The World Shuffler by Keith Laumer Read Free Book Online Page B

over his shoulder.
    “What’s the matter now? Are you afraid you’ll wake up the fish?” Lafayette snapped.
    “Have a heart, pal,” the big man whispered urgently. “Sound carries over water like nobody’s business ...” He cocked his head as if listening. Faintly, from the direction of the shore, Lafayette heard a shout.
    “Well, it seems everybody isn’t as scrupulous as we are,” he said tartly. “Is it all right if we talk now? Or—”
    “Can it, Buster!” the giant hissed. “They’ll hear us!”
    “Who?” Lafayette inquired loudly. “What’s going on here? Why are we acting like fugitives?”
    “On account of the guy I borrowed the boat from might not like the idea too good,” the giant rumbled. “But I guess the fat’s on the hotplate now. Some o’ them guys got ears like bats.”
    “What idea might the fellow you borrowed the boat from not like?” Lafayette inquired in a puzzled tone.
    “The idea I borrowed the boat.”
    “You mean you didn’t have his permission?”
    “I hate to wake a guy outa a sound sleep wit’ a like frivolous request.”
    “Why, you ... you ...”
    “Just call me Clutch, bub. Save the fancy names for the bums which are now undoubtedly pushing off in pursuit.” Clutch bent his back to the oars, sending the boat leaping ahead.
    “Great,” Lafayette groaned. “Perfect. This is our reward for being honest: a race through the night with the police baying on our trail!”
    “I’ll level wit’ youse,” Clutch said. “These boys ain’t no cops. And they ain’t got what you’d call a whole lot o’ inhibitions. If they catch us, what they’ll hand us won’t be no subpoena.”
    “Look,” Lafayette said quickly, “we’ll turn back, and explain that the whole thing was a misunderstanding—”
    “Maybe you like the idea o’ being fed to the fish, yer worship, but not me,” Clutch stated. “And we got the little lady to think of, too. Them boys is a long time between gals.”
    “Don’t waste breath,” Lafayette said. “Save it for rowing.”
    “If I row any harder, the oars’ll bust,” Clutch said. “Sounds like they’re gaining on us, Cull. Looks like I’ll have to lighten ship.”
    “Good idea,” Lafayette agreed. “What can we throw overboard?”
    “Well, there ain’t no loose gear to jettison; and I got to stick wit’ the craft in order to I should row. And naturally we can’t toss the little lady over the side, except as a last resort, like. So I guess that leaves you, chum.”
    “Me?” Lafayette echoed. “Look here, Clutch— I’m the one who hired you, remember? You can’t be serious—”
    “Afraid so, Mac.” The big man shipped oars, dusted his hands, and turned on his bench.
    “But—who’s going to pay you, if I’m in the lake?” O’Leary temporized, retreating to the farthermost angle of the bows.
    “Yeah—there is that,” Clutch agreed, stroking his Gibraltarlike chin. “Maybe you better hand over the poke first.”
    “Not a chance. If I go, it goes!”
    “Well—I guess we ain’t got room to like scuffle. So—since youse want to be petty about it, I’ll just have to collect double from the little lady.” Clutch rose in a smooth lunge, one massive arm reaching for Lafayette. The latter ducked under the closing hand and launched himself in a headfirst dive at the other’s midriff, instead crashed into a brick wall that had suddenly replaced it. As he clawed at the floorboards, he was dimly aware of a swishing sound, a solid thud.’ as of a mallet striking a tent stake, followed a moment later by a marine earthquake which tossed the boat like a juggler’s egg. A faceful of icy water brought him upright, striking out gamely.
    “Easy, Lafe,” Swinehild called. “I clipped him with the oar and he landed on his chin. Damn near swamped us. We better get him over the side fast.”
    Lafayette focused his eyes with difficulty, made out the inert form of the giant draped face down across the gunwale, one