Free One and Wonder by Evan Filipek Page B

miniature guided missile launcher, rather than a gun. It seemed fantastically small, yet the lank man had a strangely confident air of facing the cruiser's weapons on even terms.
    The girl was listening again to her radiphone. She twisted knobs on the case at her belt, and finally shook her dark head.
    “Nothing.” Her voice was gloomy. “They're taking too long.”
    Hudd's life-craft approached us swiftly, a bright projectile floating nearly upright on a jet of screaming fire. It crossed the burning forest to land near the other craft. The valves slammed open as soon as the dust had cleared, and Hudd's aide jumped out.
    The hard-bitten commander darted across the blasted ground and hurried up to us. He seemed upset by Hudd's decision. First he wantedCameron and the Enlows to come aboard the life-craft to talk; then he wanted to send a bodyguard with Hudd; finally he warned that a general bombardment of the surrounding country would begin at once, if anything happened to Hudd.
    “We've come for the killers,” the lean man informed him gravely. “Since Mr. Cameron has taken the Brotherhood oath, the three of us form a competent court. We're bound to listen to any evidence that Mr. Hudd can offer. He will not be harmed, unless he tries to interfere.”
    Outraged, the commander went back. Immediately Mr. Julian Hudd climbed down between the bright fins. He came out of the burned area at a painful, heavy run. Gasping for breath, he waddled up to the dam. “Well, Jim!”
    He grinned at Cameron, shook hands with the rawboned man, gave the girl a bow of open admiration. His small, shrewd eyes studied the unfinished dam and the abandoned machine in the gully.
    “The incident here was most regrettable.” Hudd's voice was a chesty, confident rumble. “I'll see that adequate compensation is paid. Personally. You people needn't concern yourselves any further.”
    His keen bloodshot eyes studied the gaunt man. “Now, I want to take up something more important. I've been trying to get in touch with your government.” His broad, blue-tinged face was still a genial mask, but his loud voice turned imperious. “I demand that your government—” The lank man's voice was very quiet, yet the cold ring of it made Hudd stop to listen.
    “We have no government,” said Frank Enlow.
    Hudd puffed out his cheeks, slowly turning red with anger.
    “That's the surprising fact, Mr. Hudd,” Cameron assured him gravely. “You'll have to get used to it. When the equalizer appeared, nations became extinct.”
    Ignoring him, Hudd glared at the lank man.
    “You must have some organization.”
    “Only the Brotherhood,” Enlow said. “It has no power to surrender anybody to you, because membership is voluntary.”
    Hudd's red eyes blinked, skeptical and defiant.
    “Get in touch with this Brotherhood.” His voice was rasping, arrogant. “Have them send a responsible agent. Have him here by noon, local time.” He paused, ominously. “Otherwise, the task force and Fort America will open fire, at every likely target we can find.”
    Cameron made a startled gesture, as if to catch his arm.
    “Please, Mr. Hudd,” he protested sharply. “Wait until you know what you're doing.”
    Hudd kept his savage little eyes on Enlow.
    “The young lady, I see, has a radiophone.” His voice was loud and ominous. “You had better start calling this Brotherhood—”
    “We came here for another purpose.” The lank man met his truculent gaze, unimpressed. “We've come for the killers.”
    Hudd's bluish face swelled again with anger.
    “Nonsense!” he shouted. “Mr. Lord is my second in command. He was acting under orders. I assume the responsibility. I'll pay for any unjust damage, but I refuse to subject him to humiliation.”
    The lean man listened to that, and nodded his rawboned head, and stalked away silently toward the ravine. Cameron hurried after him, visibly alarmed.
    “The killers can wait,” he called urgently. “Doyle must be trying.