s [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

"Fodor Impliega, Fodor Banzoso?"
Fiamella nodded. "They hated Lester. They said, 'Give us one of your savage
slaves. Too long a time has gone past; we must send a soul to our god.' Lester
said, 'No!' They were very angry, and talked together about Lester."
Pascoglu nodded thoughtfully. "I see. I'll certainly make inquiries of these
priests. Thank you for your information."
Fiamella departed. Pascoglu went to the wall mesh. "Send Fodor Impliega and
Fodor Banzoso here, please."
There was a pause, then the voice of the clerk responded: "They are busy, Mr.
Pascoglu - some sort of rite or other. They said they'll only be a few
minutes."
"Mmph... Well, send in Viamestris Diasporus."
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THE MANY WORLDS OF MAGNUS RIDOLPH by Jack Vance
"Yes, sir."
"For your information," said Magnus Ridolph, "Viamestris Diasporus comes from
a world where gladiatorial sports are highly popular, where successful
gladiators are the princes of society, especially the amateur gladiator, who
may be a high-ranking nobleman, fighting merely for public acclamation and
prestige."
Pascoglu turned around. "If Diasporus is an amateur gladiator, I would think
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he'd be pretty callous. He wouldn't care who he killed!"
"I merely present such facts as I have gleaned through the morning's research.
You must draw your own conclusions."
Pascoglu grunted.
In the doorway appeared Viamestris Diasporus, the tall man with the ferocious
aquiline head whom
Magnus Ridolph had noticed in the lobby. He inspected the interior of the
library carefully.
"Enter, if you please," said Pascoglu. "I am conducting an inquiry into the
death of Lester Bonfils. It is possible that you help us."
Diasporus' narrow face elongated in surprise. "The killer has not announced
himself?"
"Unfortunately, no."
Diasporus made a swift gesture, a nod of the head, as if suddenly all were
clear. "Bonfils was evidently of the lowest power, and the killer is ashamed
of his feat, rather than proud."
Pascoglu rubbed the back of his head. "To ask a hypothetical question, Mr.
Diasporus, suppose you had killed Bonfils, what reason - "
Diasporus cut the air with his hand. "Ridiculous! I would only mar my record
with a victory so small."
"But, assuming that you had reason to kill him - "
"What reason could there be? He belonged to no recognized gens, he had issued
no challenges, he was of stature insufficient to drag the sand of the arena."
Pascoglu spoke querulously: "But if he had done you an injury - "
Magnus Ridolph interjected a suggestion: "For the sake of argument, let us
assume that Mr. Bonfils had
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THE MANY WORLDS OF MAGNUS RIDOLPH by Jack Vance flung white paint on the front
of your house."
In two great strides Diasporus was beside Magnus Ridolph, the feral bony face
peering down. "What is this, what has he done?"
"He has done nothing. He is dead. I ask the question merely for the
enlightenment of Mr. Pascoglu."
"Ah! I understand. I would have such a cur poisoned. Evidently Bonfils had
committed no such solecism, for I understand that he died decently, through a
weapon of prestige."
Pascoglu turned his eyes to the ceiling, held out his hands. "Thank you, Mr.
Diasporus, thank you for your help."
Diasporus departed; Pascoglu went to the wall-mesh. "Please send Mr. Thorn 199
to the library."
They waited in silence. Presently Thorn 199 appeared, a wiry little man with a
rather large round head, evidently of a much mutated race. His skin was a waxy
yellow; he wore gay garments of blue and orange, with a red collar and rococo
red slippers.
Pascoglu had recovered his poise. "Thank you for coming, Mr. Thorn. I am
trying to establish - "
Magnus Ridolph said in a thoughtful voice, "Excuse me. May I make a
suggestion?"
"Well?" snapped Pascoglu.
"I fear Mr. Thorn is not wearing the clothes he would prefer for so important
an inquiry as this. For his own sake he will be the first to wish to change
into black and white, with, of course, a black hat."
Thorn 199 darted Magnus Ridolph a glance of enormous hatred.
Pascoglu was puzzled. He glanced from Magnus Ridolph to Thorn 199 and back. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]