The Mind-Twisters Affair Read Online Free PDF

charities?" Napoleon asked.
    "The little ones are door-to-door beggars, and the big ones are swindlers." Armden snarled. "The entire idea is wrong, anyway. I made my own way without anybody's help, and other people can do the same. But the whole country is going downhill - look at us playing Santa Claus to a bunch of ignorant, ungrateful freeloaders without the guts to help themselves. Someone is going to have to take hold and bring this country to its senses." Armden paused, breathing heavily.
    "But how does U.N.C.L.E. fit into this?" Illya asked.
    "You're the worst of the lot! You put up this pose of international goodwill and friendship for everyone, and behind it -" he snorted.
    "Yes," Napoleon prompted. "Behind it, what?"
    "You don't know, of course!" Armden laughed derisively. "The innocent pose - you'd never admit any thing!"
    "But what should we admit to?" Napoleon persisted. "How did you find out?"
    There was the same pause, as if a gearshift had fallen into place, that Napoleon had noticed the night before.
    "Oh, I know you have a hand in the newspapers the same way the government does. You never let any of your dirty laundry loose in public. Your killings are kept under wraps."
    "You still haven't told us any specific thing that U.N.C.L.E. is supposed to have done." Napoleon argued.
    Armden stood, unmoving, for several moments. Despite the coolness of the evening, Napoleon was sure he saw a bead of sweat form on the man's forehead. Suddenly be burst out. "You have no right to badger me this way! Get out of here and let me alone!" He spun on his heel and disappeared inside the house.
    Napoleon and Illya walked quietly back to their car.
    "I'm not sure I'd call it progress," Napoleon said. "But we seem to be hitting a nerve of some kind."
    "At least he talked to us," Illya added. "He seemed more sympathetic toward Morthley. Perhaps we can try that approach again tomorrow."
    "The more I see of this, the more it seems that Thrush must be involved. But how, and why?"
    "You're just getting hypersensitive."
    'Perhaps you're right, but I sense a plan in all this."
    "What does it all mean?" Illya murmured as they drove back to the hotel.
     
    Sunday afternoon Illya and Napoleon paid Dr. Armden another visit. Napoleon had barely touched the doorbell when the door popped open and Armden confronted them.
    "Still here, I see." His voice was noticeably higher than it had been the night before, and there were shadows under his eyes.
    "We'll probably be leaving tomorrow," Napoleon reassured him. "We just came by to make a final appeal. We spoke to Dr. Morthley last night, and he is very concerned about you."
    "Yes, I know. Willard called again this morning. He..." Armden broke off in midsentence and wiped his brow, then stood fidgeting for several seconds. The two agents waited patiently. Finally Armden continued, speaking rapidly. "Very well, gentlemen, I will call your bluff. I will go back to New York with you. But mind you, I'm doing this for Willard; I feel sure that once I see him in person, I can make him see the truth."
    Illya and Napoleon exchanged glances. Their suggestion to Waverly the night before had evidently borne fruit. Now they would have to get Armden on his way before he changed his mind again, or any of his friends showed up to dissuade him.
    "I'm glad to hear it, sir," Napoleon said. "If you haven't packed anything yet, just throw a few things together while we arrange for transportation. I'm sure we can make a flight from Fort Wayne."
    Illya gestured toward the car after Armden had gone inside to pack. "That is not my idea of a three- passenger vehicle, unless we empty out the parachute compartment and stow someone in there."
    "Armden is small," Napoleon replied. "Besides, would you rather give him the chance to talk to Bennett before leaving?" He contacted Waverly and was just completing the arrangements when Armden came out of the house carrying a small overnight case.
    "I called the plant manager to let