Do Not Trust Everyone

She looks at her comrades. The Western ones.
"That is how Americans speak, is it not?"

Van Cortlandt: "Okay, I see a guy in a white hat smoking a cigarette. Is that you?"

Sky says, "What do you want to bet it's me? I'll give you five to three it's not."

When Voinovich nods at Kaze, she says, "Indeed, that is Mr. Masterson."
"The fire was their doing so it is advisable to extinguish it."
"Moments ago, we received a call, probably from their leader on Mr. Richter's ring, pretending to be Mr. Browning. He ordered us to San Francisco to assist in its defense against a major attack. I do not know if he has contacted other groups"

"It is likely they are at a training school. We know the location."

She adds:

"In addition to our original number, we have another. Saburo. A thorn. He fights with us."

Van Cortlandt: "Wait, WHAT happened in San Francisco? And who has one of our ... you know what? Never mind. We'll answer everything face to face, when we're sure we're really us."

The fire dissolves as though by magic.

The Gee Bee turns sideways and starts drifting down to land. It seems to take forever.

Van Cortlandt says: "Air temp's dropping. We don't want to crunch this ship into the deck. Can you compensate?"

Voinovich: "That's me. I'm keeping my wound cold to control it. I can stop, if that's absolutely necessary."

Sky: "Wait, WHAT? Browning was not a fake! He relieved me of command! If he's a fake, then I'm in charge, and if I'm in charge, I officially say he is not a fake!

"Um. Uh --what first tipped us off to the idear that he was a fake? Anyone? Casey? Kay Zee? How do you say your name again?"

"Kah-zhe, Mr. Masterson."

"As to how we know the person to whom we spoke was simply masquerading as Mr. Browning:

"His syntax was in the manner of someone who was not well-versed in English. The sentence structure was much more reminiscent of that of our own Japanese language. Most have not or are not given the attention to detail in the study of Western languages."

"His use of honorifics, too, showed a distinct awkwardness."

"His attempt to get us to divulge information--and, unless I am mistaken, the mobile base stratagem is not one that the Knights of San Francisco employ. Very clever to get him to show his hand that way.

"He did not know Janet's proper name. He was unfamiliar with the colloquialism, 'Missy.'"

"He did, however, know Saburo's name."

"And, finally, when I gave him a bow of courtesy, he returned it, although he tried to prevent himself from doing so."

Voinovich smiles.

"But apart from all that, it's mere guesswork," he says. "But if he can speak through your rings, he might be able to find you through your rings. If we head straight for St. Louis, he will know it."

"Might I suggest the rings be sent off in another direction, or left here?"

Van Cortlandt climbs a ladder to the ground. He's slim, short, has a pencil moustache and uses hair oil.

"Ron Richter was supposed to be in charge," Van Cortlandt says quickly. "I don't see him. Who's the boss and what's the skinny? Seems like we got here after the emergency's over."