Einstein Dog (26 page)

“Incredible!” Petrovitch cried.

“And very useful. Until now one of the main drawbacks of the SMART technology has been the inability of the dogs to speak; with this improvement they will be able to issue commands in the field.”

“Issue commands, councillor? So you actually envision these dogs ordering people about?”

“Absolutely!” Hindquist warmed to his topic. “They will be one of our main instruments of social control and, as such, they will have to tell people what to do. Think how effective they can be, Ivan!”

He paused, allowing the councillor to absorb the significance of the moment.

“People have a natural fear of dogs and we shall be able to build on that. We could have thousands of SMART dogs in every city, all wired into the Global Council. We could keep the masses in a state of perpetual terror. Everyone will have witnessed a canine mauling; everyone will have felt a canine operative's bite. The natural caution of humans around stray dogs will be amplified into an ever-present fear we can use to control every aspect of our new order.”

“Diabolical,” Petrovitch chuckled.

“Yes!” Hindquist agreed.

Suddenly, though, Petrovitch frowned. “A pleasant dream, Frank,” he said at last. “But don't you think this scheme is a bit grandiose?”

“You don't understand!” Hindquist snapped, launching himself from his swivel chair and pacing angrily. “How long does it take for a human to mature enough so that he can be trained as a soldier or an agent?”

The Russian thought about it for a second, then said, “Seventeen or eighteen years.”

“A SMART dog can begin training after six months. How many children does the average family raise in North America and Europe?”

“Two, I would guess.”

“A SMART female can wean six or more pups in sixteen weeks.”

“I see your point,” Petrovitch acquiesced.

“No you don't!” the councillor of America North shouted, his frustration boiling over. “You and the others haven't grasped anything. How long does it take to train the average human operative, and how much does it cost?”

“I don't know,” Petrovitch responded irritably. “Two or three years and a couple of hundred thousand US dollars, I suppose.”

“A modest estimate, councillor,” Hindquist sneered. “But even at that it takes twice as long and is ten times as expensive as training a canine operative. We could put ten times as many SMART dogs in the field as humans, and replace them more quickly when there were casualties. They would be more effective, more expendable and more loyal than human operatives. They
could be
the Council's instrument of control throughout its global empire. Once you believe that, you will begin to appreciate the potential of this technology, Ivan.”

“All right Councillor Hindquist!” Petrovitch exploded. “I see your point, and will try to get the others to see it too . . . ”

Hindquist watched the image of Councillor Petrovitch shrink, then disappear. “Bingo!” he grinned, settling back into his swivel seat and locking his arms behind his head contentedly.

“You want to do what?” Bertrand squawked.

Hitch a ride into town on the AMOS truck,
Einstein repeated.

Why?

We've learned just about all we can at the AMOS plant. Cap and I figure there might be something worth finding farther up the road, if you know what I mean.
He described the place where the AMOS truck turned onto Highway 1 and their plan to jump on board.

“Jeez, Einstein, it sounds pretty risky.”

“What are you guys talking about?” Ariel wanted to know.

Cap grunted angrily. He didn't like her attending their planning sessions and used every pretext to let the others know. It was an unnecessary risk, he'd argued. One human in the mix was enough. Bertrand had not translated that bit of the discussion, but Ariel sensed Cap's unfriendliness.

They were meeting on the shaky platform of Fort Nicomekl, Breeze and Blizzard patrolling the perimeter while the others talked. Bertrand interpreted for Ariel. “You're right,” she said of Einstein's plan. “That does sound dangerous.”

If you can think of a better way, let's hear it,
Einstein argued.

What do you expect to find?

He'll know when he finds it,
Cap joked.

Seriously,
Einstein objected.
We've come up against a brick wall at AMOS. We could sit there watching for another year and we still wouldn't be any farther ahead. So if we're going to come up with a strategy we have to look somewhere else. The only lead I can see is those trucks. Where do they come from? What's in them?

“You're right,” Bertrand conceded.

He interpreted the discussion for Ariel.

So Cap and I will go tomorrow night then,
Einstein concluded.

“Not until you're better prepared,” Ariel said when Bertrand told her the decision.

What does she mean?
Cap growled, annoyed at her interference.

“At the very least, we should go over a map of metro Vancouver and show them the main routes in and out of town. Otherwise, how are they going to get back? From their description it sounds like the truck is heading west on the Trans-Canada. My guess is it's coming from the docks.”

“What makes you say that?” Bertrand interrupted.

“Well, it just makes sense. If Hindquist is an international arms dealer, he needs access to international shipping, right? We're talking arms, not the sort of stuff that would be easy to smuggle in and out of airports. He's shipping his supplies through the Port of Vancouver.”

It made sense.

“So we should put off the mission for at least one more day until they can be thoroughly briefed. They'll also have to learn how to read addresses. Do either of you know what an address is?”

She looked at the two dogs; they stared back dumbly.

“How are they going to tell us where the warehouse is located?” Ariel wanted to know.

“So we meet here again tomorrow,” Bertrand said, grinning. “And we'll plan this thing out to Ariel's satisfaction.”

Einstein agreed enthusiastically. Cap gave a reluctant grunt of approval. Then they ended the meeting quickly, the dogs dispersing separately into the Nicomekl underbrush, Bertrand and Ariel heading back into Forestview through the back gate.

“Good work,” Bertrand said.

“I know we have to do it, but I don't like this one bit,” Ariel replied.

“Yeah, me neither.”

“Speaking of not liking things, what's up with Cap?”

“What do you mean?”

“Oh come on Birdman. If looks could kill I'd be a pile of ashes by now.”

“He's just grouchy, Airee. Give him time.”

“He didn't need any time to get used to you. Why's that?”

Bertrand shrugged, but couldn't keep the hangdog expression out of his face. She knew he was avoiding her questions.

“I've got to go,” he said before she could say anything more. “Elaine's coming over and we're supposed to do something ‘special'. Dad won't let me stay home.”

“Oh,” Ariel said. “See you, then.”

“Yeah, see you.”

She turned quickly, heading through the common area toward the Kriegers' unit. Bertrand's heart sank. She was hurt and angry . . . and right, he had to admit. Why shouldn't she be at their meetings? It was a risk for all of them, not just her. Cap was being unfair. Bertrand couldn't say those things to Ariel, though. It wasn't the right time for sorting out personal problems. They'd just have to muddle through.

Oh boy! A trip to Stanley Park. Just what he wanted.

Bertrand shrank gloomily into the back seat, watching the scenery pass by on Highway 1. It occurred to him that Cap and Einstein would be taking this same route when they hopped the AMOS tractor trailer unit. He had no idea how they were going to carry out their mission. They hadn't explained that part.

“You seem kind of quiet back there, son,” Professor Smith said cheerfully.

“I was just thinking, Dad.”

“You know, we don't have to go to Stanley Park, guys,” Elaine piped up. “We could do anything we want. It's a beautiful afternoon. We could drive up Cypress Mountain and look down on the city. We could go to the Aquarium, or Science World, or Chinatown . . . ”

How about home, Bertrand thought unhappily. He would rather have been just about anywhere than in a car with his dad and Elaine on a “family outing”. It was bad enough being a teenager. Being a teenager on public display with his dad made him cringe. Being mistaken for
their
teenager made him want to evaporate and blow out the window like a puff of smoke.

And yet, he really liked Elaine.

They drove on in silence. Great! His glumness was infectious and now Professor Smith and Elaine seemed to feel as crappy as he did. Guilt and anger sat like a lump of Leftover Stew in Bertrand's belly. Elaine reached over and stroked his father's arm consolingly, then withdrew her hand quickly.

Bertrand looked away. This little get-to-know-you outing was going to be hell. He
knew
Elaine already. She was his dad's research assistant. Bertrand's friend. Not his dad's girlfriend! The notion of she and his father together outside of their lab still troubled him; like finding a kangaroo in the arctic.

It shouldn't have been Elaine sitting in the passenger seat. It should have been . . .

Bertrand shoved the thought away. It was too stupid. Too painful.

“Let's go see Mom,” he suggested suddenly, the words just sort of flying out of his mouth like a horde of bats.

Elaine gasped.

Professor Smith drove on for a while in stunned silence. “Son,” he said through the hum of the tires, “I really don't think that's fair.”

“No Alex!” Elaine cut in. “It's okay. None of this is fair. We both know that.” She paused, catching her breath. “If you really want to go visit your mom, then that's what we should do. But only if that's what you
really want
, Bertrand.”

There wasn't a hint of challenge in her voice, only deep concern. For him. For all of them.

“No,” he said. “That's okay. I was just being stupid.”

Cap and Einstein crouched in a thicket off 200th Street.

We wait until the cab is past us, then we move, okay?

Okay,
Einstein panted.

The rig would have to slow as it turned into the freeway entrance. That's when they'd make their move. They'd have maybe ten seconds to sprint up beside the accelerating semi and scramble on board. Cap figured they could huddle in the space between the cab and the trailer. Einstein wasn't so sure.

Now was not the time for doubting, though. He distracted himself by going over the information Ariel and Bertrand had presented at their second mission briefing. They'd spread a map over the rough planks of Fort Nicomekl and traced out the main routes into Vancouver, paying special attention to the bridges and tunnels that crossed the Fraser River: the Port Mann, Pattullo, Knight, Alex Fraser, and Dease Island.