incident at the border - 35. "i say we go ahead"

by nick nelson

illustrated by konrad kraus and roy dismas

part thirty-five of forty

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the motor was running in the car outside in the street in front of ernestine’s apartment. there was no sign of the doorman, ernestine noted. the big man, bootsie, got in beside the driver. the little man, raffy, got in the back seat and moved over behind the driver. jeremy indicated to ernestine that she should get in next, and then he followed her and closed the door and the car sped off immediately, powerfully and smoothly. the back seat was quite wide, and at least ernestine was not crushed between raffy and jeremy. the car sailed through the dark streets. nobody spoke until they were out of the city limits. “well, this is exciting,” jeremy spoke at last. “i assume we are still going through with it, just a little ahead of schedule.” “going through with it!” bootsie exclaimed. “are you stark raving mad? no - you’re joking, of course. this is no time for your jokes, jem.” “but i am serious, boots. what have we to lose, eh? old bill will never expect us to pull to off now. instead of moving fast, they are probably taking their time and getting up enough troops to invade a planet. i say i phone staff, tell him it’s a go, but be on the alert, we might be there earlier than expected.” “what say, you, raff?” boots looked over his shoulder and asked the little man. “don’t ask me, boots, I’m just a foot soldier. whatever you gents decide, that’s all right with me.” “and you, daff?” boots asked the driver. daff? thought ernestine. short for daffy? what a crew! the driver answered in a woman’s voice, an almost cultured voice. “i like jem’s idea. i say we go for it. i will have to put the pedal to the metal though , we can’t be worried about speed limits and such.” “right ho!” jeremy replied to the driver’s speech. “you always were a trump, daphne.” “all right then, jem,” said bootsie. “i tell you what - we will do it your way. but if it goes wrong, before bill gets the chance to put the metal on us, i will strangle you with my own hands. how does that suit you?” “well enough,” jeremy answered. “i could not ask fairer than that. now let me call staffy.” he took his phone out of his pocket. * so far , so good, thought mr stafford, as he closed the door behind him. he went over and sat on the little settee in the room and took out his phone to check the time. jem or raffy should be calling any minute. the phone rang in his hand. right on schedule. everything must be going right, he thought. 36. lost