Adventure stories; Man-woman relationships -- Fiction; Science fiction; War stories
"Odd scent," corrected Evelyn cryptically. She was thinking about
the earnest faces of the mentors as they instructed her carefully in
the use of the "perfume." The adrenalin glands, they had explained,
provided a useful and powerful stimulant to a man in danger. Adrenalin
slowed the heart and digestion, increased the systole and blood
pressure, and increased perspiration to cool the skin. But there
could be too much of a good thing. An overdose of adrenalin, they had
pointed out, caused almost immediate edema. The lungs filled rapidly
with the serum and the victim ... drowned. The perfume she possessed
over-stimulated, in some unknown way, the adrenals of frightened
persons. It had no effect on inactive adrenals.
The question remained--who would be the more frightened, she or the
condemned inquisitor?
She was perspiring freely, and the blonde hair on her arms and neck was
standing stiffly when Perat opened the door for her and they entered
the Zone Provost's chambers.
* * * * *
One glance at the trembling creature in the prisoner's chair
reassured her. The ex-inquisitor, shorn of his insignia, shabby and
stubble-bearded, sat huddled in his chair and from time to time swept
his grave tormentors with glazed eyes. He looked a long while at Evelyn.
She got out her bottle of perfume idly and held it open in her warm
hand. The officers and judge-provost were listening to the opening
address of the prosecution and took no notice of her.
More and more frequently the condemned man turned his gaze to Evelyn.
She poured a little of the scent on her handkerchief. The prisoner
coughed and rubbed his chin, trying to think.
The charges were finally read, and the defense attorney began his
opening statement. The prisoner, now coughing more frequently, was
oblivious to all but the woman. Once she thought she saw a flicker of
recognition in his eyes, and she fanned herself hurriedly with her
handkerchief.
The trial droned on to a close. It was a mere formality. The prosecutor
summed up by proving that a Terran woman had been captured, possibly
named Evelyn Kane, turned over to the defendant for registration and
disposal, and that the defendant's weekly accounts failed to show a
receipt for the release of the woman. Q.E.D., the death sentence must
be affirmed.
The light in the prisoner's eyes was growing clearer, despite his
bronchial difficulties. He began now to pay attention to what was said
and to take notice of the other faces. It was as though he had finally
found the weapon he wanted, and patiently awaited an opportunity to use
it.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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