Ecce and Old Earth by Jack Vance Read Free Book Online Page A

brings you out so early?”
    Glawen looked through the glass panes of the partition and across the hangar. “Can we talk without being overheard?”
    “I think so. No one has his ear pressed to the door. That's a feature of glass walls. Any odd conduct makes you conspicuous."
    “What about microphones?”
    Chilke swung around and turned knobs to bring a wild wailing music from a speaker. “That should jam any microphone within hearing range, so long as you don’t try to sing. Now what is it that is so secret?"
    “This is the copy of a letter Floreste wrote yesterday afternoon. He says that my father is still alive. He also mentions you." Glawen gave the letter to Chilke. “Read it for yourself."
    Chilke took the letter, leaned back in his chair and read. Halfway through he looked up. "Isn't it amazing? Smonny still thinks I own a great hoard of Grandpa Swaner's valuables.”
    “It’s only amazing if you don’t. And you don’t?”
    “I hardly think so.”
    “Have you ever made an inventory of the estate?"
    Chilke shook his head. “Why bother? It’s just refuse cluttering up the barn. Smonny knows this very well; she's burgled the place four times.”
    “You're sure it was Smonny”
    "No one else has showed any interest in the stuff. I wish she would take herself in hand. It makes me nervous to be the object of her avarice, or affection, or wrath-whatever it is." Chilke returned to the letter. He finished, mused a moment, then tossed the letter back to Glawen. "Now you want to rush out and rescue your father.”
    “Something like that.”
    “And Bodwyn Wook is joining you on the mission?”
    “I doubt it. He is a bit over-cautious.”
    “I suspect for good reason.”
    Glawen shrugged. “He is convinced that Shattorak is defended and that an attack from the air would cost us five or six flyers and half of the staff.”
    "You call that over-caution? I call it common sense.”
    “A raid would not need to come down from above. We could land a force somewhere on the slope of Shattorak and attack from the side. He still sees difficulties.”
    "So do I.” said Chilke. “Where would the flyers land? In the jungle?"
    “There must be open areas.”
    “So it might be. First we would need to alter the landing gear of all our flyers, which would be duly noted by the spies". They would also give notice of our departure and Smonny would have five hundred Yips waiting for us."
    “I thought you had chased out all your spies?”
    Chilke held out his hands in a gesture of helpless and injured innocence. "What happens when I need to hire mechanics? I use what I find. I know I have spies, just like a dog knows it has fleas. I even know who they are. There's one of my prime candidates yonder, working on the carry-all door: a magnificent specimen by the name of Benjamie.”
    Looking toward the carry-all, Glawen observed a tall young man of superb physique, flawless features, coal black hair and clear bronze skin. Glawen watched him a moment, then asked: “What makes you think he's a spy?”
    "He works hard, obeys all orders, smiles more than necessary, and watches everything which is going on. That’s how I pick out all the spies: they work the hardest and give the least trouble-aside from their crimes, of course. If I were a deep-dyed cynic, I might try to hire all spies."
    Glawen had been watching Benjamie. “He doesn't look like a typical spy."
    “Perhaps not. He looks even less like a typical worker. I've always felt in my bones it was Benjamie who laid the trap for your father."
    "But you have no proof.”
    "If I had proof, Benjamie would not be grinning so cheerfully.”
    “Well, so long as Benjamie is not watching, this is what I have in mind." Glawen explained his concept. Chilke listened dubiously. "At this end, the notion is feasible, but I can't turn a tap without clearance from Bodwyn Wook."
    Glawen gave a sour nod. “That is what I thought you'd say. Very well; I'll go this very minute and put my case to