Read Online Sixth Column by Robert A. Heinlein - Free Book Online
Authors: Robert A. Heinlein
Tags: Fiction, General, Science-Fiction, adventure, Science Fiction - General, Fiction - Science Fiction, Science Fiction & Fantasy
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even
exist, and our weapons are strange to them, even mysterious. Wilkie, didn't
you compare the Ledbetter effect to magic?"
"I should hope to shout, Chief! It's safe to say that, aside from the
instruments in our laboratories, there just isn't any way in existence to detect
the forces we are working with now. You don't even know they're there. It's
like trying to hear radio with your bare ears."
"That's what I mean. Mysterious. Like the Indians when they first met up
with the white man's fire arms, they died and they didn't know why. Think
about it. I'll shut up and let you."
Graham produced the first suggestion. "Major?"
"Yes?"
"Why couldn't we kidnap 'em?"
"How do you mean?"
"Well, your idea is to throw a scare into 'em, isn't it? How about a
surprise raiding party, using the Ledbetter effect. We could go in one of the
scout cars at night and pick out some really big shot, maybe the prince royal
himself. We knock out everybody we come in contact with the projectors, and
we walk right in and snatch him."
"Any opinions about that, gentlemen?" Ardmore said, reserving his own.
"It seems to have something to it," commented Brooks. "I would suggest
that the projectors be set to render unconscious for a number of hours rather
than to kill. It seems to me that the psychological effect would be heightened
if they simply awoke and found their big man gone. One has no recollection
of what has happened under such circumstances, as Wilkie and Mitsui can
testify."
"Why stop at the prince royal?" Wilkie wanted to know. "We could set up
four raiding parties, two to a car, and make maybe twelve raids in a single
night. That way we could knock over enough of their number-one men to
really cause some disorganization."
"That seems like a good idea," Ardmore agreed. "We may not be able to
pull off these raids more than once. If we could do enough damage right at
the top in one blow, we might both demoralize them and set off a general
uprising. What's the matter, Mitsui?"
He had noticed the Oriental looking unhappy as the plan was developed.
Mitsui spoke reluctantly, "It will not work, I am afraid."
"You mean we can't kidnap them that way? Do you know something we
don't about their guard methods?"
"No, no. With a force that reaches through walls and knocks a man down
before he knows you are there I believe you can capture them, all right: But
the results will not be as you foresee them."
"Why not?"
"Because you will gain no advantage. They will not assume that you are
holding their chief men as prisoners; they will assume that each one has
committed suicide. The results will be horrible."
It was purely a psychological point, with room for difference of opinion.
But the white men could not believe that the PanAsians would dare to
retaliate if it were made unmistakably plain to them that their sacred leaders
were not dead, but at the mercy of captors. Besides, it was a plan that
offered immediate action, which they were spoiling for. Ardmore finally
agreed to its adoption for want of something better, although he had a feeling
of misgiving which he suppressed.
For the next few days all effort was bent toward preparing the scout cars
for the projected task. Scheer performed Herculean mechanical jobs, working
eighteen and twenty hours a day, with the others working joyfully under his
supervision. Calhoun even came off his high horse and agreed to take part in
the raid, although he did not help with the "menial" work. Thomas went out on
a quick scouting trip and made certain of the location of twelve well-scattered
PanAsian seats of government.
In the buoyancy of spirit which resulted from a plan of campaign, any
plan of campaign, Ardmore failed to remember his own decision that what
was required was a sixth column, an underground, or at least, unsuspected
organization which would demoralize the enemy from within. This present
plan was not such a one, but an essentially military plan. He
exist, and our weapons are strange to them, even mysterious. Wilkie, didn't
you compare the Ledbetter effect to magic?"
"I should hope to shout, Chief! It's safe to say that, aside from the
instruments in our laboratories, there just isn't any way in existence to detect
the forces we are working with now. You don't even know they're there. It's
like trying to hear radio with your bare ears."
"That's what I mean. Mysterious. Like the Indians when they first met up
with the white man's fire arms, they died and they didn't know why. Think
about it. I'll shut up and let you."
Graham produced the first suggestion. "Major?"
"Yes?"
"Why couldn't we kidnap 'em?"
"How do you mean?"
"Well, your idea is to throw a scare into 'em, isn't it? How about a
surprise raiding party, using the Ledbetter effect. We could go in one of the
scout cars at night and pick out some really big shot, maybe the prince royal
himself. We knock out everybody we come in contact with the projectors, and
we walk right in and snatch him."
"Any opinions about that, gentlemen?" Ardmore said, reserving his own.
"It seems to have something to it," commented Brooks. "I would suggest
that the projectors be set to render unconscious for a number of hours rather
than to kill. It seems to me that the psychological effect would be heightened
if they simply awoke and found their big man gone. One has no recollection
of what has happened under such circumstances, as Wilkie and Mitsui can
testify."
"Why stop at the prince royal?" Wilkie wanted to know. "We could set up
four raiding parties, two to a car, and make maybe twelve raids in a single
night. That way we could knock over enough of their number-one men to
really cause some disorganization."
"That seems like a good idea," Ardmore agreed. "We may not be able to
pull off these raids more than once. If we could do enough damage right at
the top in one blow, we might both demoralize them and set off a general
uprising. What's the matter, Mitsui?"
He had noticed the Oriental looking unhappy as the plan was developed.
Mitsui spoke reluctantly, "It will not work, I am afraid."
"You mean we can't kidnap them that way? Do you know something we
don't about their guard methods?"
"No, no. With a force that reaches through walls and knocks a man down
before he knows you are there I believe you can capture them, all right: But
the results will not be as you foresee them."
"Why not?"
"Because you will gain no advantage. They will not assume that you are
holding their chief men as prisoners; they will assume that each one has
committed suicide. The results will be horrible."
It was purely a psychological point, with room for difference of opinion.
But the white men could not believe that the PanAsians would dare to
retaliate if it were made unmistakably plain to them that their sacred leaders
were not dead, but at the mercy of captors. Besides, it was a plan that
offered immediate action, which they were spoiling for. Ardmore finally
agreed to its adoption for want of something better, although he had a feeling
of misgiving which he suppressed.
For the next few days all effort was bent toward preparing the scout cars
for the projected task. Scheer performed Herculean mechanical jobs, working
eighteen and twenty hours a day, with the others working joyfully under his
supervision. Calhoun even came off his high horse and agreed to take part in
the raid, although he did not help with the "menial" work. Thomas went out on
a quick scouting trip and made certain of the location of twelve well-scattered
PanAsian seats of government.
In the buoyancy of spirit which resulted from a plan of campaign, any
plan of campaign, Ardmore failed to remember his own decision that what
was required was a sixth column, an underground, or at least, unsuspected
organization which would demoralize the enemy from within. This present
plan was not such a one, but an essentially military plan. He
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