The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Green Beret, by Thomas Edward Purdom

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Title: The Green Beret

Author: Thomas Edward Purdom

Illustrator: Schoenherr

Release Date: January 14, 2008 [EBook #24278]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GREEN BERET ***

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Transcriber's Note:

This etext was produced from Analog, January 1961.
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that
the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.

[Illustration]

THE

GREEN

BERET

By TOM PURDOM

_It's not so much the decisions a man does make that mark
him as a Man--but the ones he refrains from making. Like the
decision "I've had enough!"_

Illustrated by Schoenherr

* * * * *

Read locked the door and drew his pistol. Sergeant Rashid handed
Premier Umluana the warrant.

"We're from the UN Inspector Corps," Sergeant Rashid said. "I'm
very sorry, but we have to arrest you and bring you in for trial
by the World Court."

If Umluana noticed Read's gun, he didn't show it. He read the
warrant carefully. When he finished, he said something in Dutch.

"I don't know your language," Rashid said.

"Then I'll speak English." Umluana was a small man with wrinkled
brow, glasses and a mustache. His skin was a shade lighter than
Read's. "The Inspector General doesn't have the power to arrest a
head of state--especially the Premier of Belderkan. Now, if
you'll excuse me, I must return to my party."

In the other room people laughed and talked. Glasses clinked in
the late afternoon. Read knew two armed men stood just outside
the door. "If you leave, Premier, I'll have to shoot you."

"I don't think so," Umluana said. "No, if you kill me, all Africa
will rise against the world. You don't want m