Randy nodded. "And scars," she said cordially. She led them to the house, past the corporal assigned to guard the entrance. The soldier stared blankly ahead of him, chanting, "Hail Artemis," as . they passed.
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"Hey, I don't think I like your threats," Artemis said to Randy Nooner.
"Hail Artemis," said the guard.
"I don't care if you like them or not," Randy said.
"Hail Artemis," said the guard.
"Oh, will you shut up?"
"Hail Artemis," said the guard.
"Drop dead, Corporal," Artemis raged.
Immediately the soldier put his hands around his own throat and squeezed until the color in his face changed from white to red to purple to blue. When his eyes were bulging and his tongue lolled darkly out of his mouth, the soldier collapsed in front of Artemis.
Samantha screamed. "What the hell did he do that for?" Artemis asked.
"You told him to drop dead, didn't you?"
"I asked him to shut up first."
"But you ordered him to drop dead. These men only respond to direct orders," Randy explained.
Artemis whistled low. "Because they love me," he said.
"It's not exactly you. Lehammet, bring me another foot soldier." The swarthy lieutenant rambled off without acknowledgement. In a few minutes he returned with a private in uniform.
Artemis checked his watch. "It's almost four a.m.," he said. "Aren't these men supposed to be asleep?"
"They sleep when we tell them to." Randy turned to the young soldier. "Private, eat dirt."
The soldier dropped to his knees and began stuffing handfuls of earth into his mouth. "Go on, tell him to do something."
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Samantha giggled. "Can I really?"
Randy nodded. "Okay," Samantha said with a shrug. "Drop your pants."
The private obeyed. "Jesus Christ," Artemis said. "What've you done to them?"
"You and Samantha helped," Randy said cheerfully. "You got them to set aside their own personalities for the good of the idea. All great speakers have that power. And since I wrote your speeches, their ideal was my ideal—Vadassar. Of course, Sa-mantha's stone pony cocktails helped get the men's minds in a receptive state."
"It was nothing," Samantha said modestly. "Just apple juice laced with PCP and a little acid. I used to mix it up for parties back in junior high. One drink and your brains turn into scrambled eggs. A real blast."
"The men loved it, darling," Randy said. "After you held your communions, the men were so highly suggestible that all you had to do to turn them to violence was to bring in a victim and turn the men loose. They were like a pack of mad dogs at that stage."
"Why'd you pick chaplains to be the victims?"
Randy laughed. "Because they're the only ones who would come alone and unarmed, idiot. We didn't want the men to fail on their first kill. If they did, they might never have had the confidence to exterminate the officers at their bases today and come here."
She turned to the blank-faced soldier standing at attention in his shorts. "Go back to your barracks, private," Randy said. The private padded back where he had come from, his trousers draped around his ankles.
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"He didn't even pull up his pants," Artemis noticed.
"That's because we didn't tell him to."
"Do you mean that these soldiers only do what they're told—by whoever tells them?"
The oily- looking lieutenant grinned. "That is correct, Artemis Thwill. You are not the only one who commands them now. We no longer need you."
"That's enough, Lieutenant," Randy snapped. The officer sniggered contemptuously at her command, but remained silent.
"Unfortunately, the process isn't complete yet," Randy explained. "The drugs and the first kill sent the men into a state of utter confusion. But in all four test bases, that stage ended quickly, within a couple of days. Then the men turned into automatons, like the private who was just here. At the mo-. ment, they'll take commands from anyone."
"I guess that could be dangerous," Artemis said. "In combat, all the enemy would have to do would be to order them to stop."
"Exactly. But we're training them now to respond only to us. They'll be perfect in a few days."
"Who's 'us'?" Artemis asked.
"Never mind. Go inside and get ready. You're addressing the troops in ten minutes. I've got your speech right here, so just get into your clothes." She pushed the couple into the door, closing it behind them, and kicked the corpse of the corporal who had strangled himself on Artemis's command. "Get this carcass out of here," she told the lieutenant.
"I am not one of your zombies," the lieutenant
said scornfully. "I am of the true army of Vadassar,
and I accept orders only from General Elalhassein."
"And General Elalhassein accepts orders from
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me," she said coldly. "Now drag this body into those bushes if you want to see another sunrise."
Grudgingly, the lieutenant complied. With the corporal's remains concealed, he stomped out of the bushes. "It is done," he said sullenly.
"Show me where you put him," Randy insisted.