Assignment - Black Viking Read Online Free

Chinese history. Expansionist, powerful, enormous, swallowing everything. The cycle has been resumed since Mao Tse-tung took power. Chinese inventiveness and technology were often far ahead of the Western world. It is not too much to believe that, given incentive and resources—such as the brains of Professor Gustaffson—they have evolved this new technique to disrupt the climates of the world.” “And I’m to find Gustaffson. The trail is cold. It’s had eight months to cool off.”
    “It is a starting point. Don’t belittle it. You will be given more details later.” Again McFee looked at his watch. “Your Swedish co-agent will be here any moment. You will be more fully briefed then.”
    “I’d rather work alone.”
    “I told you, you have no choice.” McFee’s smile was thin, gray, and fleeting. “Judging from your past performances, Samuel, you will have no objection to her.” 
    “Her?”
    There was a knock on the door. “Here she is now.” McFee turned. “Come in, please.”
    The door opened and Sigrid Bjornson entered. She smiled warmly at Durell.
    “Hello, surprised man.”
4
    IT WAS still raining, but there was blue sky to the west, beyond the flat fields and canals that stretched to the North Sea. Durell dismissed the gray Mercedes in the Marktgasse of Bruges and walked with Sigrid to one
    of the awning-protected cafes that faced the carillon, which promptly began to chime the noon hour with all of its forty-seven bells. The place seemed safe enough, with its swarming tourists and parked tour buses in the big square. Belgian provincial flags flapped or drooped colorfully in the center of the square.
    “Time for lunch,” he explained.
    “Hungry man, you seem angry with me,” Sigrid murmured.
    “You could have told me who you are.”
    “But I had to make sure of your identity.”
    “And did you, by searching my cabin?”
    “Not exactly. But you fitted our dossier we have on you, at Desk Five.”
    “I think I’ll join the Swedish Intelligence,” he said. “I didn’t know they had people like you working in it.” 
    “Then you do like me?”
    “I’m still quivering from the cabin episode.”
    “You lie so nicely.” She gave him a gamin smile. “Now let us eat and I will explain just what we are to do.” Sigrid was easily the most gorgeous creature Durell had seen in a long time. She wore a gray suit of soft light wool that clung lovingly to her body, hugging every provocative curve. Her high heels brought her proud blonde head almost to the level of Durell’s. She had done her long hair into a braided coronet that gave her a regal look and made every man who passed by turn for a second glance and an envious look at Durell. She carried a large leather shoulder bag that made him wonder just what unpleasant surprises might be in it, however.
    He ordered ham and mushroom omelettes and beer for both of them, and she ate in ravenous silence, using up several minutes while he scanned the passersby. Nothing seemed suspicious. The drizzle ended and the sun came out to shine gloriously on the medieval baroque gilt of the Cloth Hall.
    “We start, of course,” she began abruptly, “with Professor Peter Gustaffson. Uncle Eric and Uncle Peter—” 
    “Hold it. Uncle Peter?”
    “Yes. ‘Bjornson’ is my code name. My real name is Gustaffson. That is why I am assigned to work on this with you. Uncle Eric and Uncle Peter are my father’s brothers. Neither ever married. Peter is the scientist interested in weather, Eric is a doctor who works up in Lapland and is interested in archaeology.” She paused and grimaced. “Eric is a bit strange.”
    “How, strange?”
    “He is interested in only old things. In Scandinavian myths, legends, and history. Too much, they say. He would like to turn the clock back and pretend he is a Viking of a thousand years ago. But he is quite harmless, if a little terrifying at times.”
    “And where are these uncles of yours?”
    “Well, Peter