Prophet by Mike Resnick Read Free Book Online Page A

know who he used to meet here."
    The man looked nervously at the money. “I would love to help you, Mr. Lomax, but..."
    Lomax added three more notes to the pile.
    The man looked again, then sighed and shook his head. “He would probably kill me if I pointed him out to you. I'd love to do business with you, Mr. Lomax, but I'd love to wake up tomorrow morning even more."
    "Tell you what,” said Lomax, picking up the pile of notes and placing them into the man's hand. “You tell him that I know Jason Cole and I'd like to speak to him, and let him decide whether to come over and talk to me. Will that get you off the hook?"
    "Admirably,” said the man, pocketing the money. He signaled to a waitress, who immediately approached the table.
    "What can I get you gentlemen to drink?” she asked, as the maitre d' walked off.
    "Champagne,” said the Kid.
    "Champagne for him, fruit juice for me,” said Lomax.
    "What type?"
    Lomax shrugged. “Whatever's available."
    "You don't drink, either?” asked the Kid as the waitress walked away.
    "Not when I'm working."
    "I think it's almost criminal, coming to a place like this and not having a drink."
    "You just watch the naked ladies and leave the thinking to me."
    "I've been watching them,” said the Kid. “We don't allow nudity on Greycloud. Is it common on the Frontier?"
    "It varies from world to world,” answered Lomax. “There are even a couple of colony worlds run by nudists."
    "I'd like to see them."
    Lomax shrugged. “Take it from me: most people look better with their clothes on."
    "Still..."
    "You do what you want. No one's keeping you here."
    "Why do I get the feeling that you're trying to get rid of me?"
    "Look,” said Lomax. “I brought you here. That ought to be enough. Any minute now it could start getting dangerous."
    "I can take care of myself,” said the Kid. “You don't have to protect me."
    "I have no intention of protecting you,” said Lomax. “I just don't want you getting in my way."
    "That's a hell of a thing to say,” replied the Kid, more than half-seriously. “I thought we were supposed to be friends."
    "Friends aren't compatible with the business I'm in."
    "What about the man you're working for?” persisted the Kid. “You make him sound like a friend."
    "The Iceman? He's me 35 or 40 years from now. If I survive."
    "The Iceman ?” repeated the Kid. “You're working for him ?"
    "Yeah."
    "Why does he need you? He's the man who beat the Oracle!"
    "He's an old man now, with a bum leg. If it's his leg at all; my guess is that it's prosthetic.” Lomax paused. “And according to him, he didn't beat her. He seems to think he was lucky to come out of it alive."
    "No, he beat her!” said the Kid firmly. “Everyone knows the story.” He could barely contain his enthusiasm. “Just think of it—the Iceman ! What I wouldn't give to meet him! Are all the other stories they tell about him true?"
    "Probably not."
    "They say he killed Three-Fisted Ollie, and that he found the Soothsayer when hundreds of bounty hunters couldn't, and—"
    "Lower your voice and calm down,” said Lomax in amused tones. “Or the band just might sue you for unfair competition."
    "I'm sorry,” said the Kid. “But the Iceman! He's one of my heroes!” He paused. “What is he like?"
    "He's a fat, balding old man with a limp,” said Lomax. “But I'll give him this: he's sharp. He doesn't miss a trick."
    "Why are you working for him? I would think that of all the men on the Frontier, the Iceman would be the last to hire someone like you."
    "People get old, Kid. Even the Iceman."
    The waitress returned with their drinks, and a moment later the maitre d' approached them.
    "I delivered your message, Mr. Lomax."
    "And?"
    The man shrugged. “And now it's up to the gentleman you wish to speak to."
    Lomax nodded. “All right. You did your part."
    "One more thing, Mr. Lomax."
    "Yeah?"
    "We are civilized people here, and Olympus is a civilized planet. The law is enforced very