Surface water, percolating down through the sub-strata, raised underground levels to a point where the pumping facilities of the divisional bases at Le May/Jackson, Truman/Lafayette and Lincoln/Little Rock were strained to the limit.

And as is always the case, the build-up in pressure found the weak points in the outer concrete skin. Cracks became open fissures then gaping holes allowing water to gush through, flooding entire galleries before cascading down through vent and lift shafts, escalator and service tunnels to the levels below. At one point, the TransAm subway system was menaced, but sMft action brought the situation under control- although not without loss of life.

Flooding of underground facilities was an ever-present danger in the Federation and a great deal of thought and effort had gone into methods of containing inflows. In the same way that everyone knew the emergency drill in the event of a fire, every Tracker on an underground base had an a.s.signed role with a Flood Control Team.

To help cope with a dangerous inflow, all levels were fitted with watertight doors and vertical shut-offs which could be closed rapidly to isolate a flooded section - and most of the fatalities occurred amongst those unlucky enough to be in the wrong place when they lowered the boom.

In an earlier age, closure had been a manual operation, but this had not proved 100 per cent effective because of what an AmExec report had called 'the emotionally-induced delay factor'. Those ordered to close the doors were found to be holding them open to allow their buddies to escape - in some cases for far too long, leading to more widespread disruption.

COLUMBUS, whose primary task was to ensure that the Federation functioned efficiently, did not have the same problem. Its logical a.n.a.lysis of the situation and the resulting decision to implement closure of a particular door was not affected by the hammering fists and desperate entreaties of those trapped by the rising tide.

'Welcome back." The President-General invited Steve to take the armchair by the fireplace he had occupied on his first, memorable visit to the Oval Office. 'Must have been quite a trip."

'It was, sir. But I learned a great deal - including the fact that I wasn't cut out to be a sailor."

'You and a few thousand others. That's one of the reasons why we don't have a navy." Jefferson sat back in his rocker and stretched out a hand towards the gas flames that leapt through the cast iron logs and mica ash. Karlstrom wheeled another chair in to complete the triangle.

Steve waited, not knowing how it was going to play.

The P-G had welcomed him'with the usual ten thousand volt hand-shake, but this time the voice had lacked warmth and he had not been greeted by his given name.

Karlstrom caught Jefferson's signal to start the proceedings.

'Okay, Brickman, we've talked at some length to Major Fujiwara, now we'd like to hear your side of the story." He saw Steve's reaction.

'Relax. We're not exactly overjoyed at what's happened but you're not about to be strung up by the thumbs."

'Thank you, sir."

'And to save time, we accept Fujiwara's a.s.sessment as to who master-minded this coup. The Yama-s.h.i.ta family - who used Lord Min-Orota to set up Lady Mishiko.

A shrewd move. Fuji's probably told you why she was happy to oblige."

'Yes, sir, the Hase-Gawa connection. Small world Karlstrom nodded.

'You and Commander Franklynne just happened to arrive at the wrong time, but we were also taken totally by surprise. Lady Mishiko obviously had outside help - though how the Yama-s.h.i.ta managed to breach the island's security cordon is a complete mystery. Anyway, the people helping her must have been the ones who jumped you and Fram What we can't figure out is why they didn't take you as well."

Steve knew this question was bound to come up, and throughout the voyage home he had been searching for a plausible answer. 'If I knew what hit me, sir, I might be able to answer that. The j.a.p who was guarding us figured there were six soldiers closing in on the house.

We went out to take them on and. the next thing I knew -' 'Fujiwara was untying you, and Commander Frank-lynne was gone." Karlstrom pinched his nose thoughtfully.

'Okay ... here's another question - how d'you think the Yama-s.h.i.ta managed to get the goods on Ieyasu? Who uncovered our deal to supply his organisation with radios and surveillance devices? One of his own people?"

'I doubt it, sir. You can check with Skull-, uhh, I mean Major Fujiwara, but in my opinion, if any of Ieyasu's people were caught in the act, they'd face death by torture rather than talk."

'Yes, well, to save them the trouble we also supply cyanide capsules.

A press-pack of five is included with every item we supply."

Steve nodded. These guys had thought of everything. He answered Karlstrom's question. 'Sir, there is someone who could've tipped off the Yama-s.h.i.ta." He paused before letting the name drop. 'Cadillac M'Call."

Karlstrom and Jefferson looked at each other, then the P-G said: 'Would you care to elaborate?"

'Yes, sir. When Cadillac and I escaped together from the Heron Pool, he was in a position to observe what happened every step of the way.

If I may recap briefly, we ditched our gliders at a pre-arranged rendezvous near the Hudson River, set them on fire, then were hidden in a house by an a.s.sociate of Major Fujiwara until the wheel-boat arrived to take us through the ca.n.a.l system to Bu-faro.

'This j.a.p used a hand-set while we were in the house.

Side-Winder - a mexican - was on the boat disguised as a Mute, then more of Ieyasu's people helped us get onto a fishing boat, from where we transferred into inflatables to reach the air pick-up point on the western side of Lake Erie.

'It was obvious they were all hooked into an efficient radio network.

From what I learned during my training at Rio Lobo, the hand-sets Side-Winder and I were using weren't powerful enough to reach the Federation. The signals had to be relayed - probably from inside Ne-Issan."

'It's an interesting supposition,' said Karlstrom.

Steve continued undeterred. 'Cadillac is one smart Mute. Once he saw that Side-Winder was working alongside Ieyasu's agents, and that they had radios, it wouldn't take long for him to put it all together."

'I can see that,' said Karlstrom, 'but what makes you think he's been talking to the Yamas.h.i.ta?"

'Because of something he said to me after Mr Snow and the She-Kargo had destroyed the wheel-boats and most of the D'Troit. He was going on about how the Yama-s.h.i.ta - when they realised they'd made a big mistake in allying themselves with the D'Troit - might be persuaded to cut a deal with the winners."

'And he was going to try and set this up?"

'That was the idea, yes."

'So how come you didn't mention this when you came back in with Clearwater?" asked Karlstrom.

'Because I- didn't believe he was serious. You have to understand that this is someone who believes he's a man of destiny. He's full of big ideas, but most of them are pure fantasy-land." Steve shrugged. 'To be honest, sir, I just couldn't see it happening."

'And now?" said Jefferson.

'Maybe he found a way to get to them. Having had a chance to think it over, I realised that the Yamas.h.i.ta don't know that Mr Snow - the She-Kargo's secret weapon - is dead. After the way he wrote off their punitive expedition I'd say they might be prepared to listen - wouldn't you, sir?" Steve addressed the question to the President-General.

'That would depend on what Cadillac had to put on the table."

'Exactly,' said Karlstrom. 'And it's now clear it wasn't furs and buffalo skins. It was a plan to destabilise the whole G.o.dd.a.m.n f.u.c.king country! But where did he get hold of the equipment? The Yama-s.h.i.ta wouldn't have bought this story without some tangible proof!" 'Didn't he steal a Mark 2 Skyhawk from The Lady, sir?"

'An aircraft was seen to take off shortly before she blew up, yes."

'Then that's where he got a radio from. He also learned to speak j.a.panese while he and I were in Ne-Issan. With the record facility, it wouldn't be too hard to put on a convincing show of picking up a transmission."

The P-G fixed him with pale, hard eyes. 'You make it sound like you were there."

'With respect, sir, I am only putting together a scenario based on my own experience. The Iron Masters are scared stiff of anything to do with the Dark Light. They're not going to get too close or ask too many questions. As for Cadillac having the necessary expertise, he's been inside my head and Malone's - and he got hands-on experience when we were setting up the M'Calls for the attack on The Lady from Louisiana."

'But you're not suggesting that it was his idea to murder the Shogun and Ieyasu."