'If you won't help us and we're obliged to work on this alone,' (it was as if Tzonov had got inside Trask's head, but Trask prayed that he hadn't), 'and if there's any profit in it ... then we alone reap the benefits. Can you really afford to refuse us? I should think you'd jump at the chance to help!'
He was right. If the visitor was like or 'of Harry, he must never be allowed to fall so easily into the Opposition's hands. What a weapon they'd make of him! Before Trask let that happen, and if it should be necessary, why he'd kill the visitor himself!
'Very well,' he nodded, 'you shall have our cooperation. But this is a busy time, Turkur, and if we're to work together in Perchorsk there are things I have to see to here first. I'll get my Duty Officer to phone youback, within the hour, to make the necessary arrangements.'
To phone me?' Tzonov raised his customary eyebrow. 'Is it not better to talk face to face?'
Trask smiled. The walls of trust are built by degrees, my friend. First pebbles, later boulders.'
The Russian nodded. 'And they are just as easily tumbled. Remove a pebble, and the whole wall breaks. That is one of our sayings.'
'Exactly,' Trask answered.
'Very well,' Tzonov agreed. 'My Duty Officer will stand by for your Duty Officer's call, for I too have things to put in order. Meanwhile, I shall look forward to working with you and yours.' His face disappeared from the screen and was replaced by white dazzle ...
'Just the two of us,' Trask spoke to his precogs. 'Myself and one of you two. The flip of a coin.' He held a penny, his good-luck piece of pre-decimal coinage, between thumb and finger.
Ian Goodly shook his head; his high-pitched voice belied his mournful expression as he answered, 'No need for that, Ben. We already know.'
Guy Teale pulled a wry face. 'I'm staying here. That's how we see it, anyway.'
Trask shrugged and said to Goodly, Then you'd better get your things together. It won't be long.' His advice wasn't necessary, but between them the espers kept their conversations as near normal as possible. As the precogs left his office, Trask saw David Chung waiting in the corridor and called him in.
'David?'
'I'd like to come with you.'
'You think you'd be of use?'