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away.
"Whatever it is," observed Lucky, "it's good."
Magnus Ridolph said reflectively, "Extremely disagreeable, those beasts."
"Humph," snorted Joe. "You haven't seen the sea-beetles yet."
Magnus Ridolph rose to his feet. "I think I've seen enough for tonight. If
you'll excuse me, I think I'll try to get a little rest."
"Sure," said Lucky abstractedly. "Wilbur will show you your room."
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THE MANY WORLDS OF MAGNUS RIDOLPH by Jack Vance
"Thank you." Magnus Ridolph left the room.
"Well," said Blaine heavily, "there goes your great detective."
"Now Joe," said Mayla, looping an arm around his neck, "don't be mean. I think
he's sort of cute. So prim and tidy-like. And that little white beard, isn't
it a scream?"
"Magnus Ridolph's got brains," said Lucky, without conviction.
"He looks like an old faker to me," said Joe. "Notice how he jumped when the
gorilla dropped out of the tree? Cowardly old goat..."
"Excuse me," said Magnus Ridolph, "may I have that film? I'd like to study it
under a viewer."
There was a pause.
"Ah - help yourself," said Woolrich.
Magnus Ridolph removed the cartridge. "Thank you very much. Good night."
Joe watched the door close. Then he turned and blurted, "Lucky, I always
thought you had sense. When you said you were bringing out an expert, I had
faith in you. Look at him. Senile. A pussy-footer..."
"Now Joe," said Mayla, "don't be hasty now. Remember you thought I was dumb
once too; remember?
You told me so yourself."
"Ah-h-h-h-h," breathed Joe. "For two cents I'd - "
"Ten million munits," warned Lucky. "Lotsa scratch!"
Blaine pulled himself up in his chair. "You know what I'm gonna do?"
"What?"
"I'm going out to that Mollie hive. I'm going to find out what gives 'em that
stink. Whatever it is, we can have it analyzed and maybe treated so that it
won't be so vile."
Mayla said, "Honey, do you think it's safe?"
Lucky said, "Do you really think that's what does the trick?"
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THE MANY WORLDS OF MAGNUS RIDOLPH by Jack Vance
" 'Think'?" scoffed Joe. "I
know it."
Joe's jungle suit was the best money could buy. The metallic fabric mirrored
away the sun-glare. The plastic bubble surrounding his head was similarly
silvered on top. The boots fitted his feet as comfortably as his own skin. By
twisting a valve he could inflate vanes that would enable him to walk across
swamp and ooze without sinking. A small pack on his back pumped cool clean air
around him, supplied power for the sound pickup, the torch and power-knife at
his belt. His pouch contained concentrated food for three days and an air
mattress of material so tough and thin that when deflated it could be crumpled
up inside his clenched fist. He carried a grenade rifle and a dozen extra
clips of ammunition.
Early in the morning he set off, before Magnus Ridolph had arisen. Lucky
watched him go with unconcern. The Lord protects fools and drunkards, thought
Lucky; Joe was doubly secure. Mayla was not so impassive, and finally Lucky
had to hold her until Joe was out of sight. Her cries followed him as he
trudged across the sand toward the beetling rampart of vegetation. He found a
trail and plunged into the green gloom.
As soon as the forest surrounded him, he halted to take stock. The flying
snakes could knock him down and constrict, though the fabric of the suit would
protect him from their teeth. He turned his eyes apprehensively into the air.
Somehow the expedition seemed less urgent now than it had the previous
evening. Magnus Ridolph - there was the man who should be investigating the
natives. He was being paid for it! Joe chewed on his pink tongue. No, he
couldn't very well go back now. Lucky would never let him forget it.
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Once more he searched the fronds and foliage, golden-green where the light
struck, dark rich green in the shadow. Moths flitted across the open spaces,
in and out of the slanting beams of sunlight. Up, up, up -
big green leaves, clots of red, yellow and black flowers, trailing chalk-blue
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