A. E. Van Vogt by A. E. Van Vogt

Author:A. E. Van Vogt [A. E. Van Vogt]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2014-01-05T05:00:00+00:00

"Does she sell things!" Kellie spoke explosively.

He must have realized the forcefulness of his words, for he drew a deep,

audible breath. His blue eyes looked hard at Drake. He started to say something,

stopped himself, and finally sat smiling a secret smile. After a moment,

he said, "You know, I really must apologize. I've just now realized

that I've monopolized the conversation ever since we started talking."

Drake smiled with polite tolerance. "You've been very entertaining."

Kellie persisted, "What I mean by that is, it's just penetrated to me

that you told me you sold fountain pens, among other things."

Drake shrugged. He wondered if he looked as puzzled as he was beginning

to feel. He watched as Kellie drew out a pen and held it out for

him to take. Kellie said, "See anything odd about that?"

The pen was long, slender, of a dark, expensive-looking material. Drake

unscrewed the cap slowly--slowly, because in his mind was the sudden,

wry thought that he was in for one of those pointless arguments about

the relative merits of the pens he was selling. He said quickly, "This looks

right out of my class. My company's pens retail for a dollar."

The moment he had spoken, he realized he had left himself wide

open. Kellie said with a casual triumph, "That's exactly what she charged

me for it."

"Who?"

"Selanie! The girl who just got on the train. She'll be along in a few

minutes selling something new. She's always got an item that's new and

different."

He grabbed the pen from Drake's fingers. "I'll show you what's queer

about this pen." He reached for a paper cup that stood on the window

sill. He said with irritating smugness, "Watch!"

The pen tilted over the cup; Kellie seemed to press with his fingers on

the top. Ink began to flow.

After about three minutes, it filled the cup to the brim. Kellie opened

the window, carefully emptied the blue liquid onto the ground between

the coach and the platform. Drake erupted from his paralysis.

"Good heavens!" he gasped. "What kind of a tank have you got inside

that pen? Why, it--"

"Wait!"

Kellie's voice was quiet, but he was so obviously enjoying himself that

Drake pulled himself together with a distinct effort. His brain began to

whirl once more, as Kellie pressed the top again and once again ink began

to flow from the fantastic pen. Kellie said, "Notice anything odd about

that ink?"

Drake started to shake his head, then he started to say that the oddess

was the quantity, then he gulped hoarsely, "Red ink!"

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