Gambler's World, Page 2

  II

  A dozen or more low-caste Petreacans, gathered around a long table inthe center of the room looked up, startled. A heap of long-bladed breadknives, French knives, carving knives and cleavers lay in the center ofthe table. Other knives were thrust into belts or held in the hands ofthe men. A fat man in the yellow sarong of a cook stood frozen in theact of handing a knife to a tall one-eyed sweeper.

  Retief took one glance, then let his eyes wander to a far corner of theroom. Humming a careless little tune, he sauntered across to the openliquor shelves, selected a garish green bottle and turned unhurriedlyback toward the door. The group of servants watched him, transfixed.

  As Retief reached the door, it swung inward. Magnan, lips pursed, stoodin the doorway.

  "I had a premonition," he said.

  "I'll bet it was a dandy," Retief said. "You must tell me all aboutit--in the salon."

  "We'll have this out right here," Magnan snapped. "I've warned you!"Magnan's voice trailed off as he took in the scene around the table.

  "After you," Retief said, nudging Magnan toward the door.

  "What's going on here?" Magnan barked. He stared at the men, startedaround Retief. A hand stopped him.

  "Let's be going," Retief said, propelling Magnan toward the hall.

  "Those knives!" Magnan yelped. "Take your hands off me, Retief! What areyou men--?"

  Retief glanced back. The fat cook gestured suddenly, and the men fadedback. The cook stood, arm cocked, a knife across his palm.

  "Close the door and make no sound," he said softly.

  Magnan pressed back against Retief. "Let's ... r-run...." he faltered.

  Retief turned slowly, put his hands up.

  "I don't run very well with a knife in my back," he said. "Stand verystill, Magnan, and do just what he tells you."

  "Take them out through the back," the cook said.

  "What does he mean?" Magnan spluttered. "Here, you--"

  "Silence," the cook said, almost casually. Magnan gaped at him, closedhis mouth.

  Two of the men with knives came to Retief's side and gestured, grinningbroadly.

  "Let's go, peacocks," one said.

  Retief and Magnan silently crossed the kitchen, went out the back door,stopped on command and stood waiting. The sky was brilliant with stars.A gentle breeze stirred the tree-tops beyond the garden. Behind them theservants talked in low voices.

  "You go too, Illy," the cook was saying.

  "Do it here," another said.

  "And carry their damn dead bodies down?"

  "Pitch 'em behind the hedge."

  "I said the river. Three of you is plenty for a couple of Nenni. Wedon't know if we want to--"

  "They're foreigners, not Nenni. We don't know--"

  "So they're foreign Nenni. Makes no difference. I've seen them. I needevery man here; now get going."

  "What about the big guy? He looks tough."

  "Him? He waltzed into the room and didn't notice a thing. But watch theother one."

  At a prod from a knife point, Retief moved off down the walk, two of theescort behind him and Magnan, another going ahead to scout the way.

  Magnan moved closer to Retief.

  "Say," he said in a whisper. "That fellow in the lead; isn't he the onewho spilled the drink? The one you took the blame for?"

  "That's him, all right. He doesn't seem nervous any more, I notice."

  "You saved him from serious punishment," Magnan said. "He'll begrateful; he'll let us go."

  "Better check with the fellows with the knives before you act on that."

  "Say something to him," Magnan hissed, "Remind him."

  * * * * *

  The lead man fell back in line with Retief and Magnan.

  "These two are scared of you," he said, grinning and jerking a thumbtoward the knife-handlers. "They haven't worked around the Nenni likeme; they don't know you."

  "Don't you recognize this gentleman?" Magnan said.

  "He did me a favor," the man said. "I remember."

  "What's it all about?" Retief asked.

  "The revolution. We're taking over now."

  "Who's 'we'?"

  "The People's Anti-Fascist Freedom League."

  "What are all the knives for?"

  "For the Nenni; and for all you foreigners."

  "What do you mean?" Magnan gasped.

  "We'll slit all the throats at one time. Saves a lot of running around."

  "What time will that be?"

  "Just at dawn; and dawn comes early, this time of year. By full daylightthe PAFFL will be in charge."

  "You'll never succeed," Magnan said. "A few servants with knives! You'llall be caught and killed."

  "By who, the Nenni?" the man laughed. "You Nenni are a caution."

  "But we're not Nenni--"

  "We've watched you; you're the same. You're part of the sameblood-sucking class."

  "There are better ways to, uh, adjust differences," Magnan said. "Thiskilling won't help you, I'll personally see to it that your grievancesare heard in the Corps Courts. I can assure you that the plight of thedowntrodden workers will be alleviated. Equal rights for all--"

  "These threats won't work," the man said. "You don't scare me."

  "Threats? I'm promising _relief_ to the exploited classes of Petreac!"

  "You must be nuts," the man said. "You trying to upset the system orsomething?"

  "Isn't that the purpose of your revolution?"

  "Look, Nenni, we're tired of you Nenni getting all the graft. We wantour turn. What good would it do us to run Petreac if there's no loot?"

  "You mean you intend to oppress the people? But they're your owngroup."

  "Group, schmoop. We're taking all the chances; we're doing the work. Wedeserve the payoff. You think we're throwing up good jobs for the fun ofit?"

  "You're basing a revolt on these cynical premises?"

  "Wise up, Nenni. There's never been a revolution for any other reason."

  "Who's in charge of this?" Retief said.

  "Shoke, the head chef."

  "I mean the big boss. Who tells Shoke what all to do?"

  "Oh, that's Zorn. Look out, here's where we start down the slope. It'sslippery."

  "Look," Magnan said. "You."

  "My name's Illy."

  "Mr. Illy, this man showed you mercy when he could have had you beaten."

  "Keep moving. Yeah, I said I was grateful."

  "Yes," Magnan said, swallowing hard. "A noble emotion, gratitude. Youwon't regret it."

  "I always try to pay back a good turn," Illy said. "Watch your step nowon this sea-wall."

  "You'll never regret it," Magnan said.

  "This is far enough," Illy motioned to one of the knife men. "Give meyour knife, Vug."

  The man passed his knife to Illy. There was an odor of sea-mud and kelp.Small waves slapped against the stones of the sea-wall. The wind wasstronger here.

  "I know a neat stroke," Illy said. "Practically painless. Who's first?"

  "What do you mean?" Magnan quavered.

  "I _said_ I was grateful. I'll do it myself, give you a nice clean job.You know these amateurs; botch it up and have a guy floppin' around,yellin' and spatterin' everybody up."

  "I'm first," Retief said. He pushed past Magnan, stopped suddenly, drovea straight punch at Illy's mouth.

  * * * * *

  The long blade flicked harmlessly over Retief's shoulder as Illy fell.Retief whirled, leaped past Magnan, took the unarmed servant by thethroat and belt, lifted him and slammed him against the third man. Bothscrambled, yelped and fell from the sea-wall into the water.

  Retief turned back to Illy. He pulled off the man's belt and strappedhis hands together.

  Magnan found his voice.

  "You.... we.... they...."

  "I know," Retief said.

  "We've got to get back," Magnan said, "Warn them!"

  "We'd never get through the rebel cordon a
round the palace. And if wedid, trying to give an alarm would only set the assassinations offearly."

  "We can't just...."

  "We've got to go to the source; this fellow Zorn. Get him to call itoff."

  "We'd be killed! At least we're safe here."

  Illy groaned and opened his eyes. He sat up.

  "On your feet, Illy," Retief said.

  Illy looked around. "I'm sick," he said.

  "The damp air is bad for you. Let's be going." Retief pulled the man tohis feet. "Where does Zorn stay when he's in town?" he demanded.

  "What happened? Where's Vug and...."

  "They had an accident. Fell in the pond."

  Illy gazed down at the restless black water.

  "I guess I had you Nenni figured wrong."

  "Us Nenni have hidden qualities. Let's get moving before Vug and Slugmake it to shore and start it all over again."

  "No hurry," Illy said. "They can't swim." He spat into the water. "Solong, Vug. So long, Toscin. Take a pull, at the Hell Horn for me." Hestarted off along the sea wall toward the sound of the surf.

  "You want to see Zorn, I'll take you to see Zorn," he said. "I can'tswim either."