The tomorrow people : $b a science fiction novelMerril, Judith
Science
The tomorrow people : $b a science fiction novel
Merril, Judith
Mars (Planet) -- Fiction; Psychological fiction; Science fiction; Space travelers -- Fiction
He went to the phone, and flicked the switch, the operator thought
he was kidding, but she finally told him: Saturday. And almost eight
o’clock.
He went to the kitchen and made himself a sandwich with two thick slabs
of rye bread and a stack of old dried-looking boiled ham slices from
the refrigerator. He was too hungry to care if it was dry or tasteless.
He took one large bite, wrapped the rest in a napkin, and shoved it in
his jacket pocket. He started out, then remembered seeing a quart of
milk when he got the ham. He went back, and drank all but an inch or so
of the milk, right from the wax container. _Then_ he went out, a little
worried, wondering if he’d done something to the heli too, that he
didn’t recall.
The funny thing was, he was so set on getting to someone from the
Committee, to tell them he’d take the subpoena now, that when the
little man in the brown suit stepped out from behind the hangar, and
served it on him he didn’t even think to be surprised. The only thing
that startled him was the big bass voice asking his name; it came from
such a _medium_ guy.
Afterwards, a hundred feet up and building speed, he was astonished at
the man still being there. He shook his head and grinned. “Guts!” he
said out loud to nobody, admiringly.
Later yet, over Philadelphia, he had to decide which way to go, and
realized he didn’t know where they were firing from this trip. It
occurred to him, hovering there, that he was not quite as clear-headed
as he felt he was. The sandwich was still in his pocket, for instance,
and he didn’t know where to go. Also, belatedly, he wondered if he’d
have any trouble with _this_ bunch about going up.
He kept on south. It would be either Andes or St. Thom, that much
he was sure of. Just beyond Wilmington he saw a field with service
stations and no traffic to speak of. He dropped, left the machine for
servicing whatever slipshod way the station did it, and went inside to
the phones.
_Senor_ McLafferty was not at home. He was in Mexcity, at a verrree
imporrrtant conferrrence.
“Can you tell me where to reach him?” Johnny asked urgently.
She was most sorrreee, but the number was one she was not allowed to
give.
“Can _you_ reach him?” There was no time for arguing.
Reluctantly: Yes, she could.
“All right, now listen. Call him _right away_. I’m at a pay phone, and
I haven’t got much time, and believe me, he wants to hear from me.
My name is John Wendt, you understand? The number here is Wilmington
Five-seven nine oh-eight jay six. Please ask him to call me _as quickly
as possible_. You got the name, now, John--”
“Yes, _Senor_. I _know_ the name.” He relaxed. He could see the
difference. She did know the name, and she would call McLafferty. He
flicked off, bought a soda, and sat down in the old metal chair out
front to wait for the call back.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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