The Universe Twister by Keith Laumer, edited by Eric Flint Read Free Book Online

for these, ah, irregularities." He smacked his lips, looked fondly at the bottle and handed it to O'Leary. As the latter reached for it, the monarch seemed to start suddenly, half withdrew the bottle, then held it out again, staring at O'Leary's hand as he took the flask.
    "We'll meet—immediately," the king said, sounding shaken.
    "Tonight, Majesty?" a fat man in pink velvet squeaked.
    "Certainly! In the High Chamber in a quarter of an hour!" King Goruble waved a hand at the musketeers. "Be there! And as for you—" he shot a sharp glance at O'Leary. "You come with us, lad. We have a few questions to put to you."
     
    The king waved his retainers back and closed the heavy door behind himself and Lafayette, who stared around the richly decorated gaming room admiringly. There were huge gilt-framed pictures against the paneled walls, a well stocked bar, deep rugs, soft lights to supplement the bright luminaries hanging over the card and billiard tables.
    "I see you have electric lights here," O'Leary commented. "I can't quite figure out just what sort of place this is I've wandered into."
    "This is the kingdom of Artesia." The king pulled at his lower lip, watching O'Leary speculatively. "Have you lost your wits, boy? Perhaps, ah, forgotten your name, your station?"
    "No; I'm Lafayette O'Leary. I don't have a station: It's just that I can't quite place the, ah, context. Swords, steam cars, knee breeches, electric lights . . ."
    "O'Leary, eh? A curious name. You came from a far land, I wot; you know nothing of our fair realm of Artesia?"
    "Ummm," said Lafayette. "I guess you could say that; but in another sense, I live here—or near here."
    "Eh? What mean you?"
    "Oh, nothing much. You wouldn't understand."
    Goruble worried his lower lip with even, white, false-looking teeth. "What errand brought you hither?" He sounded worried, O'Leary thought.
    "Oh, no errand. Just . . . looking around."
    "Looking for what?"
    "Nothing special. Just sight-seeing, you might say."
    "You came not to, ah, crave audience with ourself, perchance?"
    "No—not that I'm not honored."
    "How came you here?" Goruble demanded abruptly.
    "Well, it gets a little complicated. To tell you the truth, I don't really understand it myself."
    "You have—friends in the capital?"
    "Don't know a soul."
    Goruble took three paces, turned, took three paces back. He stopped and eyed O'Leary's right hand.
    "Your ring," he said. "An interesting bauble." His eyes cut to O'Leary's face. "You, ah, bought it here?"
    "Oh, no, I've had it for years."
    Goruble frowned. "Where did you get it?"
    "I guess you could say it came with me. It was hanging around my neck on a string when they found me on the orphanage doorstep."
    "Orphanage? A place for waifs and strays?"
    O'Leary nodded.
    Goruble became suddenly brisk. "Just slip it off, there's a good fellow; I'd fain have a look at it."
    "Sorry; it's too small to get over the knuckle."
    "Hmmm." The king looked at O'Leary sharply. "Yes, well, let us make a suggestion, my lad. Turn the ring so that the device is inward. Others, seeing the symbol of the ax and dragon, might place some bothersome interpretation on't."
    "What kind of interpretation?"
    Goruble spread his hands. "There's a tale, told in the taverns. A mystical hero, 'tis said, will appear one day bearing that symbol, to rid the land of, ah, certain encumbrances. Sheer balderdash, of course, but it might prove embarrassing to you to be taken for the warrior of the prophecy."
    "Thanks for the tip." O'Leary twisted the ring on his finger. "Now, do you mind if I ask a few questions?"
    "Ah, doubtless you're wondering why you were brought here to the palace, rather than being trussed in chains and cast into a dungeon along with the usual run of felons."
    "No, I can't say that I am. Nothing around here seems to make any sense. But now that you mention it, why am I here?"
    "'Twas our royal command. We instructed the captain of the city garrison a fortnight since to comb the city