Galactic Effectuator, page 20
“Dr. Dacre found himself spending considerable time here at Masmodo. How was he able to conceal his presence? I can describe one possible way. Dr. Leuvil died one night, as if in his sleep. The next morning Dr. Dacre appeared and was able to console Zerpette, now a lass both rollicking and buxom. Faurence Dacre quietly disposed of the body, practiced walking hunched over with a cane, and Dr. Leuvil was more of a recluse than ever. Imhalter, if you please.”
Imhalter, seizing the gray curls, pulled away wig and filmy mask of gray wrinkles, to reveal the features of Faurence Dacre.
“The disguise was indeed bizarre,” said Hetzel critically. “Ottile however mentioned that all the family was left-handed. On the first occasion I met Dr. Leuvil, I noticed that he was right-handed. Therefore, ‘Dr. Leuvil’ was not Dr. Leuvil. Who could he be? Who else but Dr. Dacre?
“Freitzke of course had been sent to assist Ottile; after all, it was now Zerpette’s turn. All the while in Cassander Faurence assiduously courted Perdhra Olruff, only to lose her to a better man. Imhalter, I hope you have taken his weapons?”
“All we can find, Xtl Hetzel: a Vaast ray and a pair of squibboons.”
“So now, I have discharged my task. You gentlemen must decide what next to do. I have suggested the hospital yonder; why should not Dr. Aartemus communicate with an appropriate number of expert surgeons who are willing to perform certain unofficial operations: I might also suggest that if any deficiencies occur—for instance, Sabin Cru is blameless; why should he suffer a new tragedy? Better that the organs he must now give up be replaced by the gentleman who initiated the process.”
“I agree in all respects,” said Conwit Clent. “Dr. Aartemus, what is your feeling in the matter?”
“I am somewhat constrained by the presence of Merner Stipes, the Torpeltines District Medical Inspector.”
“Feel no constraint on my part!” declared Ander Stipes. “In fact, I resign my post as of this instant. When the operations are finished I will reconsider; but as of now, regard me as a collaborator.”
“Then there seems no further reason for delay,” said Dr. Aartemus. “Except—er, what of Zerpette?”
Zerpette said in a dry voice: “I have learned much which I did not know, including the existence of Perdhra Olruff at Cassander. You may ignore me as well. I am finished. It is now Freitzke’s turn.”
CHAPTER 14
At Dandyl Villa, Hetzel rendered Conwit Clent an accounting of his expenses. “They run somewhat high, but men like Bruno Imhalter do not come cheap, and as you know I have traveled considerably.”
“Not another word!” declared Clent. “I am intensely pleased; furthermore each member of the group has in-sited upon sharing the expense, so little enough is coming from my own pocket.”
“In that case,” said Hetzel, “the problem no longer exists. Allow me to wish you and your wife the happiest of marriages, with both loyal sons and dutiful daughters.”
“I hope the same, Miro Hetzel. But what of Faurence Dacre?”
“He is now under the care of Freitzke and Sabin Cru.”
“Will he not eventually work further mischief?” “The chances would seem scant. Sabin Cru, remember, would be the first to suffer if Dacre ever again required the return of his members. Remember also that the Arsh are a superstitious race; they believe that an incomplete man brings bad luck. We have probably heard the last of Faurence Dacre. Still, the next time I pass Gietersmond, I will visit Masmodo and make a casual enquiry. It is always interesting to look over the scene of a previous case.”
* THE END *
JACK VANCE
Born in 1920, Jack Vance served in the US Merchant Navy during WWII, and has supported himself at times by a variety of jobs ranging from construction worker to jazz musician. Now one of the most widely read and well-respected authors of our time, he has written more than forty novels and seventy-five shorter works in the fields of fantasy, mystery, horror and science fiction. Two of his novels were adopted for television, where he was one of the primary writers for the “Captain Video” series. Some of his richly deserved awards include the rare Triple Crown of speculative fiction: the Hugo (for The Dragon Masters, 1963,) the Nebula (for The Last Castle, 1966, which also won a Hugo,) and the Edgar (for The Man in the Cage, 1960, from the Mystery Writers of America).
He is known especially for his crafty wit, brilliant use of color and his ability to depict both virtue and poltroonery across the entire spectrum of human interaction. His hobbies include blue-water sailing, house remodeling and the four-string banjo. He lives in the hills above Oakland, California with his son John and his wife Norma.
Meet Miro Hetzel, Galactic Effectuator. He’s part gentlemen, part detective, part fraud, and his trail of exploits cuts through some of the more improbable civilizations in the universe. Join him in a trip to the planet Maz, whose natives are so fierce that they’ll fight three buttles before lunch and then dine on the enemy-a planet that only a man with Miro Hetzel’s steely nerve would dare to visit at all.
* * *
“Jack Vance is one of the
greatest image-makers of English letters.”
-Frank Herbert
* * *
“Jack Vance is as great a master of the
English language as Lord Dunsany...
he can be exciting, satirical, funny, stark,
tender, serious, and thoughtful,
all in the same story”
-Poul Anderson
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Jack Vance, Galactic Effectuator
