04-Protector by Larry Niven

Author:Larry Niven [Niven, Larry]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction - Space Opera, Fiction - Science Fiction, Alien abduction, Science Fiction, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Space Opera, Fiction, Space Warfare, Science Fiction - General, Human beings, General
ISBN: 9780345353122
Google: qsjdAAAACAAJ
Amazon: 0345353129
Publisher: Del Rey Books 1973
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

“But you did,” said the ARM lieutenant. “You’re here.” He was a square-jawed, brawny man with eyes that did not believe. A close look into those eyes and you, too, would doubt whatever you had been telling him.

Truesdale shrugged.

“What changed your mind?”

“Money again. I started going through the messages in my phone. There was another message from a different legal firm. Do you know the name Mrs. Jacob Randall?”

“No. Wait a minute. Estelle Randall? President of the Struldbrugs’ Club until—um.”

“She was my great-to-the-fourth grandmother.”

“And she died last month. My condolences.”

“Thanks. I, I—see, I didn’t see Greatly ‘Stelle that often. Maybe twice a year, once at her birthday party, once at a christening or whatever. I remember we had lunch together a few days after I found out I’d lost all my money. She was mad. Oh, boy. She offered to refinance me, but I turned her down.”

“Pride? It could happen to anyone. Lawrence St. John McGee practices an old and polished profession.”

“I know.”

“She was the oldest woman in the world.”

“I know.” The presidency of the Struldbrugs’ Club went to the oldest living member. It was an honorary title; the Acting President usually did the work. “She was a hundred and seventy-three when I was born. The thing is, none of us ever expected her to die. I suppose that sounds silly?”

“No. How many people die at two hundred and ten?”

“Then I played that tape from Becket and Hollingsbrooke and she was dead! And I’ve inherited about half a million marks, out of a fortune that must be unbelievable. She’s got enough great-to-the-Nth grandchildren to take over any nation in the world. You should have seen the birthday parties.”

“I see.” The ARM’s eyes looked deep into him. “So you don’t need Vandervecken’s money now. Two thousand a year is peanuts now.”

“And the son of a bitch made me miss her birthday.”

The ARM leaned back. “You tell a strange story. I never heard of any kind of amnesia that left no memory at all.”

“I haven’t either. It was as if I went to sleep and woke up four months later.”

“But you don’t even remember going to sleep.”

“That’s right.”

“A stun gun could do that... Well, we’ll put you under deep hypnosis and see what we come up with. I don’t suppose you have any objections? You’ll have to file some permission forms.”

“Fine.”

“You, ah, may not like what we find out.”

“I know.” Truesdale was already bracing himself against what he could find out. The voice had been his own. What had he been afraid to remember about himself?

“If you committed any crime during that period you can’t remember, you may have to pay the penalty. It’s not that useful an alibi.”

“I’ll risk it.”

“Okay.”

“You think I’m faking this?”

“The thought crossed my mind. We’ll find out.”

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