Chapter 17After Rostoff had left, slamming the door behind him, Don grabbed up the bottle of cognac and took a deep swig. Then he slapped it down to the desk again and glared at Dirck Bosch.
Bosch shook his head, his face, as usual, expressionless. “The bottle is no answer,” he said.
“How the hell would you know, you plastic doll?”
“Tried it.”
“What is the answer?”
The Belgian shook his head. “I don’t know. They are more ruthless men than we are…Don.” It was the first time he had ever called Don Mathers by his first name. “Men who are completely, completely, ruthless can sweep all before them. Rostoff, and especially Demming, are probably the most ruthless men in the solar system.”
Don took up the bottle again. He said, “Like a drink, Dirck?”
The other shook his head. “No. Like I sa
