The Green Beret

His skin was a shade lighter thanRead's. "The Inspector General doesn't have the power to arrest ahead of state--especially the Premier of Belderkan. Now, ifyou'll excuse me, I must return to my party."In the other room people laughed and talked. Glasses clinked inthe late afternoon. Read knew two armed men stood just outsidethe door. "If you leave, Premier, I'll have to shoot you.""I don't think so," Umluana said. "No, if you kill me, all Africawill rise against the world. You don't want me dead. You want mein court."Read clicked off the safety."Corporal Read is very young," Rashid said, "but he's a crackshot. That's why I brought him with me. I think he _likes_ toshoot, too."Umluana turned back to Rashid a second too soon. He saw thesergeant's upraised hand before it collided with his neck."Help! _Kidnap._"Rashid judo chopped him and swung the inert body over hisshoulders. Read pulled a flat grenade from his vest pocket. Hedropped it and yellow psycho gas hissed from the valve."Let's be off," Rashid said.The door lock snapped as they went out the window. Two men withrifles plunged into the gas; sighing, they fell to the floor in acatatonic trance.A little car skimmed across the lawn. Bearing the Scourge ofAfrica, Rashid struggled toward it. Read walked backward,covering their retreat.