Archiwum
- Index
- Baum, L Frank Oz 30 Captain Salt in Oz
- Baum, L Frank Oz 38 The Shaggy Man of Oz
- Janrae Frank Journey of Sacred King 01 My Sister's Keeper
- Janrae Frank Mother Damnation 1 The Blessed And The Damned
- Herbert Brian Dune House Harkonnen
- Howard Robert E. Ludzie Czarnego Kregu
- zycie to jest teatr
- Sutton_Wall_Street_and_Hitler
- Howard Robert E. Bogowie Bal Sagoth
- Asimov, Isaac Robot 06 Robots & Empire
- zanotowane.pl
- doc.pisz.pl
- pdf.pisz.pl
- docucrime.xlx.pl
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proceed. The words would be nonsense sounds to Mrs. Niles, who was a
nonfertile worker trained specially for this job. She read his hand signs,
however, nodded, and retreated into the kitchen.
Janvert grew aware of appetizing smells from the kitchen and began to wonder
if he'd acted foolishly. Would these people dare try to poison him here?
They were weirdos, certainly, but . . .
Yes, they might try to poison him. The elaborate setup confused him, though.
Hellstrom surely must've known about Peruge's death. Who else could've
ordered that? Who had they been expecting for this meal, then? Knowledge of
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Peruge's death could mean they'd prepared this luncheon as an elaborate sham.
That might mean they'd prepared nothing but straightforward, wholesome food.
God! That smelled good in the kitchen. He loved pork chops.
Hellstrom was staring calmly out the window at the other end of the table, his
manner casual, unconcerned. "You know, Fancy, I always like it when we eat
here. We should do this more often, instead of grabbing a quick lunch on the
set."
"Or missing lunch entirely," she said. "Oh, I've noticed how you do
sometimes."
He patted his stomach. "Doesn't hurt to miss an occasional meal. I tend to
fat, anyway."
"I'm going to remind you about this," she said. "You're going to ruin your
stomach if you go on the way you've been."
"We have been busy," Hellstrom said.
They were nuts! Janvert thought. Chatting, small talk at a time like this!
Mrs. Niles backed through the swinging door, turned to reveal a plate in each
hand. She hesitated a moment beside Hellstrom, then served the young woman
first. When both plates were on the table, Hellstrom signaled for her to
bring the drinks. He had ordered vat beer. They made a limited amount of it
as a reward for superior work and as a mask to convey some of the adjustment
chemicals occasionally required for reject specialists who were being sent
back to dronedom.
Janvert glanced at the plate in front of the woman beside him. There was
steam rising from it. The pork had been covered with gravy in which large
mushrooms could be seen. There was spinach
and baked potato beside the meat course and a stiff, white serving of sour
cream had been spooned onto the potato. The young woman just sat there,
though, hands still folded, eyes downcast. Was she praying, for Christ's
sake?
Hellstrom startled him then by placing both hands folded together over his own
plate and intoning, "Dear Lord, for this food we are about to eat we give our
true and heartfelt thanks. May thy divine grace visit us in this sharing of
the substance of life. Amen."
The young woman joined him in the amen.
The wealth of feeling in Hellstrom's voice confused Janvert. And this dame,
the way she joined him at the end. They must do this regularly. The ritual
shook Janvert more than he liked to admit, even to himself, and he responded
with anger. More of their damned acting!
The aroma from the plate beside Janvert added to his angry frustration. She
was reaching for her fork, too. They were going right ahead with the damned
meal!
"Are you sure we cannot serve you anything?" Hellstrom asked.
In sudden angry glee, Janvert reached past the young woman, took Hellstrom's
own plate, and said, "Certainly. Glad you asked." He placed the plate
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triumphantly in front of him, taking special delight in the way the captured
dish clinked against the service plate. And he thought: There won't be
anything wrong with the food Hellstrom was going to eat!
Hellstrom threw his head back and laughed, unable to restrain himself. He
felt that the Hive suddenly had come into a new vitality, expressed in his own
person and helping him do battle.
Janvert had behaved exactly as he'd hoped.
Smiling, Mimeca peered up through her lashes at Hellstrom. Janvert was
predictable, but then
Outsiders often were. He had behaved precisely as Hellstrom had said he
would. She had to confess to herself that she'd harbored doubts when
Hellstrom had flashed the plan in Hive-sign.
Janvert had the loaded serving in front of him, though, and was picking up
knife and fork to eat it.
He'd be docile enough pretty soon.
Hellstrom wiped laughter tears from his eyes with a corner of his napkin,
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