The Face by Jack Vance

Author:Jack Vance [Vance, Jack]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2012-08-12T15:26:09+00:00

At Serjeuz, with Cora half below the horizon, Gersen dropped the skimmer down upon the sand beside his Fantamic Flitterwing. He transferred the coffer of black sand and his Kotzash shares aboard, then slid the skimmer through the water veil and back to the rental agency.

Crossing the plaza to the Traveler's Inn, Gersen waited until Tippin's attention was diverted, then slipped past and up to his room. He bathed, changed into fresh garments, and returned to the lobby.

He allowed himself to be noticed by Tippin, who signaled him to the desk. "Good evening," said Gersen.

"Yes, no doubt. Where have you been all day?"

Gersen fixed Tippin with a long level stare; Tippin's gaze shifted. Gersen asked: "Why are you interested?"

"Inquiries have been made," said Tippin peevishly.

"By whom?"

"By Bel Ruk, if you must know, and not ten minutes ago. He thinks that you robbed him out in the desert."

Gersen asked in a flat voice. "How could I rob Bel Ruk if I was in my room all day?"

"I don't know. Were you in your room?"

"Do you know differently?"

"I don't know one way or another."

"This is the first time you've seen me today?"

"Yes, of course."

"And I just came down from my room?"

"That is true."

"Then tell Bel Ruk that to your knowledge I never left my room all day."

"But are these the facts?" cried Tippin fretfully.

"To the best of your knowledge, they are indeed." Gersen turned away and went out into the garden. He settled himself at a shadowed table, and dined without haste.

From the lobby came Daswell Tippin. He searched the garden, saw Gersen, and approached at an agitated trot. Flinging himself into a chair he said in a tragic voice: "Bel Ruk has threatened my very existence. He claims that I conspired with you; he calls me 'robber.' He says that he will take me out to Sangwy Shade.27 Do you know what that means?"

"Nothing good, apparently."

"It means those cursed Darsh whips, and don't sneer; such affairs occur, to my certain knowledge!"

"When did Bel Ruk make his threat?"

"Not five minutes ago! I spoke with him by telephone; I told him that so far as I knew you had not been gone from Serjeuz. He became furiously angry."

"Where is he now?"

"I don't know. Here at Serjeuz, so I suppose."

"Look here a moment." Gersen produced the list furnished by Jehan Addels. "When you took up those shares for me, who did you buy from? Mark off their names."

Tippin glanced along the list without any great interest. He marked with a stylus. "This one. This one. This one." With a gesture of revulsion he threw down the stylus. "This is madness! If Bel Ruk sees me, he'll take off my skin."

"Today he had a hundred shares on his person; where did he get them?"

Tippin stared at him aghast. "So you did indeed rob him?"

"I took up property to which he had no right. After all, Lens Larque looted the Kotzash warehouse."

"But that is not Darsh logic," whispered Tippin. "At Sangwy Shade we shall dance together." He turned sideways and searched the plaza.

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