The Fairy Chessman by Lewis Padgett

Author:Lewis Padgett [Padgett, Lewis]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-4405-6698-1
Publisher: F+W Media
Published: 2013-03-28T04:00:00+00:00

• • •

Cameron held out the envelope. “Here it is. Now — what is all this funny business?”

DuBrose said, “First of all, are you going to do what Seth wants?”

“Yes. He knows what he’s doing.”

“He gave me my orders.”

Cameron smiled. “I’m in danger of being assassinated? Is that the answer?” Pell had led the chief to think that, DuBrose knew, to keep him from guessing the truth. As a red herring, it might prove useful.

“It might be the answer. Or it might not.”

“I’m not a child, Ben.”

“Chief, I’m just following Seth’s orders.”

“All right,” Cameron said abruptly. “Go ahead and follow them. Let me know any time you want my resignation.” He took a folder out of the safe and said, “I’d meant to ask for this back. That new propaganda line … it may need some work.”

Harmless stuff. DuBrose knew what it was. He watched Cameron’s broad back out of the room.

The director had forgotten to close Pell’s safe. DuBrose shut the panel himself, frowning speculatively. The action wasn’t at all like Cameron. He was meticulous about details. And he was a hearty eater.

Yet he hadn’t touched the luncheon tray.

Had Cameron learned the truth, somehow, after all? Was an anxiety neurosis beginning to work?

Symptoms: absent-mindedness, loss of appetite —

• • •

Cameron glanced at the papers outlining the new indoctrination lines, but he couldn’t focus on them. His mind wasn’t under its usual tight control. He was conscious of the luncheon tray on the desk, and the soup spoon that had behaved so — abnormally.

Automatically he scrubbed the back of his hand across his mouth.

There was a pattern to all these things. All these hallucinations. They were aimed at making him feel insecure.

Aimed?

A directive purpose?

Persecution, then. Why dodge the word? A persecution mania. What would a psychiatrist say?

It was either hallucination or it wasn’t. If it wasn’t, it was persecution. Or —

It was difficult to think clearly when at any moment the floor might tilt unsteadily beneath your feet.

Impossible to work on the propaganda papers now. Cameron shuffled them back into their folder and went to his own wall safe. He opened it.

There was an egg in the safe.

Cameron knew he hadn’t put it there.

It wasn’t a real egg either, because, as he reached for it, it went away — somewhere.

• • •

Seth had written:

Ben,

Anything can happen now. Ridgeley’s found out we know he’s from the future, and he’s plenty dangerous. I’m allowing for the possibility that I’ll be killed and you’ll survive. If we’re both killed — well, you won’t be reading this.

But play it this way. The equation’s got to be solved, and the chief’s probably the only one who can find somebody to solve it. Maybe Pastor will do the trick. Maybe he won’t. He’s got further than anyone else so far. Keep screening, and do your best for the chief.

And don’t let this throw you. In a few million years, what will it matter? Luck, though!

Seth

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