[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
bulging brown eyes, suddenly stiffened in unbelief. He darted forward.
"Mr. Mellish! What On earth? I'm glad to see you!"
"I'm sure, Tomko, I'm sure," said Mellish. "How's everything going?"
Tomko glanced at Magnus Ridolph, then back to Mellish. "Well - nothing
definite yet, sir. Old Kanditter -
that's the king - won't make any concessions whatever."
"We'll see about that," said Mellish. He turned, raised his voice to the
copter pilot. "Let us out of this cage."
The pilot said, "When I give you the word, sir, you can open that door - right
there." He walked around the copter. "Now."
Mellish and Magnus Ridolph passed outside, each carrying a pair of magnesium
Page 51
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
cases.
file:///G|/Program%20Files/eMule/Incoming/Ja...20Many%20Worlds%20of%20Magnus%2
0Ridolph.html (75 of 132) [10/18/2004 3:43:08 PM]
THE MANY WORLDS OF MAGNUS RIDOLPH by Jack Vance
"Can you tell me," inquired Magnus Ridolph, "where lodging may be found?"
Tomko said doubtfully, "There's usually a few empty houses around. We've been
living in one of the wings of the king's palace. If you introduce yourself
he'll probably invite you to do likewise."
"Thank you," said Magnus Ridolph. "I'll go pay my respects immediately."
A whistle came to his ears. Turning, he saw the copter pilot beckoning to him
through the wire. He went as close to the charged mesh as he dared.
"I just want to warn you," said the pilot. "Watch out for the king. He's the
worst of the lot. That's why he's king. Talk about stealing -
whoo!"
Solemnly shaking his head, he turned back to his copter.
"Thank you," said Magnus Ridolph. He felt a vibration through his wrist. He
turned, said to the nearby native, "Your knife makes no impression in the
alloy of the case, my friend. You would do better with a heat-needle."
The native slid quietly away. Magnus Ridolph set out for the king's palace. It
was a pleasant scene, he thought, reminiscent of ancient Polynesia. The
village seemed clean and orderly. Small shops appeared at intervals along the
avenue - booths displaying yellow fruit, shiny green tubes, rows of dead
shrimp-like insects, jars of rust-colored powder. The proprietors sat in front
of the booths, not behind them.
A pavilion extended forward from the front of the palace, and here Magnus
Ridolph found Kanditter, the
King of Thieves, sitting sleepily in a low deep chair. He was to Magnus
Ridolph's eye distinguishable from the other natives only by his headdress - a
coronet-like affair woven of a shiny red-gold metal and set with telex
crystals.
Unaware of the exact formalities expected of him, Magnus Ridolph merely
approached the king, bowed his head.
"Greetings," said the king in a thick voice. "Your name and business?"
"I am Magnus Ridolph, resident of Tran, on Lake Sahara, Earth. I have come -
to state the matter briefly -
to - "
"To get telex?"
"I would be foolish to deny it."
"Ho!" The king rocked back and forth, pulled back his sharp dark features in a
fish-like grin. "No luck.
Telex crystal stay on Moritaba."
file:///G|/Program%20Files/eMule/Incoming/Ja...20Many%20Worlds%20of%20Magnus%2
0Ridolph.html (76 of 132) [10/18/2004 3:43:08 PM]
THE MANY WORLDS OF MAGNUS RIDOLPH by Jack Vance
Magnus Ridolph nodded. He had expected refusal. "In the meantime may I
trespass on the royal hospitality?"
The king's grin slowly faded. "Eh? Eh? What you say?"
"Where do you suggest that I stay?"
The king made a sweep of his arm toward the end of his palace. "Much room
there. Go around, go in."
"Thank you," said Magnus Ridolph.
To the rear of the palace Magnus Ridolph found suitable quarters - one of a
row of rooms facing out on the path like stalls in a stable. The resemblance
was heightened by the stable-type door.
It was a pleasant lodging with the trees swaying far overhead, the carpet of
red-gold leaves in front. The interior was comfortable though Spartan. Magnus
Page 52
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
Ridolph found a couch, a pottery ewer filled with cool water, a carved chest
built into the wall, a table.
Humming softly to himself, Magnus Ridolph opened the chest, peered within. A
soft smile disturbed his beard as he noted the back panel of the chest. It
looked solid, felt solid, but Magnus Ridolph knew it could be opened from the
outside.
The walls seemed sound - poles of the blue wood were caulked with a putty-like
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]