Stalking the Dragon by Mike Resnick Read Free Book Online

Noodnik, approaching them.
    â€œRight,” said Mallory. “Fate forefend that you should reward him for risking life and limb on behalf of your store.”
    â€œI'm glad we see eye-to-eye on that,” said Noodnik. “As long as we're back here, can I sell you an apron? Only seventy-three dollars.”
    â€œFor an apron?” said Mallory. “What the hell's it made of?”
    â€œUnborn denim.”
    â€œI'll pass on that.”
    â€œOkay, how about a pair of size fourteen triple-A galoshes with your name inscribed on them?”
    â€œMy name?”
    â€œWell, if your friends call you Universal.”
    â€œHow about just answering my questions?”
    â€œWe'll get to that, but my function is to sell you.”
    â€œWe'll get to it now, or I'm going to get my answers from Honest Sam.”
    â€œYou really know how to hurt a guy,” complained Noodnik.
    â€œOf course I do. I'm a trained detective. Now are you ready to answer?”
    â€œAll right,” said Noodnik. “But I'm writing you into the will in the morning.”
    â€œ Into the will?”
    â€œSo I can write you out of it in the afternoon.”
    â€œFine,” said Mallory. “Do you have any elephant-shaped chocolate marshmallow cookies?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œDo you know who does?”
    â€œNo. Now ask your questions.”
    â€œI just did.”
    â€œThat was it ?” said Noodnik. “This whole case hinges on chocolate marshmallow cookies?”
    â€œElephant-shaped ones.”
    â€œYou'll have to give me a little time to see who makes them and who sells them.”
    â€œHow much time?”
    Noodnik shrugged. “I dunno. Maybe a couple of hours.”
    â€œI'll check back with you then,” said Mallory, turning and walking toward the door as Felina and Jeeves fell into step behind him.
    â€œYou sure this hasn't got anything to do with lewd women?” Noodnik called after him in plaintive tones.
    â€œI'm sure.”
    â€œNo one's ever going to write your adventures up in a book,” predicted Noodnik.
    As they reached the street, Mallory turned to Jeeves.
    â€œYour boss keeps referring to Fluffy as a fire-breather,” he said. “Is she?”
    â€œAll dragons are.”
    â€œThere's no sense just standing around while we're waiting for Noodnik to do his homework or for Winnifred to hunt up some leads,” said Mallory. “Where would you take a stolen fire-breather where she couldn't burn her surroundings down?”
    Suddenly Jeeves smiled. “I know just the place.”

C HAPTER 5
    7:40 PM –8:47 PM
    The gremlin led Mallory and Felina to the riverfront, then summoned a small launch.
    â€œA boat ?” exclaimed Mallory. “Where the hell are we going?”
    â€œThe one place a dragon can't do any harm,” answered Jeeves. “I should have thought of it immediately. Most of the major dragon farms are there.”
    â€œAre where ?”
    â€œWhy, Fire Island, of course,” replied the gremlin.
    They boarded the launch and it soon headed off toward their destination. Felina leaned over the water and stared at it, motionless. After perhaps a minute her hand darted out and came away with a small, squirming fish.
    â€œI hope you're not going to eat that thing raw,” said Mallory.
    â€œCertainly not,” said Felina.
    â€œGood.”
    â€œI'm going to play with it first.”
    â€œNot on this boat, you aren't,” said Mallory.
    â€œYou never let me have any fun,” she complained.
    â€œOur definitions of fun vary considerably.”
    â€œNot everyone likes movies of naked women,” said Felina.
    â€œShut up and toss it back,” said Mallory.
    â€œOh, all right,” she said, quickly biting off the head and tossing the rest of the fish into the water.
    Jeeves uttered a plaintive whimper.
    â€œIt's just a fish,” said Mallory.
    â€œIt wasn't the fish,” responded