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Read book online Β«Short Fiction by Mack Reynolds (ready to read books .TXT) πŸ“•Β».   Author   -   Mack Reynolds



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could you buck the system? Particularly when, largely, it worked.

The Professor returned with an old-fashioned coffeepot, two cups, and sugar and cream on a tray. He put them on a side table and said to Larry, β€œYou’ll join me? How do you take it?”

Larry still had the slightest of hangovers from his solitary drinking of the night before. β€œThanks. Make it black,” he said.

The Professor poured, served, then did up a cup for himself. He sat back in his chair and said, β€œNow, where were we? Something about a revolutionary group. What has that to do with counterfeiting?”

Larry sipped the strong coffee. β€œIt seems there might be a connection.”

The Professor shook his head. β€œIt’s hard to imagine Ernest Self being connected with a criminal pursuit.”

Larry said carefully, β€œSusan seemed to be of the opinion that you knew about a large amount of counterfeit currency that this Movement had on hand and that you were in favor of spending it upon chorus girls.”

The Professor gaped at him.

Larry chuckled uncomfortably.

Professor Voss said finally, his voice very even, β€œMy dear sir, I am afraid that I evidently can be of little assistance to you.”

β€œAdmittedly, it doesn’t seem to make much sense.”

β€œSusan⁠—you mean that little sixteen year old?⁠—said I was in favor of spending counterfeit money on chorus girls?”

Larry said unhappily, β€œShe used the term the Professor.”

β€œAnd why did you assume that the title must necessarily allude to me? Even if any of the rest of the fantastic story was true.”

Larry said, β€œIn my profession, Professor Voss, we track down every possible clue. Thus far, you are the only professor of whom we know who was connected with Ernest Self.”

Voss said stiffly, β€œI can only say, sir, that in my estimation Mr. Self is a man of the highest integrity. And, in addition, that I have never spent a penny on a chorus girl in my life and have no intention of beginning, counterfeit or otherwise.”

Larry Woolford decided that he wasn’t doing too well and that he’d need more ammunition if he was going to return to this particular attack. He was surprised that the old boy hadn’t already ordered him from the house.

He finished the coffee preparatory to coming to his feet. β€œThen you think it’s out of the question, Ernest Self belonging to a revolutionary organization?”

The Professor protested. β€œI didn’t say that at all. Mr. Self is a man of ideals. I can well see him belonging to such an organization.”

Larry Woolford decided he’d better hang on for at least a few more words. β€œYou don’t seem to think, yourself, that a subversive organization is undesirable in this country.”

The Professor’s voice was reasonable. β€œIsn’t that according to what it means to subvert?”

β€œYou know what I mean,” Woolford said in irritation. β€œI don’t usually think of revolutionists, even when they call themselves simply members of a movement, as exactly idealists.”

β€œThen you’re wrong,” the Professor said definitely, pouring himself another cup of coffee. β€œHistory bears out that almost invariably revolutionists are men of idealism. The fact that they might be either right or wrong in their revolutionary program is beside the point.”

Larry Woolford began to say, β€œAre you sure that you aren’t interested in this move⁠—”

But it was then that the knockout drops hit him.

He came out of the fog feeling nausea and with his head splitting. He groaned and opened one eye experimentally.

Steve Hackett, far away, said, β€œHe’s snapping out of it.”

Larry groaned again, opened the other eye and attempted to focus.

β€œWhat happened?” he muttered.

β€œNow that’s an original question,” Steve said.

Larry Woolford struggled up into a sitting position. He’d been stretched out on a couch in the Professor’s combined living room and study.

Steve Hackett, his hands on his hips, was looking down at him sarcastically. There were two or three others, one of whom Larry vaguely remembered as being a Secret Service colleague of Steve’s, going about and in and out of the room.

Larry said, his fingers pressing into his forehead, β€œMy head’s killing me. Damn it, what’s going on?”

Steve said sarcastically, β€œYou’ve been slipped a mickey, my cloak and dagger friend, and the bird has flown.”

β€œYou mean the Professor? He’s a bird all right.”

β€œHumor we get, yet,” Hackett said, his ugly face scowling. β€œListen, I thought you people had pulled out of this case.”

Larry sat up and swung his two feet around to the floor. β€œSo did I,” he moaned, β€œbut there were two or three things that bothered me and I thought I’d tidy them up before leaving.”

β€œYou tidied them up all right,” Steve grumbled. β€œThis Professor Voss was practically the only lead I’ve been able to discover. An old friend of Self’s. And you allowed him to get away before we even got here.”

One of Hackett’s men came up and said, β€œNot a sign of him, Steve. He evidently burned a few papers, packed a suitcase, and took off. His things look suspiciously as though he was ready to go into hiding at a moment’s notice.”

Steve growled to him, β€œGive the place the works. He’s probably left some clues around that’ll give us a line.”

The other went off and Steve Hackett sat down in one of the leather chairs and glowered at Larry Woolford. β€œListen,” he said, β€œwhat did you people want with Susan Self?”

Larry shook his head for clarity and looked at him. β€œSusan? What are you talking about? You don’t have any aspirin, do you?”

β€œNo. What’d you mean, what am I talking about? You called Betsy Hughes and then sent a couple of men over to pick the Self kid up.”

β€œWho’s Betsy Hughes?”

Steve shook his head. β€œI don’t know what kind of knockout drops the old boy gave you, but they sure worked. Betsy’s the operative we had minding Susan Self over in the Greater Washington Hilton. About an hour ago you got her on the phone, said your department wanted to question Susan, and that you were sending two men over to pick her up. The two men turned up with an order from you, and took the girl.”

Larry

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