Rhapsody in Black (16 page)

Authors: Brian Stableford

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BOOK: Rhapsody in Black

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CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

In a dark covert, within the capital but beyond the feeble gleam of the apologetic city lights, I finally ran Sampson down. He'd not been easy to find. He was unpopular and had barely survived an extended stay in the city jail. He was just about to leave, to face the inevitable wrath of his superiors.

âYou almost got us killed,' I told him.

âIt was no part of my plan,' he assured me. âI just agreed to Alpart's terms to try to cut myself back in. I didn't know what he had planned for you. I swear it'

âOK,' I said, not much interested in his protests. âI didn't run down to start a fight. I've got some of the worms. If you want them, the price is twenty thousand.'

He didn't leap for joy. It was dark, so I couldn't see his expression, but I was getting used to darkness. I could tell that he wasn't interested. He was tired.

âYou're a little late, Grainger,' he said.

âSomebody else had a secret stash,' I saidâI'd been half expecting it. âYou already got supplied.'

âSomething like that,' he said. âI've had offers from more than one source. I set up deals, too. But there's more to it than that. When I say you're late, I mean you're
late
. I guess nobody told you the bad news?'

I put my hand in my pocket and fingered the coppery dendrites. It had, of course, been far too good to be true. I just couldn't be carrying a fortune in my pocket. No chance. Charlot hadn't attempted to stop anyone stealing from the grotto. He'd acted as if it simply didn't matter.

It obviously didn't.

âAll right,' I said, sounding as tired as he did. âWhat's the catch?'

âThat stuff's been locked in a stone coffin for millions of years,' he said. âIt's a bit much to expect that you can go barging into a set-up like that and not upset things somewhat. They were lucky, I suppose, not to have destroyed the whole thing before they found out what it was.

âBut there's more to a life-system than heat and light, as you damn well know. The ringworms are half-and-half organisms. They're walking a physiological tightrope. Each one is as sensitive and as delicate as hell. And not just to heat and light and air. Each worm is a protocoenocyte and each one manifests one hell of an allergy problem. They sensitise to human proteins and human-associated proteins in a matter of minutes. They don't turn bright green or writhe in agony, or anything like that, but those worms you have in your pocket have a probable life-span of a couple of days. No matter how many times they divide in the meantime.

âYou don't have to believe me, of course. But we ran a check on board the ramrod the moment Gimli gave us the first consignment. Your boss knows as wellâhe's down in the grotto right now with four-foot forceps and as much sterile equipment as he can raise or improvise. You've been out of touch while you were catching up with your beauty sleep.

âYou were right, you know. We should all have stayed in jail. The kid and I only stayed free for a matter of minutes anyhow.'

I took the dendrites out of my pocket and held them in the palms of my hands. I couldn't see the worms. I was feeling a mite sick, but I'd never really believed that it was going to come off.

âThe others felt just as bad,' Sampson assured me, as if it helped. âGimli lost his fortune too, and one or two of the others.'

âGreat,' I said. âJust great.'

âYou can't win them all,' he said.

âNo,' I agreed, âbut it would be nice to win one now and again.'

He laughed drily, and then he was gone, leaving me alone in the shadow.

I shivered.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Brian Stableford
was born in Yorkshire in 1948. He taught at the University of Reading for several years, but is now a full-time writer. He has written many science-fiction and fantasy novels, including
The Empire of Fear
,
The Werewolves of London
,
Year Zero
,
The Curse of the Coral Bride
,
The Stones of Camelot
, and
Prelude to Eternity
. Collections of his short stories include a long series of
Tales of the Biotech Revolution
, and such idiosyncratic items as
Sheena and Other Gothic Tales
and
The Innsmouth Heritage and Other Sequels
. He has written numerous nonfiction books, including
Scientific Romance in Britain, 1890-1950
;
Glorious Perversity: The Decline and Fall of Literary Decadence
;
Science Fact and Science Fiction: An Encyclopedia
; and
The Devil's Party: A Brief History of Satanic Abuse
. He has contributed hundreds of biographical and critical articles to reference books, and has also translated numerous novels from the French language, including books by Paul FÃ©val, Albert Robida, Maurice Renard, and J. H. Rosny the Elder.