"This is a different bomb now," I said, keeping one eye on the screen
and the other on the slowly opening outer door. "This one has receptors
on the hull. If you attempt to destroy any part of this ship, or even
gain entry to it, this one will detonate."
I was in space now, leaping across to the gigantic wall of the other
ship.
"What do you want?" These were the first words Pepe had spoken since
his first threats.
"I want to talk to you, arrange a deal. Something that would be
profitable for both of us. But let me first show you the rest of the
bombs, so you won't get any strange ideas about co-operating."
Of course I _had_ to show him the rest of the bombs, there was no
getting out of it. The scanners in the ship were following a planned
program. I made light talk about all my massive armament that would
carry us both to perdition, while I climbed through the hole in the
battleship's hull. There was no armor or warning devices at this spot,
it had been chosen carefully from the blueprints.
"Yeah, yeah ... I take your word for it, you're a flying bomb. So stop
with this roving reporter bit and tell me what you have in mind."
This time I didn't answer him, because I was running and panting like
a dog, and had the mike turned off. Just ahead, if the blueprints were
right, was the door to the control room. Pepe should be there.
I stepped through, gun out, and pointed it at the back of his head.
Angelina stood next to him, looking at the screen.
"The game's over," I said. "Stand up slowly and keep your hands in
sight."
"What do you mean," he said angrily, looking at the screen in front of
him. The girl caught wise first. She spun around and pointed.
"He's _here_!"
They both stared, gaped at me, caught off guard and completely
unprepared.
"You're under arrest, crime-king," I told him. "And your girl friend."
Angelina rolled her eyes up and slid slowly to the floor. Real or
faked, I didn't care. I kept the gun on Pepe's pudgy form while he
picked her up and carried her to an acceleration couch against the wall.
"What ... what will happen now?" He quavered the question. His pouchy
jaws shook and I swear there were tears in his eyes. I was not
impressed by his acting since I could clearly remember the dead men
floating in space. He stumbled over to a chair, half dropping into it.
"Will they do anything to me?" Angelina asked. Her eyes were open now.
"I have no idea of what will happen to you." I told her truthfully.
"That is up to the courts to decide."
"But he _made_ me do all those things," she wailed. She was young,
dark and beautiful, the tears did nothing to spoil this.
Pepe dropped his face into his hands and his shoulders shook. I flicked
the gun his way and snapped at him.
"Sit up, Pepe. I find it very hard to believe that you are crying.
There are some Naval ships on the way now, the automatic alarm was
triggered about a minute ago. I'm sure they'll be glad to see the man
who...."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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