The Stars My Destination by Bester Alfred

Author:Bester Alfred [Alfred, Bester]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, azw3
Publisher: ePub Bud (www.epubbud.com)
Published: 2010-10-26T16:00:00+00:00

�����"Couldn't be. He looks human."

�����Society clustered around Fourmyle, curious but wary.

�����"Here they come," Foyle muttered to Robin.

�����"Relax. They want the light touch. They'll accept anything if it's amusing. Stay tuned."

�����"Are you that dreadful man with the circus, Fourmyle?"

�����"Sure you are. Smile."

�����"I am, madam. You may touch me."

�����"Why, you actually seem proud. Are you proud of your bad taste?"

�����"The problem today is to have any taste at all."

�����"The problem today is to have any taste at all. I think I'm lucky."

�����"Lucky but dreadfully indecent."

�����"Indecent but not dull."

�����"And dreadful but delightful. Why aren't you cavorting now?"

�����"I'm 'under the influence,' Madam."

�����"Oh dear. Are you drunk? I'm Lady Shrapnel. When will you be sober again?"

�����"I'm under your influence, Lady Shrapnel."

�����"You wicked young man. Charles! Charles, come here and save Fourmyle. I'm ruining him."

�����"That's Victor of RCA Victor."

�����"Fourmyle, is it? Delighted. What's that entourage of yours cost?"

�����"Tell him the truth."

�����"Forty thousand, Victor."

�����"Good Lord! A week?"

�����"A day."

�����"A day! What on earth d'you want to spend all that money for?"

�����"The truth!"

�����"For notoriety, Victor."

�����"Ha! Are you serious?"

�����"I told you he was wicked, Charles."

�����"Damned refreshing. Klaus! Here a moment. This impudent young man is spending forty thousand a day. . . for notoriety, if you please."

�����"Skoda of Skoda."

�����"Good evening, Fourmyle. I am much interested in this revival of the name. You are, perhaps, a cadet descendant of the original founding board of Ceres, Inc.?"

�����"Give him the truth."

�����"No, Skoda. It's a title by purchase. I bought the company. I'm an upstart."

�����"Good. Toujours de l'audace!"

�����"My word, Fourmyle! You're frank."

�����"Told you he was impudent. Very refreshing. There's a parcel of damned upstarts about, young man, but they don't admit it. Elizabeth, come and meet Fourmyle of Ceres."

�����"Fourmyle! I've been dying to meet you."

�����"Lady Elizabeth Citroen."

�����"Is it true you travel with a portable college?"

�����"The light touch here."

�����"A portable high school, Lady Elizabeth."

�����"But why on earth, Fourmyle?"

�����"Oh, madam, it's so difficult to spend money these days. We have to find the silliest excuses. If only someone would invent a new extravagance."

�����"You ought to travel with a portable inventor, Fourmyle."

�����"I've got one. Haven't I, Robin? But he wastes his time on perpetual motion. What I need is a resident spendthrift. Would any of your clans care to lend me a younger son?"

�����"Would any of us care to!? There's many a clan would pay for the privilege of unloading."

�����"Isn't perpetual motion spendthrift enough for you, Fourmyle?"

�����"No. It's a shocking waste of money. The whole point of extravagance is to act like a fool and feel like a fool, but enjoy it. Where's the joy in perpetual motion? Is there any extravagance in entropy? Millions for nonsense but not one cent for entropy. My slogan."

�����They laughed and the crowd clustering around Fourmyle grew. They were delighted and amused. He was a new toy. Then it was midnight, and as the great clock tolled in the New Year, the gathering prepared to jaunte with midnight around the world.

�����"Come with us to Java, Fourmyle. Regis Sheffield's giving a marvelous legal party. We're going to play 'Sober The Judge."

�����"Hong Kong, Fourmyle.

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