“Nothing in orbit?”
“Nothing’s been over this country, sir, since the interception.”
“Good.” The Prime Minister mused. “Reinhart was due for a knighthood anyway.”
“And Geers?”
“Oh yes. C.B.E. probably.”
Burdett prepared for business. “And the computer and its, er, agent, sir?”
“We might make the young lady a Dame,” said the Prime Minister with one of his camouflage twinkles.
“I mean,” asked Burdett, “what happens to them? The Ministry of Science want them to revert.”
The Prime Minister continued to look amused. “We can’t have that, can we?” he said.
“We’ve a heavy military programme for it.”
“Also a heavy economic one.”
“What do you mean, sir?”
“I mean,” said the Prime Minister seriously, “that if this particular combination can achieve that for us, it can achieve a lot of other things. Of course it must still work on defence, but at the same time it has a very great industrial potential. We want to be rich, you know, as well as strong. The scientists have given us—and I’m very grateful to them—the most advanced thinking instrument in the world. It’s going to make it possible for us to leap forward, as a country, in a great many fields. And about time too.”
“Are you going to keep it in your own hands, sir?” Burdett spoke with a mixture of irritation and deference.
“Yes. I shall make a statement to the nation in the near future.”
“You’re not going to make it public?”
“Don’t flap, man.” The Prime Minister regarded him blandly. “I shall say something about the effects, but the means will remain top secret. That’ll be your responsibility.”
Burdett nodded. “What can I tell Vandenberg?”
“Tell him to rest his feet. No, you can say to him that we’re going to be a great little country again, but we’ll continue to co-operate with our allies. With any allies we can get, in fact.” He paused for a moment while Burdett waited politely. “I shall go to Thorness myself as soon as I can.”
The visit was arranged in a few days—it was obviously priority in the Prime Minister’s mind. Judy and Quadring had some difficulty in concealing it from the press, for public curiosity was at its height; but in the end it was laid on with due secrecy and the compound and its inhabitants were quietly and discreetly groomed. Geers had changed distinctly since his success. Confidence was something new to him. It was as though he had taken the chips off his shoulder and put them away. He was brisk but affable, and he not only allowed Dawnay and Fleming access to the computer again but urged them to be on parade for the Prime Minister’s tour. He wanted everyone, he said, to have their due.
Fleming had private doubts about this window-dressing but kept them to himself; at least there might be an opportunity to speak. He arrived in the computer building early on the day of the visit, and found Andromeda waiting there alone. She also appeared transformed. Her long hair had been brushed back from her face and, instead of her usual simple frock, she wore a sort of Grecian garment which clung to her breasts and thighs and floated away behind her.
“Phew!” he said. “Something human’ll happen to you if you go round like that.”
“You mean these clothes?” she asked with faint interest.
“You’ll make one hell of an impression, but then you already have. There’ll be no holding you now, will there?” he asked sourly. Andromeda glanced at him without replying. “He’ll probably ask you to take over Number Ten, and I suppose you think we’ll sleep easy in our beds, now we’ve seen how powerful you are. I suppose you think we’re all fools.”
“You are not a fool,” she said.
“If I weren’t a fool, you wouldn’t be here now! You shoot down a little bit of metal from the sky—chickenfecd when you know how—and suddenly you’re in a commanding position.”
“That was intended.” She faced him expressionlessly.
“And what’s intended next?”
“It depends on the programme.”
“Yes.” He advanced towards her. “You’re a slave, aren’t you?”
“Why don’t you go?” she asked.
“Go?”
“Now. While you can.”
“Make me!” He stared at her, hard and hostile, but she turned her head away.
“I may have to,” she said.
He stood, challenging her to go on, but she would not be drawn. After a few seconds he looked at his watch and grunted.
“I wish this diplomatic circus would come and get it over.”
When the Prime Minister did arrive, he was escorted by officials, politicians and Scotland Yard heavies. Geers led him in. They were followed by Burdett and Hunter and by a train of lesser beings, dwindling away to Judy, who came at the end and closed doors behind them. Geers indicated the control-room with a sweep of his arm.
“This is the actual computer, sir.”
“Quite incomprehensible to me,” said the Prime Minister, as if this were an advantage. He caught sight of Andromeda. “Hallo, young lady. Congratulations.”
He walked towards her with his hand outstretched, and she took and shook it stiffly.
“You understand all this?” he asked her.
She smiled politely.
“I’m sure you do, and we are all very beholden. It’s quite a change for us in this old country to be able to make a show of force. We shall have to take great care of you. Are they looking after you all right?”
“Yes, thank you.”
The visiting party stood round in a half circle, watching and admiring her, but she said nothing else.
Fleming caught Judy’s eye and nodded towards the Prime Minister. For a moment she could not think what he wanted, then she understood and edged in beside Geers.
“I don’t think the Prime Minister has met Dr. Fleming,” she whispered.
Geers frowned; his good fellowship seemed to be wearing a little thin in places.
“Good, good.” The Prime Minister could think of nothing more to say to Andromeda. He turned back to Geers.
“And where do you keep the rocketry?”
“I’ll show you, sir. And I’d like you to see the laboratory.”
They moved on, leaving Judy standing. “Dr. Fleming—” she tried unsuccessfully, but they did not hear her. Fleming stepped forward.
“Excuse me a moment—”
Geers turned to him with a scowl. “Not now, Fleming.”
“But—”
“What does the young man want?” the Prime Minister inquired mildly.
Geers switched on a smile.
“Nothing, sir. He doesn’t want anything.”
The Prime Minister walked on tactfully, and as Fleming moved forward again Hunter laid a hand on his arm.
“For goodness sake!” Hunter hissed.
At the door of the lab bay Geers turned back.
“You’d better come with us.” He spoke to Andromeda, ignoring the others.
“Come along, my dear,” said the Prime Minister, standing aside for her. “Brains and beauty first.”
The procession filed out into the laboratory, except for Judy.
“Coming?” she asked Fleming, who stood staring after them
He shook his head. “That was great, wasn’t it?”
“I did my best.”
“Great.”
Judy fidgeted with her handkerchief. “At least you should have been allowed to speak to him. I suppose he’s shrewd, though he looks a bit of an old woman.”
“Like another.”
“Who?”
“Of Riga.” He gave her a faint grin. “Who went for a ride on a tiger. They finished the ride with the lady inside, and a smile on the face of the tiger.”
She knew the limerick, and felt irritated. “We’re all going for a ride, except you?”
“You know what she said to me just now?”
“No.”
He changed his mind and looked away from Judy to the control panel. “I’ve an idea.”