thedestroyer.slavesafari-第8部分

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　〃A　jackal　howled　three　times　last　night；〃　announced　Obode。　〃Now　to　you　Oxford　and　Cambridge　people；　it　is　nothing。　And　I'm　sure　it　is　nothing　at　some　fancy　United　Nations　office　where　all　they　have　to　do　is　worry　about　the　air　conditioning　staying　on。　But　this　American　here；　this　Butler；　who　has　e　home　to　his　rightful　land；　he　thinks　it　is　something　and　he　is　CIA　formerly。　Now　all　of　you　have　heard　of　the　Central　Intelligence　Agency。　It　is　not　Oxford。　It　is　not　Cambridge。　It　is　not　the　United　Nations。〃
　〃It　is　a　vicious；　dangerous　organization；　Mr。　President；〃　said　the　chairman　of　the　council　who　was　a　Hausa。　〃It　will　stop　at　nothing　to　achieve　its　ends。〃
　〃Right；〃　said　General　Obode。　〃Therefore　we　can　have　some　respect　for　it。　And　this　former　CIA　man　tells　me　a　jackal　howling　at　night　is　something　strange。　What　do　you　think？〃
　While　Obode　spoke；　Butler　looked　down　at　the　floor；　his　left　fingers　twisting　a　ring　he　wore　on　his　right　hand；　a　ring　fashioned　of　miniature　golden　chain　links。
　It　was　the　consensus　of　the　council　that　the　howling　jackal　was　definitely　strange。　The　strangest　thing　they　had　ever　heard　of。
　〃Not　the　strangest　thing；〃　said　General　Obode　angrily。　〃A　strange　thing。　We　will　investigate　CIA　style。〃　He　dismissed　the　council　with　a　wave　of　his　hand。　Seven　of　them；　while　leaving；　caught　Colonel　Butler's　eye　with　a　conspiratorial　look；　the　look　one　gives　a　partner　one　trusts　when　there　is　really　nothing　to　talk　about。　Obode　summoned　the　captain　of　the　palace　guard　who　was　a　Hausa；　and　whose　hatred　of　Butler　fairly　oozed　as　he　entered　the　president's　quarters　and　saw　the　American　there。　The　captain　had　also　heard　the　jackal　last　night；　and　he　had　arrested　a　lieutenant　for　imitating　the　animal；　just　to　intimidate　the　president。
　〃From　the　Loni；〃　said　the　captain；　looking　at　Butler。　〃This　lieutenant　was　a　Loni　and　he　was　the　jackal。〃
　〃Let　us　see　this　jackal；〃　said　General　Obode。　When　the　captain　of　the　guard　left；　Obode　explained　his　logic　to　Butler。　Jackals　did　not　live　in　the　palace。　Soldiers　did。　Therefore　the　jackal　was　a　soldier。
　〃I　don't　think　so；〃　said　Colonel　Butler。
　〃What　is　your　rank；　Butler？〃
　〃Colonel；　Mr。　President。〃
　〃And　what　is　my　rank？〃
　〃General；　Mr。　President。〃
　〃Did　they　teach　you　discipline　in　your　CIA？〃
　〃They　did。〃
　〃Then　you　know　that　when　a　colonel　disagrees　with　a　general；　a　general　is　right。〃　Big　Daddy　clapped　his　hands　gleefully。
　〃No；　Mr。　President；　they　taught　me　that　the　general　gets　his　way。　But　any　man　can　be　right。〃
　Obode　frowned　a　deep　dark　frown。　He　summoned　Butler's　ear　forward　with　a　finger。
　〃When　I　want　logic；　Butter；　I'll　ask　for　it；〃　he　said。
　〃The　lieutenant　is　innocent；　…though；〃　whispered　Butler；　hearing　the　captain　again　approach　the　door。
　〃Maybe　he　is；　maybe　he　isn't。　He　could　be　the　jackal。〃
　〃He's　not；〃　Butler　said。　〃I　am　the　jackal。〃
　Obode　leaned　back　and　stared　at　Butler。　〃You　want　to　die；　Colonel？〃
　〃No；　Mr。　President；　I　want　your　life　saved。　I　brought　the　jackal　into　the　palace　last　night　to　root　out　your　enemies。　If　I　put　the　jackal　there；　whoever　says　he　found　a　man　to　be　the　jackal　is　a　liar。　The　captain　of　your…　guard　is　a　liar。　He　knows　that　you　want　to　bring　the　Loni　into　the　government；　and　so　he　is　trying　to　destroy　your　plan　by　accusing　the　Loni　lieutenant　of　a　crime　he　did　not　mit。　You　see　your　enemy？　He　is　as　far　away　as　the　captain。〃
　Obode　did　not　look　up　at　the　captain　who　was　now　approaching　the　President's　chair。　Intrigue　was　afoot
　Butler　looked　at　the　captain；　who　returned　his　look　with　loathing。　Butler　winked。　The　captain　had　been　one　of　the　few　men　close　to　Obode　who　did　not　agree　with　Butler　that　Obode　was　a　lunatic　whose　continued　rule　would　make　Busati　a　worldwide　joke。　Because　the　captain　did　not　agree　with　Butler；　the　captain　was　dangerous　to　Butler。　But　how　he　had　overplayed　his　hand。
　The　captain　stood　in　front　of　Obode　with　a　hand　on　the　shoulder　of　a　thin　man；　wearing　the　tattered　remnants　of　a　lieutenant's　uniform。　The　man's　legs　and　wrists　were　in　heavy　gray　irons。　His　mouth　was　a　blotch　of　blood。　A　tooth　stuck　out　through　his　lower　lip。
　〃He　has　confessed　that　he　is　the　jackal；　General；〃　said　the　captain。
　〃A　confession　is　a　confession；〃　said　Obode。　〃That　is　logic　and　the　CIA　style　of　investigation　is　logic；　so　the　man　is　guilty。　But　I　will　ask　him　myself。〃
　Obode　looked　up　at　the　lieutenant；　who　had　to　be　continually　jerked　upright　by　the　captain　of　the　guards；
　〃Are　you　the　jackal？〃
　Drops　of　dark　red　blood　fell　to　the　clean　marble　floor　at　the　man's　feet；　building　a　puddle；　splattering　fault　rays　of　red　around　it　as　each　drop　hit。　The　man；　his　eyes　swollen　almost　shut；　nodded　and　the　puddle　became　bigger。
　Butler　twisted　the　gold　chain　ring　on　his　right　hand。
　〃Guilty；〃　said　Obode。　The　captain　smiled。
　〃Set　up　a　firing　squad；〃　said　Obode。　〃I　will　personally　administer　the　executions〃　He　clapped　his　hands；　the　man…was　led　away；　and　servants　rushed　in　with　rags　and　water　to　clean　the　blood　off　the　palace　floor。
　Big　Daddy　took　care　of　the　Libyan　Ambassador　in　three　minutes。　He　confided　to　the　Ambassador　that　Israel　was　planning　a　raid　on　the　Busati　plain　and　he　needed　85　million　more　in　gold　reserves　to　repel　it。　When　the　Libyan　ambassador　appeared　somewhat　dubious；　Big　Daddy　wistfully　remembered　the　fine　training　he　had　personally　received　from　the　Israeli　paratroopers　and　how　he　longed　to　wear　again　the　wings　he　had　earned　at　such　a　high　personal　cost。　He　also　reminded　the　Ambassador　that　he　was　the　only　leader　of　a　nation　to　publicly　say　to　the　foreign　press　that　Hitler　had　been　right。　That　was　worth　at　least　85　million　right　there。　The　Libyan　'Ambassador　timidly　suggested　that　Big　Daddy　had　been　paid　for　that　already；　but　finally　agreed　to　ask　his　glorious　revolutionary　leader；　Colonel　Quadaffi；　for　the　funds。
　〃Don't　ask…tell；〃　said　Obode　and　that　Jook　care　of　the　Libyan　Ambassador。
　〃We'll　get　25　million；〃　Obode　told　Butler…when　the　Ambassador　had　left。　〃Better　than　nothing。　I　can't　wait　for　their　oil　to　dry　up。　They　smell　funny。　Who's　next？〃
　〃The　journalist；　Remo　Mueller；　from　America。　The　one　who　wrote　the　favorable　piece　about　you；〃　said　Butler。
　〃I'll　see　him　tomorrow。〃
　〃You've　been　saying　that　for　three　days。〃
　〃I'll　say　that　for　three　days　more。　We　have　an　execution　for　me　to　administer。　But　first　I　wish　to　see　the　jackal　you　say　you　brought　into　the　grounds。〃
　〃Will　you　still　execute　the　lieutenant？〃
　〃I　said　there　would　be　an　execution。　I　cannot　go　back　on　my　word；〃　said　Obode。
　The　salutes　along　the　corridors　by　the　guards　were　crisp　and　rigid；　a　perfection　of　discipline　that　could　only　be　imposed　by　the　best　of　British　sergeants　major。
　As　they　walked　down　steps　to　a　small　cell　beneath　the　palace；　Obode　asked　Butler　how　things　were　at　the　white　house　with　the　iron　gate。
　〃Just　fine；　Mr。　President。　Your　soldiers　who　use　it　bless　your　name　continuously。　You　should　pay　it　a　visit　yourself。〃
　Obode　sneered　and　shook　his　head。
　〃You　don't　like　white　women；　General？〃
　〃You　don't　have　to　put　them　in　chains　to　bang　them。　I　will　tell　you；　Colonel；　that　before　you　came　I　had　white　women。　I　had　yellow　women。　I　had　Hausa　women　and　Loni　women。　I　had　old　women　and　young　women；　fat　women　and　skinny　women；　women　who　smelled　of　perfume　and　women　who　smelled　of　dung。　Colonel　Butler；〃　said　Obode；　pausing　before　an　iron　door　to　which　Butler　had　the　key；　〃there　isn't…　a　spit's　difference　between　any　of　them。　And　your　adventures　to　get　young　rich　American　girls　costs　too　much；　and　may　yet　get　us　into　trouble　with　your　American　government。〃
　〃But；　General；　isn't　it　fitting　that　the　greatest　soldiers　of　the　great　leader　of　a　great　country；　get　the　very　best？〃
　〃Best　of　what？　Queen　Elizabeth　or　the　lowest　bush　tribe　whore。　Same　thing。〃
　〃You　have　had　Queen　Elizabeth？〃
　〃No。　But　if　a　man　eats　one　hundred　hogs；　does　he　have　to　eat　another　to　know　what　it　will　taste　like？〃
　〃I'm　sorry；　General；　I　thought　you　approved　of　what　I　was　doing　for　your　men。〃　Butler　twisted　the　gold　ring　on　his　right　hand。
　Obode　shrugged　his　massive　shoulders。　〃You　wanted　to　have　your　house　and　your　games　so　I　let　you。　I　like　you；　Butler。　You　are　the　only　man　on　my　staff　who　has　not　loyalty　to　one　tribe　or　another；　but　is　loyal　just　tom　e。　Even　if　you　are　soft　on　the　Loni。　So；　I　let　you　have　。　your　house。　Now　let　me　see　your　jackal。〃
　Butler　turned　the　key　and　opened　the　door　on　an　empty　cell。　Obode　walked　in　and　sniffed　the　air。　Before　the　stunned　Butler　could　move；　Obode　snapped　the　Colonel's　revolver　from　his　holster　as　if　disarming　a　recalcitrant　enlisted　man。
　〃I　put　the　jackal　here　myself。　I　tied　it　right　to　that　wall。　I　wanted　to　show　you　there　were　liars　in　your　guard。　The　jackal　was　here；　General。　What　reason　would　I　have　to　lie　to　you？〃
　〃Outside；　Butler；〃　said　Obode。
　The　palace　courtyard　was　hot　in　the　morning　African　sun；　baking　hot　with'　dust　in　the　very　grass　itself。　The　captain　of　the　guard　grinned　broadly　when　he　saw　the　Loni…loving　American　Colonel　go　before　the　General　with　his　hands　up　and　holster　empty。　He　winked　broadly　at　Butler；　and　then　turned　and　motioned　his　firing　squad　to　kneel。
　〃Against　the　wall；〃　said　General　Obode。
　At　the　wall；　Butler　spun　around　beside　the　Loni　officer　who　was　chained　against　the　wall　in　a　standing　position；　but　whose　body　hung　heavy　from　his　wrist　manacles。
　〃You're　a　damned　idiot；　General；〃　Butler　yelled。
　〃When　you　shoot　me；　you　shoot　the　best　officer　you　have。　I　just　want　you　to　know　that；　you　dumb　bastard。〃
　〃You　call　me　a　dumb　bastard；〃　yelled　back　Obode；　〃but　you're　the　one　who's　got　his　hands　up　against　the　wall。〃
　At　that；　Butler　laughed。
　〃You're　right；　you　fat　bastard；　but　you're　still　shooting　the　best　officer　you　ever　had。〃
　〃That's　where　you're　wrong；　skinny　little　man。　I　am　going　to　shoot　the　officer　who　lied　to　me　about　the　jackal。〃
　The　captain　of　the　guard　smiled。　The　firing　squad　behind　him　waited　for　a　signal。　It　did　not　get　one。　There　was　the　crack　of　a　pistol　and　the　captain　of　the　palace　guard　was　no　longer　smiling。　There　was　a　very　dumb　look　on　his　face　and　a　very　wide　dark　red　hole　between　his　eyes；　although　few　people　saw　it　because　the　head　was　jerked　back　b