The Werewolf Principle by Clifford D. Simak Read Free Book Online Page B

eat,” said the creature, “anything that Homo sapiens can. I am not fussy in the least. My metabolism seems to match most admirably with the denizens of Earth.”
    Together they walked over to the hamper and Blake lifted off the cover.
    â€œYou seem unconcerned,” said the creature, “by my appearance from the log jam.”
    â€œIt’s no concern of mine,” said Blake, trying to think fast, but unable to prod his mind out of its jog. “We have sandwiches here and some cake and a bowl of, I believe—yes, a bowl of potato salad, and some deviled eggs.”
    â€œIf you don’t mind, I will take a couple of those sandwiches.”
    â€œGo right ahead,” invited Blake.
    â€œYou do not intend to join me?”
    â€œI had breakfast just a while ago.”
    The creature sat down with a sandwich in each hand and began eating ravenously.
    â€œYou must pardon my poor table manners,” it said to Blake, “but I have not had any decent food for almost two weeks. I suppose that I expect too much. These people that take care of me set out real food for me. Not like a lot of people do—just a bowl of milk.”
    Crumbs clung to its trembling whiskers and it went on eating. It finished the two sandwiches and reached out a hand, halted with it poised above the hamper.
    â€œYou do not mind?” it asked.
    â€œNot at all,” said Blake.
    It took another sandwich.
    â€œYou will pardon me,” it asked, “but how many of you are there?”
    â€œHow many of me?”
    â€œYes, of you. How many of you are there?”
    â€œWhy,” said Blake, “there is only one of me. How could there be more?”
    â€œIt was foolish of me, of course,” said the creature, “but when I first saw you, I could have sworn there were more than one of you.”
    He began eating the sandwich, but at a somewhat slower rate than he’d employed on the other two.
    He finished it and dabbed delicately at his whiskers, knocking off the crumbs.
    â€œI thank you very much,” he said.
    â€œYou are most welcome,” said Blake. “Are you sure you won’t have another one?”
    â€œNot a sandwich, perhaps. But if you had some cake to spare.”
    â€œHelp yourself,” said Blake.
    The creature helped itself.
    â€œAnd now,” said Blake, “you’ve asked me a question. Would you say it might be fair if I asked you one.”
    â€œVery fair, indeed,” the creature said. “Go ahead and ask it.”
    â€œI have found myself wondering,” said Blake, “exactly who and what you are.”
    â€œWhy bless you,” said the creature, “I thought that you would know. It never occurred to me that you wouldn’t recognize me.”
    Blake shook his head. “I’m sorry, but I don’t.”
    â€œI am a Brownie,” said the creature, bowing. “At your service, sir.”

9
    Dr. Michael Daniels was waiting at his desk when Blake was ushered into his office.
    â€œHow are you feeling this morning?” Daniels asked.
    Blake grinned bleakly. “Not too badly, after the going over you gave me yesterday. Were there any tests that you left out?”
    â€œWe sort of threw the book at you,” Daniels admitted. “There’s still a test or two, if …”
    â€œNo, thank you.”
    Daniels gestured at a chair. “Make yourself comfortable. We have some things to talk about.”
    Blake took the indicated chair. Daniels pulled a fat folder in front of him and opened it.
    â€œI would assume,” said Blake, “that you have been doing some checking on what might have happened out in space—what happened to me, I mean. Any luck at all?”
    Daniels shook his head. “None. We’ve gone over the passenger and crew lists of all missing ships. That is, Space Administration has. They’re as interested in this as I am, perhaps even more