And Then the Town Took Off by Richard Wilson

Author:Richard Wilson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pronoun

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VIII

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HECTOR CIVEK HADN’T BEEN FOUND by the time Judge Helms’ court convened at 10:00 A.M.

Joe Negus was there, wearing a new suit and looking confident. His confederate, Hank Stacy, was obviously trying to achieve the same poise but not succeeding. Jerry Lynch, their lawyer, was talking to Ed Clark.

Don Cort took a seat the editor had saved for him in the front row. Alis Garet came in and sat next to him. “I cut my sociology class,” she told him. “Anybody find His Majesty yet?”

“No,” Don said. “Who gave him that crackpot idea?”

“He’s had big ideas ever since he ran for the State Assembly. He got licked then, but this is the first time he’s been kidnaped. Or should it be kanganaped? Poor Hector. I shouldn’t joke about it.”

Judge Helms, who was really a justice of the peace, came in through a side door and the clerk banged his gavel. But the business of the court did not get under way immediately. Someone burst in from the street and shouted:

“He’s back! Civek’s back!”

The people at the rear of the room rushed out to see. In a moment they were crowding back in behind Hector Civek’s grand entrance.

“Oh, no,” Alis said. “Don’t tell me he made it this time!”

Civek was wearing the trappings of royalty. He walked with dignity down the aisle, an ermine robe on his shoulders, a crown on his head and a scepter in his right hand.

He nodded benignly about him. “Good morning, Judge,” he said. To the clerk he said, “Frank, see to our horses, will you?”

“Horses?” the clerk said, blinking.

“Our royal coach is without, and the horses need attending to,” Civek said patiently. “You don’t think a king walks, do you?”

The clerk went out, puzzled. Judge Helms took off his pince-nez and regarded the spectacle of Hector Civek in ermine.

“What is all this, Hector?” he asked. “You weren’t serious about that king business, were you? Nice to see you back safe, by the way.”

“We would prefer to be addressed the first time as Your Majesty, Judge,” Civek said. “After that you can call us sir.”

“Us?” the judge asked. “Somebody with you?”

“The royal ‘we,’” Civek said. “I see I’ll have to issue a proclamation on the proper forms of address. I mean, we’ll have to. Takes a bit of getting used to, doesn’t it?”

“Quite a bit,” the judge agreed. “But right now, if you don’t mind, this court is in session and has a case before it. Suppose you make your royal self comfortable and we’ll get on with it—as soon as my clerk is back from attending to the royal horses.”

The clerk returned and whispered in the judge’s ear. Helms looked at Civek and shook his head. “Six of them, eh? I’ll have a look later. Right now we’ve got a bank robbery case on the calendar.”

Vincent Grande talked and Jerry Lynch talked and Judge Helms listened and looked up statutes and pursed his lips thoughtfully. Joe Negus cleaned his nails. Hank Stacy bit his.

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