The Luck Machine by E. C. Tubb

Author:E. C. Tubb [Tubb, E. C.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780575107656
Publisher: Orion
Published: 2011-09-29T07:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

Reclaiming the luck machine wasn’t easy. Ted reported to the others in the common room the next morning, irritably waving aside the breakfast the cook provided and scowling at the contents of his cup.

‘It’s a good breakfast,’ said Norman. ‘Whatever you did to Alice has certainly improved her.’

‘To hell with Alice.’

‘Do you have to swear?’ Maida, the embodiment of outraged dignity, rose from the table and swept towards the door. Nigel, his mouth full of marmaladed toast, called after her.

‘Where are you going?’

‘Away from this sink of profanity. When you gentlemen learn how to conduct yourselves before a lady I will rejoin you.’

‘She was going anyway,’ confided Nigel as the door banged after her. ‘She always goes for a walk after breakfast, it keeps her in trim, but Lord, how she loves to make an exit.’ He swallowed the last of his toast. ‘Did you get it?’

‘No.’

‘No?’

‘You heard what I said or are you deaf as well as stupid!’ Ted glared at his friend and poured more coffee. ‘He wouldn’t give it to me.’

‘Robbie wouldn’t give you the luck machine?’ Norman nodded as if he had expected as much. ‘Did he give you a reason?’

‘The best. I’d given him the thing with my blessing and he doesn’t believe in returning gifts once accepted. God!’ Ted slammed his hand down on the table. ‘The things that man doesn’t believe in!’

‘Well,’ said Nigel awkwardly, ‘can’t you make him give it to you?’

‘How? Have you ever felt his muscles?’

‘I didn’t mean like that. Couldn’t you tell him the Government wants it back?’

‘I did. He just smiled and said he would be willing to co-operate in every way but I still haven’t got the luck machine.’ Ted scowled across the table. ‘If you ask me he knows just how valuable it is.’

‘Well,’ said Norman philosophically, ‘you did tell him what it would do and you proved to him that it would do it too. He can’t be blamed for holding onto what he considers is his property.’

‘Sure,’ said Ted. ‘I don’t blame him. But just where does that leave us?’

It was a question which had no real answer but the prospect was horrifying. They had, somehow, made one of the most valuable machines known—but they couldn’t repeat the discovery. They had made a device which attracted the beneficial forces commonly known as luck—and had given it away. The thought was enough to drive any sane man to gibbering lunacy.

Maida returned as they were discussing it. She carried a sheaf of envelopes in her hand and tossed one to Norman and two to Nigel. Both were bills. He looked curiously at the one remaining in her hand,

‘For you?’

‘For Eric. Do you know where he is?’

‘Let me see that!’ Ted rose like a striking cobra and snatched the envelope from her and, ‘Ah, ah, I thought so. It’s from our old friend Frank T. Lomas and I wouldn’t mind betting that I know what is inside.’ He held it to the light and squinted at the silhouette of the contents.

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