The large drum, containing the cocaine, was brought out of the water. Whoever opened it would discover, quite quickly, that the Allanean who bought the slaves did not tell a lie. The payment – just under fifty kilos fine Liberty-City cocaine in wholesale transparent plastic bags – was in fact stacked within the drum. The drum had a double bottom and double walls filled with flotation foam, to keep it from sinking or leaking onto the precious contents.
But the pure, pharmaceutical grade cocaine was not its sole contents. but more importantly, placed on its bottom, under the bag of Liberty-City cocaine, was a stack of yellow bricks looking for the world like the colored clay children around the world played with – whether in Allanea or Tupeia. And running into the bricks were wires.
Fifty kilograms of plastic explosives, rigged to blow when the drum was breached or the lid lifted, sent the pure Liberty-City cocaine directly into the face of whatever unfortunate opened the drum.
The Allaneans kept their promises.
But the pure, pharmaceutical grade cocaine was not its sole contents. but more importantly, placed on its bottom, under the bag of Liberty-City cocaine, was a stack of yellow bricks looking for the world like the colored clay children around the world played with – whether in Allanea or Tupeia. And running into the bricks were wires.
Fifty kilograms of plastic explosives, rigged to blow when the drum was breached or the lid lifted, sent the pure Liberty-City cocaine directly into the face of whatever unfortunate opened the drum.
The Allaneans kept their promises.
* * *
A classified location
The submarine floated into the pen during a dark and cloudy night. The slaves were taken off the boat under armed guard. They were placed, quite soon, on a railcar aboard a narrow-gauge train, and moved, their eyes bound, through long underground passages. Those of them who paid attention might hear the steps of men trained to move in silence.
The Allaneans understood, of course, that it was possible the Tupeians had lied. For this reason, the slaves were moved deep underground, to minimize the chance that – despite assurances to the contrary – the Tupeians were capable of detonating the probes by remote, and would do so to take revenge on the mysterious 'Allanean businessman'.
Each of the slaves was placed in a separate room, with its walls lined with what appeared to be metal plating. The rooms had simple amenities, and food was brought in – food that perhaps the slaves would not be able to fully appreciate – eggs and bacon, orange juice, simple, caloric, and well-made.
Over the next few days each of the slaves would undergo an elaborate medical examination. They would still be blindfolded whenever they left the cell, and constantly under guard. Their clothing was replaced by a simple set of bluish-grey pajama-like uniform, and soft, laceless sneakers. Nowhere on the clothing could a buckle or a lace be found.
Only after the Allaneans judged their examination complete, the first of the slaves (the most educated one would be chosen) would be taken into an interrogation room – or, if one preferred, a debriefing room.
As the Tupeian's blindfolds were removed, they would find themselves in a room with light-grey walls, and a grey linoleum floor. They were seated on a comfortable, leather-padded office chair, and in front of them was a man with the bearing of a military officer, in a pressed, dark-blue uniform, seated behind a large desk equipped with a computer. Behind the man was an Allanean flag, and a portrait of the King and Queen of Allanea.
"Good morning." – said the officer – "I'm Captain Obadiah Wheeler. Free Kingdom Naval Intelligence. And what is your name?"
The Allaneans understood, of course, that it was possible the Tupeians had lied. For this reason, the slaves were moved deep underground, to minimize the chance that – despite assurances to the contrary – the Tupeians were capable of detonating the probes by remote, and would do so to take revenge on the mysterious 'Allanean businessman'.
Each of the slaves was placed in a separate room, with its walls lined with what appeared to be metal plating. The rooms had simple amenities, and food was brought in – food that perhaps the slaves would not be able to fully appreciate – eggs and bacon, orange juice, simple, caloric, and well-made.
Over the next few days each of the slaves would undergo an elaborate medical examination. They would still be blindfolded whenever they left the cell, and constantly under guard. Their clothing was replaced by a simple set of bluish-grey pajama-like uniform, and soft, laceless sneakers. Nowhere on the clothing could a buckle or a lace be found.
Only after the Allaneans judged their examination complete, the first of the slaves (the most educated one would be chosen) would be taken into an interrogation room – or, if one preferred, a debriefing room.
As the Tupeian's blindfolds were removed, they would find themselves in a room with light-grey walls, and a grey linoleum floor. They were seated on a comfortable, leather-padded office chair, and in front of them was a man with the bearing of a military officer, in a pressed, dark-blue uniform, seated behind a large desk equipped with a computer. Behind the man was an Allanean flag, and a portrait of the King and Queen of Allanea.
"Good morning." – said the officer – "I'm Captain Obadiah Wheeler. Free Kingdom Naval Intelligence. And what is your name?"
