"Good afternoon, Mr. Phelps." "The man you're looking at is Dr. Erich Rojak, the brilliant scientist who is being held in an underground laboratory by a totalitarian enemy government." "Because of his fear that they will kill his wife, Anna," "Rojak has been forced to work on a small, but extremely powerful long-range missile, which, if successful, could dangerously affect the balance of world power." "Another unfriendly government fears this even more than we do and has sent this professional killer, Alexander Ventlos, to make certain that Rojak never completes his work." "Your mission, Jim, should you decide to accept it, is to rescue Rojak and his wife and destroy the test missile." "As always, should you or any of your IM Force be caught or killed, the secretary will disavow any knowledge of your actions." "This tape will self-destruct in five seconds." "Good luck, Jim." "Perfect, Barney." "Perfect." "The shot in this hypodermic will give Rojak all the necessary symptoms." "However, Jim, this drug cannot be premixed." "You'll have to mix it just before you get ready to send it." "How long will the symptoms last?" "Long enough, barring any interference." " From Ventlos?" " Yes." "He's no ordinary killer." "This is Ventlos." "Now look at these." "They're all Ventlos?" "We think so." "Detection device, Barney?" "Remember, the laboratory Rojak is working in is a hundred metres underground." "That gives us no leeway in our timing." "Jim, what if Rojak doesn't catch on quick enough?" "Or what if he refuses to go along with us?" "Then we'll be dead, Cinnamon." "January, suborbital, denomination." " What's going on, Dromm?" " I have asked you, Dr. Rojak, to address me by my proper title." " Have you now?" " I am a doctor" "When you deserve the title of doctor, you'll receive it, Dromm." "Now, what is this doing here?" "That is the second stage of the missile, doctor." "I know what it is." "But why is it here?" "For you to work on." "We have advanced the work schedule." "Rojak." "You must complete the final preparations on the second stage today." "The more time you waste in conversation, the less visiting time you will have with your wife this afternoon." "Hey, you." "Are you all set?" "Yes, thank you very much." "Zeigler's arrived." "Right." " Good morning, general." " Good morning, sir." "Good morning, gentlemen." "Colonel Zeigler, you may proceed with your status report." "Thank you, sir." "The progress on the missile continues satisfactorily." "We can report completion of all but the second stage." "Test expectations indicate that the almost 200 percent decrease in size and weight of the weapon will result in a negligible loss of capability." "This is Colonel Zeigler." "I want to speak to Captain Preado immediately." "Captain Preado." " Yes?" " This is Colonel Zeigler." "General Frash wants you to come immediately to the State Security Building with a schematic of the underground laboratory and fuel complex." "Yes, sir." "Can I be of any assistance, Dr. Rojak?" "Certainly, Dromm." "You may get me some coffee." "Dr. Rojak is currently completing calculations on the second stage of the test missile." "The launching is tentatively scheduled for tomorrow." "And when will the anti-detection system be completed?" " Ten days." " That's a delay from the last report." "Dr. Rojak is working as fast as possible." "Are you quite sure?" "General, all possible pressure is being applied." "How long do you intend to be lecturing in Europe?" "One week." "Gentlemen, I'm only Dr. Mendel's assistant." "Chief assistant." "Isn't it true you and Dr. Mendel have developed a new technique for heart transplant?" "Not all heart work is transplant." " But you are both heart surgeons?" " Yes." "Dr. Mendel has developed a new technique for open-heart surgery." " Not transplant?" "But doctor" " Congratulations." " Could I ask you one more question?" " That's all." " Can we have your itinerary, doctor?" " Call Dr. Mendel." "And so all stages should go as anticipated with the test missile." "Now, that, gentlemen, concludes my report." "Now, I suppose, colonel, considering the unwillingness of Rojak, you have done a reasonable job." ""Unwillingness" is not quite strong enough a word for Rojak's attitude, general." "The man knows we cannot make a missile without him." "He must also suspect that he and his wife are expendable once all the tests are completed successfully." "Well, that hardly makes him likely to rush his work." "And" "I understand, but I want no more delays." "Is that clear, Colonel Zeigler?" "Yes, sir." "Zeigler's leaving." "Major." "Major." "Go, go!" "go'" "This way, follow me." "The flashes came from up there." "I believe they have gone." "Have you been hurt?" "No." "Major Anton Thorvold." "I am very grateful to you, colonel." " Zeigler." " Colonel Zeigler." "I was just on my way to meet you." "I've received no notification of your coming." "Yes, I know." "Here are my orders." "It states that you are assigned to the missile project for security reasons." "Yes." "I already have a security officer." "A Captain Preado." "I will explain, but if I may suggest, your office would be more suitable." "Major, did you find anything?" "Just some shells." "They got away with their guns, whoever they were." "This is my aide, Major Strat." " Major Thorvold." " Major." "I'm afraid your car is out of commission." "Major Thorvold is coming with us." " Yes, I will just get my things." " No, no." "Bring the major's things from the car." "Thank you, colonel." "Go." "I have to get down to the laboratory." "Sorry, Captain Preado." "But you know the orders." "When a fuel test is in progress, no one is allowed into the laboratory area." "Yes." "Yes, of course." "As you of course understand, major, security precautions dictate that all visitors to the complex be searched." "I would certainly hope so, colonel." "After the major is searched, send him to my office." "This way, major." "Yes." "The security officer should see this." "Captain Preado." "Captain Preado?" "Yes?" "Colonel Zeigler wants to see you in his office immediately." "I'll be right there." "ls the fuel test still in progress?" "Yes." "Major Nadja Bradislav to see Colonel Zeigler." "Thank you." "Major Nadja Bradislav to see Colonel Zeigler." "Hold her there." "Have her searched and then bring her in." "Yes, sir." "Come." " Major." " Thank you, colonel." "Now, if you'd be kind enough to explain the purpose of this apparatus." "Yes, you will understand the reason for this electronic equipment when I tell you why I was" "Come." "Yes, captain, please." "Major Thorvold, this is my security officer, Captain Preado." " Captain." " Captain, look at this." "Yes, I was just explaining to the colonel why I was sent here." "OBQ Central has just learned a professional killer named Alexander Ventlos has been sent to kill Dr. Rojak." "I assure you, major, he would never get past our security precautions." "Perhaps, but Ventlos is a cunning and very brilliant man." " Do you know what he looks like?" " Yes, I have a photograph." "Captain." "Good." "I will have it posted at all security checkpoints." " I'm afraid that will not be sufficient." " Why not?" "Because you will never see Ventlos as he appears in this photograph." "He is an impersonator." "A chameleon of extraordinary talent." "He could become any one of the personnel in this entire complex." "Which brings us to this." "It is a detection device intended to prevent exactly that." "Each man's hand will be stamped with a chemical solution." "If you please, captain." "So." "Now, this imprint is the only thing that will be registered electronically by this equipment." "And it only lasts for one week." "I see, I see." "Excellent." "Excellent." "And then the mixture is changed periodically, eh?" " Exactly, colonel." " Yes." "Major Bradislav is here, colonel." " Send her in." " Nadja Bradislav?" "Yes, you know her?" "Yes, we have worked together on several assignments." "Come." "Major Bradislav, I'm Colonel Zeigler." "And this is my security officer, Captain Preado, and I believe you already know Major Thorvold." "This is not Nadja Bradislav." "We shall soon find out." "Who are you?" "Who are you?" "Colonel, I believe I see a very clever plan." "Yes?" "I believe it was Ventlos who tried to kill me on the road." "If he had succeeded, he would have appeared here as me with this woman as his confederate." "Apparently, they had no way of warning her the ambush had failed." "Take her to the detention room for interrogation." " Yes, sir." " If you have no objections, colonel," "I would prefer she be taken to State Security Headquarters." "They have better facilities for interrogation there." "As you wish." "Captain Preado, take her to the State Security Headquarters." "Yes, sir." "With your permission, colonel, I will need 15 minutes to mix enough solution for all the personnel here." "Certainly, major." "Strat, see to Major Thorvold's quarters at once." "Once my detection device is in operation," "I would greatly appreciate a complete inspection of your security precautions." "Of course, major." "Thank you, colonel." "This way, major." "I hope you'll be comfortable, major." "Yes, thank you." "The model of the test missile." "Dr. Rojak is currently completing work on the second stage, which contains the guidance mechanism and the solid fuel propellant section." " Where is the first stage?" " On the gantry." "Its liquid fuel is currently being mixed." "Come." "Major, notice," "Dr. Rojak's laboratory has only one door." "There are no locks on it." "You could not blast it open." "Only one thing would open it." "Sound." "Voice code." "A certain combination of words." "Yes." "But more sophisticated than that." "The words are:" "January, suborbital, denomination." "Here, come here to speak." "January, suborbital, denomination." "It does not fit, major." "Like fingerprints, no two men's voice patterns are the same." "There are only three voices that will open that door." "Dr. Dromm's, Major Strat's and mine." " Who are you?" " Please, Mrs. Rojak." " But I don't know you." " There's no time for explanations." "We're here to help you." "We're here to get you and your husband out of here." "Now, if you'll do exactly as I tell you." "First, change into these clothes." "Please." "What is that?" "It is the hoist that carries the various components of the missile to ground level, where they are tracked to the gantry and assembled for the launch." "And when will that be?" "Late tomorrow, if all goes as scheduled." "Dr. Dromm." "The missile will launch tomorrow." "Dr. Rojak, I want to review with you these last vectors for the guidance system." " No." " I don't believe you understood me." "All I want to do is to check the guidance system." "I understand you perfectly, Dromm." "You get no more calculations from me." "No more work." "Nothing." "Now, you will do exactly what Dr. Dromm says at once." "We don't have the time for further discussion." " No." " Now, listen to me, doctor." "I do not think it is necessary to remind you of your wife." "I know." "I know." "But I have made my decision." "Well, do not force me to make mine." " Now, explain your data to Dr. Dromm." " No." "Very well." "What are you going to do?" "Have his wife brought down here." "And then if he refuses to go back to work..." " When will I see my husband?" " Soon." "Go with him." "Where is the guard?" "I don't know, sir." "We'll search all the cells." "Take the keys." "Anna Rojak." "You will come with me." "I want to see my husband." "That is precisely where you're going." "Lieutenant?" "Sergeant, what is this?" "The woman that was brought here for interrogation, she has escaped." "Start a thorough search of the entire building."