The 13 Crimes of Science Fiction by Isaac Asimov Martin H Greenberg & Charles G. Waugh (editrors_

Author:Isaac Asimov, Martin H Greenberg & Charles G. Waugh (editrors_
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Doubleday
Published: 1980-02-29T16:00:00+00:00

Louis Peyton stared with distaste at his surroundings and with contempt at the fat man who bobbed his head in greeting. He glanced at the seat offered him and brushed it with his hand before sitting down. Davenport took a seat next to him, with his blaster holster in clear view.

The fat man was smiling as he sat down and patted his round abdomen as though he had just finished a good meal and were intent on letting the world know about it.

He said, “Good evening, Mr. Peyton. I am Dr. Wendell Urth, extraterrologist.”

Peyton looked at him again, “And what do you want with me?”

“I want to know if you were on the Moon at any time in the month of August.”

“I was not.”

“Yet no man saw you on Earth between the days of August first and August thirtieth.”

“I lived my normal life in August. I am never seen during that month. Let him tell you.” And he jerked his head in the direction of Davenport.

Dr. Urth chuckled. “How nice if we could test this matter. If there were only some physical manner in which we could differentiate Moon from Earth. If, for instance, we could analyze the dust in your hair and say, ‘Aha, Moon rock.’ Unfortunately we can’t.

Moon rock is much the same as Earth rock. Even if it weren’t, there wouldn’t be any in your hair unless you stepped onto the lunar surface without a spacesuit, which is unlikely.”

Peyton remained impassive.

Dr. Urth went on, smiling benevolently, and lifting a hand to steady the glasses perched precariously on the bulb of his nose. “A man traveling in space or on the Moon breathes Earth air, eats Earth food. He carries Earth environment next to his skin whether he’s in his ship or in his spacesuit. We are looking for a man who spent two days in space going to the Moon, at least a week on the Moon, and two days coming back from the Moon. In all that time he carried Earth next to his skin, which makes it difficult.”

“I’d suggest,” said Peyton, “that you can make it less difficult by releasing me and looking for the real murderer.”

“It may come to that,” said Dr. Urth. “Have you ever seen anything like this?” His hand pushed its pudgy way to the ground beside his chair and came up with a gray sphere that sent back subdued highlights.

Peyton smiled. “It looks like a Singing Bell to me.”

“It is a Singing Bell. The murder was committed for the sake of Singing Bells. What do you think of this one?”

“I think it is badly flawed.”

“Ah, but inspect it,” said Dr. Urth, and with a quick motion of his hand, he tossed it through six feet of air to Peyton.

Davenport cried out and half-rose from his chair. Peyton brought up his arms with an effort, but so quickly that he managed to catch the Bell.

Peyton said, “You damned fool. Don’t throw it around that way.”

“You respect Singing Bells, do you?”

“Too much to break one.

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