Hubbard, L. Ron (21 page)

"In view of all else, yes."

"Then, to proceed. All titles to the land issued during my regime shall be honored. Agreed?"

"Yes."

"Now, about law enforcement. The national police shall be wholly within British control, just as the government shall be. No man shall be an officer in the army unless he is born British. Agreed?"

"You drive a stiff bargain."

"I am giving you a country. If you want it, you shall have to accept these conditions. This document of yours gives you full power to reorganize any government. That is binding, is it not?"

"Yes."

"Then you have reorganized this government no more than to accept General Victor here as its chief. All judges will remain British. Agreed?"

"Yes."

"You are to turn over to this new government adequate methods of defense.

Equipment equal to that of your own troops. And in quantity to arm forty thousand men to be delivered not later than next month. Agreed?"

"Yes, of course."

"All laws as laid down by myself will continue in force. All honors conferred by me shall be respected. And if you are willing to sign this and have it witnessed, the business is done'

Frisman looked the document over. He wanted nothing better than this, for it meant that he could ease the pressure of the idle in the Americas. Very few had any liking for the new South American States. But the climate and soil of England was a definite lure. And when they had Europe, a feat for which the unemployed had been anxiously waiting, the whole thing would be solved. Yes, this document was very carefully phrased and very binding. But with Victor at the head.

Frisman smiled and signed.

When the formalities were finished the Lieutenant handed the document to a sour Swinburne and turned back to address Frisman. "I am now withdrawing completely from the government of England, relinquishing all title and command. Here is a statement to that effect for your records." And he handed the paper over. "And now, if all is in order, I have one last order to give."

"Of course," said Frisman.

"Gentlemen," said the Lieutenant to his officers, "you will please carry out my last request to you. Evacuate Tower Hill with all troops so that General Victor can feel free to organize a new guard. If he wishes to call any of you, let him find you in the town."

Bitterly they filed past the Lieutenant, past the marines at the door and vanished down the steps. For some little time there was a rhythmic sound of marching and then, slowly, silence descended upon the nearly deserted Tower Hill.

The Lieutenant, having seen them go from the window, turned back to the room. His face was impassive. He picked up his helmet and put it on, his glance lingering for a moment on the weapons of the marines who had now entered the room. His next statement was very strange to them all.

"When an officer loses his command, that officer is also lost. But when that command remains, no matter what happens to its officer, he has not failed. General Victor, you are in complete command of this government.

Next in line is Smythe. After that the corps of officers as a council. You all agree, I hope, that I now have nothing whatever to do with the British government?"

They nodded, a little mystified. Victor's wabbly head bobbed in complete and earnest agreement.

"I am a civilian now," said the Lieutenant, "for I even relinquish my rank, as that paper I gave you will show. The law applies wholly to me, even though I made the law. The British government, now under you, General Victor, is not at all responsible for my actions."

"True, true," said Smythe.

"Then' " said the Lieutenant, standing before them all, "I shall do
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what I have to do."

His hand flashed from beneath the battle cloak. Flame stabbed and thundered.

Victor, half his head blown off, reeled and slumped.

Smythe tried to cover the hole in his chest with his hands. He sought to scream, but only blood came. He tripped over Victor and thudded down, writhing.

Frisman stood in stupefied amazement, finally to lift his eyes in horror to the Lieutenant. And the thought had no more than struck home to Frisman than he flung himself back to get the protection of the marines. Breckwell began to gibber, unable to move.

The marines swept forward. Like a duelist the Lieutenant raised his arm and fired. A bullet ricocheted from the marine officer's breastplate and, instinctively, he fired at the source.

The bullet tore through the cloak as though it had been flame and the cloak paper. The Lieutenant staggered back and strove to lift his gun again.

A coughing chatter set up just outside the door. Two marines went down and the rest whirled. Carstone was there, astride the saddle of a pneumatic.

The marines charged toward him, scarcely touched by the slow slugs.

Carstone's face vanished ' but his fingers kept the trips down. The gun tilted up and, still firing, raked high on the wall.

Over Carstone swirled a compact knot of fighters. Toutou wasted no time with bullets, but used the butt of his gun. Mawkey smashed into the mass with his chain. Bulger carved a wide path with his bayonet and almost got to the Lieutenant before he staggered, gripping at his stomach, to go down.

The Lieutenant tried to shout to his men, but he could get no sound forth.

In agony he watched them cut to pieces by superior weapons. Toutou down.

Pollard, his arm gone, fighting on. A tangled, thundering mass of soldiery, restricted by the walls jammed into a whirlpool of savage destruction.

Somebody was tugging at the Lieutenant's shoulders. The mom began to spin from the pain of it. Again he tried to cry out and again no sound came forth.

He was falling down, down, down in a redwalled pit which had a clear brilliance at the bottom. And then blackness swept away everything.

Blackness and nothingness
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forever.

Above the Byward Gate on Tower Hill that flag still flies; the gold is so faded that only one who knows can trace the marks which once made so clear the insignia of a lieutenant, the white field is bleached and patched where furious winds have torn it. It is the first thing men look to in the morning and the last thing men see when the sky fades out and the clear, sad notes of retreat are sounded by the British bugler on Tower Hill.

That flag still flies, and on the plaque below are graven the words:

Own that command remains, no matter what happens to its officer, he has not failed.

Glossary

The numbers that appear in parentheses directly following the entry words of each definition indicate the page number where the word first appears in the text.

ack-ack: (pg. 3) Slang. An antiaircraft gun or its fire.-Webster's New World Dictionary

adjutant: (pg. 86) Military. A staff officer who serves as an administrative assistant to the commanding officer.

-Webster's New World Dictionary

batman: (pg. 91) The orderly of an officer in the British army.

-Webster's New World Dictionary

B.E.F.: (pg. 6) British Expeditionary Force(s): armed forces stationed outside Great Britain.-Funk & Wagnall's Dictionary

Belgian alcohol machine gun: (pg. 21) An automatic firearm which fires a continuous stream of bullets fed into it. It is usually mounted and has a cooling apparatus using water, air, or, in this case, alcohol.-Webster's New World Dictionary and Editors

billeting: (pg. 56) Lodging for soldiers in nonmilitary buildings.-Random House Dictionary

blockhouse: (pg. 129) Military. A small defensive structure of concrete.

-Webster's New World Dictionary

breech: (pg. 140) The part of a gun behind the barrel.- Webster's New World Dictionary

caisson: (pg. 13) A two-wheeled ammunition wagon, especially for the artillery. -Random House Dictionary

canteen: (pg. 87) (1) A place outside or inside a military camp where cooked food and liquids are dispensed. (pg. 123) (2) A small metal or plastic flask, usually encased in canvas, for carrying drinking water. -Webster's New World Dictionary

derni-cannon: (pg. 141) Demi-. Less than usual in size, power,
etc.
Cannon: A large, mounted piece of artillery. -Webster's New World Dictionary

dixie: (pg. 16) British Slang. A pot or pan for cooking, used in the field by a soldier. -Worid Book Dictionary

dog-robber: (pg. 87) Military Slang. An officer's orderly.-Webster's New World Dictionary

foxhole: (pg. 11) A small pit, usually for one or two soldiers, dug as a shelter in a battle area.-Random House Dictionary

G.H.Q.: (pg. 6) General Headquarters. Military. The headquarters of a commanding general in the field.-Funk & Wignall's Dictionary

haversack: (pg. 80) A canvas bag for carrying rations, etc., generally worn over one shoulder, as by soldiers or hikers. -Webster's New World Dictionary

impressed: (pg. 80) To press or force into public service, as sailors.

-Random House Dictionary

lanyard: (pg. 116) A cord with attached hook, for firing certain types of cannon. -Webster's New World Dictionary

leftenant: (pg. 14) British usage of lieutenant. -World Book Dictionary

Maginot Line: (Preface, Ist pg.) A system of heavy fortifications built by France before World War II on the border between France and Germany from Switzerland to Belgium.- Webster's New World Dictionary

rnorur: (pg. 17) A cannon very short in proportion to its bore, for throwing shells at high angles.-Random House Dictionary

noncoin: (Preface, 3rd pg.) Colloquy Clipped form of noncommissioned officer.

Noncommissioned officer. An enlisted person or any of various grades in the armed forces, as, in the US. Army, from corporal to sergeant major inclusive. -Webster's New World Dictionary

one-pounder: (pg. 60) pounder: A gun that discharges a missile of a specified weight in pounds (usually used in combination). -Webster's New World Dictionary

orderly: (pg. 86) Military. An enlisted man assigned to perform personal services for an officer or officers or to carry out a specific task.-Webster's New World. Dictionary

P.C.: (pg. 32) Post Command. -Random House Corp Dictionary and Editors

pillbox: (pg. 42) A low, enclosed gun emplacement of concrete and steel.

-Webster's New World Dictionary

pneunatics: (pg. 24) pneumatic gun: a gun using compressed air or gas as the propulsive force usually to throw dynamite or other high explosives. -Webster's Third International Dictionary

regulars: (pg. 142) Military, Designating or of the permanently constituted or standing army of a country. -Websier's New World Dictionary

rifling: (pg. 141) Military. The cutting of spiral grooves on the inside of a gun barrel to make the projectile spin when fired, thus giving it greater accuracy and distance. -Webster's New World Dictionary

rotor props: (pg. 192) Rotor. The system of rotating blades by which a helicopter is able to fly. prop: clipped form of propeller. -Webster's New World Dictionary

sortie:(Preface, 4th pg.) A rapid movement of troops from a besieged place to attack the besiegers; a body of troops involved in such a movement; to go on a sortie; sally forth.-Random House Dictionary

subaltern: (pg. 2) Any commissioned officer in the British army ranking below a captain.

-World Book Dictionary

three-pounder: (pg. 27) pounder. A gun that discharges a missile of a specified weight in pounds (usually in combination).

-Webster's New World Dictionary

trench mortar: (pg. 17) Any of various portable mortars for shooting projectiles at a high trajectory and short range. -Webster's New World Dictionary

Vickers Wellington bomber: (pg. 1) A twin-engine medium airplane that became the standard British Royal Air Force bomber. -Dictionary of Aviation "I am always happy to hear from my readers."

L. Ron Hubbard

These were the words of L. Ron Hubbard, who was always very interested in hearing from his friends and readers. He made a point of staying in communication with everyone he came in contact with over his fifty-year career as a professional writer, and he had thousands of fans and friends that he corresponded with allover the world.

The publishers of L. Ron Hubbard's literary works wish to continue this tradition and would very much welcome letters and comments from you, his readers, both old and new.

Any message addressed to the Author's Affairs Director at Bridge Publications will be given prompt and full attention.

BRIDGE PUBLICATION$, INC.

4751 Fountain Avenue Los Angeles, California 90029

IN I About the Author L. Ron Hubbard

Born in 1911, the son of a U.S. Naval officer, L. Ron Hubbard grew up in the great American West and was acquainted early with a rugged outdoor life before he took to sea. The cowboys, Indians and mountains of Montana were balanced with the temples and throngs of the Orient as he traveled the Far East while a teenager.