The Moon Moth and Other Stories Read Free

“Well, well, this is a surprise indeed,” said Magnus.
    See nodded grimly. “Quite a coincidence…”
    “After the unhappy collapse of Outer Empire Realty and Investment I feared—indeed, I dreaded—that I should never see you again.” And Magnus Ridolph watched Julius See with mild blue eyes blank as a lizard’s.
    “No such luck,” said See. “As a matter of fact I run this place. Er, may I speak to you a moment inside?”
    “Certainly, by all means.”
    Ridolph followed his host through the well-appointed lobby into an office. A thin-faced man with thin red hair and squirrel teeth rose quickly to his feet. “You’ll remember my partner, Bruce Holpers,” said See with no expression in his voice.
    “Of course,” said Ridolph. “I am flattered that you honor me with your personal attention.”
    See cut the air with his hand—a small petulant gesture. “Forget the smart talk, Ridolph…What’s your game?”
    Magnus Ridolph laughed easily. “Gentlemen, gentlemen—”
    “Gentlemen my foot! Let’s get down to brass tacks. If you’ve got any ideas left over from that Outer Empire deal, put them away.”
    “I assure you—”
    “I’ve heard stories about you, Ridolph, and what I brought you in to tell you was that we’re running a nice quiet place here, and we don’t want any disturbance.”
    “Of course not,” agreed Ridolph.
    “Maybe you came for a little clean fun, betting on these native chipmunks; maybe you came on a party that we won’t like.”
    Ridolph held out his hands guilelessly. “I can hardly say I’m flattered. I appear at your inn, an accredited guest; instantly you take me aside and admonish me.”
    “Ridolph,” said See, “you have a funny reputation, and a normal sharpshooter never knows what side you’re working on.”
    “Enough of this,” said Magnus sternly. “Open the door, or I shall institute a strong protest.”
    “Look,” said See ominously, “we own this hotel. If we don’t like your looks, you’ll camp out and rustle your own grub until the next packet—which is a week away.”
    Magnus Ridolph said coldly, “You will become liable to extensive damages if you seek to carry out your threat; in fact, I defy you, put me out if you dare!”
    The lanky red-haired Holpers laid a nervous hand on See’s arm. “He’s right, Julie. We can’t refuse service or the Control yanks our charter.”
    “If he misbehaves or performs any mischief, we can put him out.”
    “You have evidence, then, that I am a source of annoyance?”
    See stood back, hands behind him. “Call this little talk a warning, Ridolph. You’ve just had your warning.”
    Returning to the lobby, Magnus Ridolph ordered his luggage sent to his room, and inquired the whereabouts of the Commonwealth Control officer.
    “He’s established on the edge of Black Bog, sir; you’ll have to take an air-car unless you care for an all-night hike.”
    “You may order out an air-car,” said Magnus Ridolph.
    Seated in the well-upholstered tonneau, Ridolph watched Shadow Valley Inn dwindle below. The sun, Pi Sagittarius, which had already set, once more came into view as the car rose to clear Basalt Mountain, then sank in a welter of purples, greens and reds—a phoenix dying in its many-colored blood. Kokod twilight fell across the planet.
    Below passed a wonderfully various landscape: lakes and parks, meadows, cliffs, crags, sweeping hillside slopes, river valleys. Here and there Ridolph sensed shapes in the fading light—the hive-like tumbles. As evening deepened into dove-colored night, the tumbles flickered with dancing orange sparks of illumination.
    The air-car slanted down, slid under a copse of trees shaped like feather-dusters. Magnus Ridolph alighted, stepped around to the pilot’s compartment.
    “Who is the Control officer?”
    “His name is Clark, sir, Everley Clark.”
    Magnus Ridolph nodded. “I’ll be no more than twenty minutes. Will you wait, please?”
    “Yes, sir. Very well,