two Hawks ordered the two into his room. While Andersson busied himself changing the bedclothes, he talked in a low voice.
‘Kwasind told me your plan. You’re insane!’
‘Would Blodland like to have a brand-new flying machine?’
Two Hawks said. ‘A readymade model the possession of which would cut months off of the designing and building of others? My plan isn’t impossible. In fact, it’s the very daring, the very unexpectedness of it, that will aid its success.’
‘I don’t know,’ Andersson said, ‘It’s fantastic’
‘Can you get in touch with your compatriots in Tyrsland?’
‘Yes. But to set up what you want, we need a few days.’
‘No extra time,’ Two Hawks said. ‘Raske is bound to notice the auxiliaries sooner or later. Or somebody will tell him about them. We have to move fast. Day after tomorrow, the latest.’
‘All right, we’ll do it. I’ll see Kwasind later, and he’ll tell you if we’ll be able to make it.’
Two Hawks explained his plan in detail and made sure that Andersson knew exactly what was required. The agent left. Two Hawks tried the door to Ilmika’s room. It was locked.
‘Kwasind, you stay here today. We have to pretend we are going along with the idea she’s my slave. So you make her do some work here, dust, cook, and so on. Get her some makeup and pretty clothes. I wouldn’t want my slave mistress to be unattractive, would I?’
He left for the airfield. He was busy that day, since he also had to do Raske’s work. The German was at a conference with the High Command. This was fine with Two Hawks. He did more work on the auxiliary tanks and then took the plane up for a flight test of the apparatus. After landing, he was met by the officer in charge of assembling two planes in the rear of the hangar. The officer told him that the planes were ready for installation of their gas tanks. The auxiliaries would have to be removed from the plane and the attachments cut off. He was sorry, but there were no other tanks on hand to use.
‘Very well,’ Two Hawks said. ‘Do it tomorrow.’
‘But Raske ordered that the planes be assembled without delay. The second and third shifts can install the tanks tonight.’
Scowling, Two Hawks spoke harshly.
‘I want Raske to see my auxiliaries. They’ll extend the range of our planes by a hundred miles. No, this is far more important than a day’s hold up on those machines. I order you to leave those gas tanks alone.’
‘My men won’t have anything to do! Raske will hold me responsible for the delay!’
‘I’ll take full responsibility,’ Two Hawks said. ‘You and your men take the night off. You’ve been working too hard. I’ll sign the order for a night’s leave.’
The officer seemed reluctant, but he saluted and then walked off to tell the others the new orders. Two Hawks watched him. There was a chance the officer might phone Raske to get verification of the change. If Raske heard of this, he would guess at once what the American meant to do.
Two Hawks went after the officer.
‘You seem to be worrying that you may get into trouble,’ he said. I suggest you call Raske now. If he orders you to continue work, then do so. I will still be responsible for any delay up to the moment you get into contact with him.’
The officer brightened. He hastened away, only to return in ten minutes with a frustrated expression. ‘He is in conference. He refused to talk to me but did send word that if I had any problems, I was to go to you.’
‘So, you see, you have no more responsibility.’
Two Hawks breathed easier; his gamble had paid off.
Kwasind met Two Hawks the moment he walked into the suite.
‘Andersson says that the agents in Tyrsland have been informed about the change in plans. And the agents at the emergency field are ready, just in case. Andersson can’t tell us any more until tomorrow morning. But he’s very worried. If the winds along the coast are too strong, the plane can’t be gotten out.’
‘In that case, we’ll have to forget about the plane and take the fishing boat,’ Two Hawks said. ‘Where’s Ilmika?’
‘She just went into her room.’
Two Hawks knocked at her door. It swung open to reveal a different woman—on the outside, anyway. Her Psyche knot was flawless, her eyes were made up, and her lips rouged. She was wearing a Neo-Cretan gown, cut low in front, a golden belt tight around her waist, and a hoop skirt with a broad V in front which showed a rich silk petticoat.
‘Her Ladyship looks beautiful,’ he said. ‘However, you’ll have to change into something less attractive but more durable and unrestraining. Can you look like a Perkunishan soldier?’
She laughed and said, ‘I’ve been cutting and sewing all day to refit one of your uniforms.’
Seeing him raise his eyebrows, she said, ‘Blodlandish ladies have slaves or servants to do the work, but they’re still taught all the domestic arts. How can we properly educate and supervise our slaves if we know nothing ourselves?’
‘That seems sensible,’ he replied. He had much to say about slavery, most of it condemnation. This was, however, no time for discussion.
‘We’ll leave early enough to get to the airfield before daybreak. I’ve purposely not held to a rigid schedule, so there’ll be no suspicions about variations in departure.’
She looked so fresh and beautiful that he wanted to kiss her. He restrained the impulse, knowing that she would be offended. Even if she were attracted to him, she could show no more affection towards him than towards any faithful servant or devoted commoner.
He said goodnight to her and went to bed. He fell asleep at once and, it seemed a minute later, was being shaken by Kwasind.
‘It can’t be time yet?’
‘No. You’re wanted on the phone. It’s Raske.’
‘At this hour?’ By the dim light of the gas jet, he looked at the clock on the bedside table. It was 2 a.m. ‘What the hell can he want?’
Kwasind said, ‘I don’t know. I hope nothing’s wrong.’
Two Hawks lurched into the next room and picked up the phone. There was a hiss and crackle on the line, and Raske’s voice sounded a little blurred. The Perkunishan system of reproducing voice left much to be desired.
‘Raske?’
Two Hawks!’ Raske exploded. ‘What’re you trying to pull? As if I didn’t know! You ought to be smarter than that, my Indian friend!’
Two Hawks said, ‘What are you talking about?’
Raske told him. It was as Two Hawks had feared. The worrywart in charge of assembly had not been reassured enough. After agonizing for a long time, he had tried again to get hold of Raske. This time, he succeeded in reaching the German, who was at a party given by the Kassandras’ wife. As soon as Raske was told about the auxiliaries, he had guessed Two Hawks’ purpose.
‘I’m not going to say anything to anybody about this,’ Raske said. ‘I like you. What’s more important, I need you. So you’re getting off easily. But you’re going to have less freedom. You’ll follow a schedule to the minute; I’ll know where you are and what you’re doing every second of the day and night.’
Raske paused. Two Hawks did not reply. With a slightly plaintive tone, the German resumed.
‘Why do you want to run off? You’ve got it made here. Blodland can’t give you a thing. Besides, Blodland is doomed. It’ll be conquered by this time next year.’
‘I’m just not sympatico with the Perkunishans,’ Two Hawks said. ‘They remind me of the Germans too much.’
‘You red-skinned swine!’
Raske stopped again. Two Hawks could hear him breathing heavily. Then, ‘One more trick, and you go to the firing squad! Or to the torture chamber! Do you understand me?’
‘I get you,’ Two Hawks said. ‘Anything else? I want to get back to bed.’
Surprisingly, Raske laughed. ‘You’re a cool one. I like that. Very well. You will leave your suite at exactly 6 a.m. and will report to the airfield commander as soon as you arrive. Moreover, your slave Kwasind, is to be restricted to the suite. I’ll notify your guards at once. Another thing. If you don’t behave, your little blonde playmate will be taken away. Got it?’
‘Got it,’ Two Hawks said. He hung up.