"I have no desire to control Europe. They probably deserve whatever troubles they have, and I'd rather let them fight. England holds all I shall ever want or need." He smiled. "The Bank of England, the Crown Jewels, the British Museum... I am satisfied with much less than the whole world, but I will not part with what I have."
The Thrush picked up his bowler and his briefcase. "If you are not willing to work with us, Mr. Rainbow, you certainly cannot be allowed to continue working at cross-purposes. We are a worldwide organization, and for a local operation to interfere with our larger plans is unheard of. If this sounds like a threat, please accept it as such."
Rainbow stood firmly, but his face clouded again. "Damme, sir, if I will give over to a bunch of heaven-forsaken foreigners. The finest police force in the world has been unable to run me to earth - you found me only by a stroke of fortune. You could not stop me and my men if it were to be an all-out war. My men are of the people, and can move among them at will. You will find few good men willing to join your organization in this country."
The visitor remained unmoved. "You will contact us as you have been instructed within the next twelve hours," he said. "Four-thirty tomorrow morning. Before that time you will have agreed to a price for these men. There is no alternative."
He turned and left. A messenger closed the door, and Johnnie Rainbow sank slowly into his seat. After several seconds he spoke again in a normal voice. "Mr. Solo - Mr. Kuryakin. Come down to the office again, please."
They descended the narrow stairs and rejoined their host. He looked up as they entered, and a trace of strain showed around his eyes.
"I give you my word, gentlemen, that this was not prearranged. Thrush is indeed pecking at my heels." He gestured them back to their seats, and continued. "It was by no means altruistic that I withheld you from their grasp. My ancestry is Scots, and wanton wastefulness is alien to my nature. I believe Thrush merely wanted to establish mastery over me. But I will not give way to them. I consider them not only melodramatic to the point of foolishness, but far too enamored of simple violence for my tastes. I have reached a point, gentlemen, where I need no longer take orders from men whom I do not respect.
"Thrush may be able to defeat me - they have the power, certainly, but I question their ability." He smiled briefly. "I expect to take a lot of killing. At this moment, since this is apparently to be a war, I must do all I can to inflict damage on my enemy before his impending attack. I have an advantage over him because of the extreme amorphousness of my operation. I have less than thirty people working for me full-time; all my labor is contracted out to independents who know nothing beyond their assignment. Thrush, on the other hand, has a fairly large central organization with a number of local semi-autonomous things -"
"Satraps," said Illya. "Although the correct term is 'satrapy' for the local group, and 'satrap' being the individual in charge. The meaning has slipped askew in three or four thousand years."
"Thrush Central is large," agreed Napoleon, "but highly mobile. It seems to be able to be anywhere in the world, but it doesn't stay there, but it doesn't move. We hope to get a little more data on this sometime. The satrapies are in constant communication with Central, where the Ultimate Computer is located."
Rainbow nodded. "They keep in touch by means of a miniaturized satellite computer on a random time sharing basis. The satrap has a small computer-combined-with-multiplex-transceiver. The whole thing can travel in a large suitcase or a small trunk. It is tied into the Master, which in this case is the Ultimate Computer, and is used for most secure messages, instant access to all data anywhere within the organization, daily orders, and all record storage. A Thrush-backed small business with a satellite computer can edge out its competition because it will not have to buy time on a computer or maintain one."
Illya's eyes were a little wider than usual. "The satellite has access to the entire storage of the Ultimate Computer?" he said quietly.
"Of course," said Rainbow. "But the satellites are heavily protected against kidnapping. Any attempt to take one without authorization would simply result in the machine's wiping all memory banks and irretrievably severing communications with the Ultimate Computer."
"Nothing is perfect," said Napoleon. "It would be a challenge."
Rainbow smiled. "We may discuss that later," he said. "There is much more you might like to know. Before I give it to you, I offer a treaty. My operation may be severely damaged soon, and your job will essentially have been accomplished. Will you agree to do what you can to keep U.N.C.L.E. off my back for a while in return for useful information and – possibly - some practical cooperation against Thrush?"
"We can't promise anything," said Napoleon. "But we can make a full and favorable report to our chief, including your offer. He is the only one who can accept or decline."
"I could ask little better," said Rainbow. "You are men of honor, and your word is good."
"Thank you," said Illya. "Now about that computer…"
Chapter 15
How Napoleon and Illya Departed Precipitously, and the Dawn Truly Came Up Like Thunder.
THE REMAINDER of the afternoon was spent in conversation. Illya's photographic memory took down everything he heard and fastened the threads together.
"There are three Ultimate Computers, actually," said Johnnie Rainbow at one point. "And here and there about the world, in the most unexpected places, are large concealed areas with a water supply, electrical lines, sewage, and full covers. One Thrush Central, call it alpha, is in one of these - perhaps a warehouse in Liverpool. At the same time, in a large cave in Argentina, Thrush Central beta is on standby, ready to go into operation literally at a second's notice. Also at the same time, Thrush Central gamma is in transit from an office building in Karachi to a tramp freighter which will cruise about the Pacific Ocean for several weeks. When gamma is completely set up and functioning, alpha dumps the records since it went active into beta's bank, and hands active control over to beta. Then alpha transfers all data into gamma's bank, gamma goes on stand-by, and alpha is torn down and moved to Reykjavik. One Thrush Central may maintain control for as short a time as two weeks or as long as two months. The Computer tells them when and where to move in a completely random manner.
"The twelve members of the Supreme Council very rarely meet. Their communications are normally through their satellite computers, and the Ultimate Computer maintains records of all their discussions."
"And the satellite computers have complete access to the Ultimate Computer," Illya said again under his breath.
"But they are impossible to steal," Rainbow reminded him, and Illya looked up strangely.
"Are they impossible to steal?" he asked directly.
Johnnie cleared his throat. "I don't know yet," he said, and the corners of his eyes crinkled slightly. Then he rose to his feet. "Come along, gentlemen. I would like to see how the work is proceeding." He guided them to the door, and they started out.