LANCER-73-781 The Limbo Affair
The Limbo Affair
Lancer
LANCER-73-781
Anthony Firth
$0.60
The Limbo Affair
Lancer
LANCER-73-781
Anthony Firth
$0.60
Excerpt
“Look here,” he said in the small thin voice of the insulted Englishman, “you are clearly an official of some kind. I demand an explanation of why I am being harried like this, why I am being dragged around Bavaria like this, and why and by what right you are seizing and examining my photographs.” Then, noticing the other’s hand was still extended, added irritably:
“No, I won’t have a cigar, thank you.”
The professor selected a cigar for himself, cut it with a curious small steel cutter set with panels of shagreen, held the end for a moment in the flame of a match, turning it this way and that, then placed it in his mouth. He blew a small symmetrical puff of heavy smoke.
“You are alarmed without reason. You are neither harried nor dragged. You are driven here at speed in luxury and at no inconvenience to yourself. Your film is being developed with professional skill under ideal conditions. If you doubt that your pictures will be returned, or fear that they will be tampered with, allow me to reassure you.”
“But why?”
“My purpose does not conflict with your purpose, Mr. Limbo. You will have fine prints of what you require, and I shall have perhaps nothing at all.”
“But I have a right to know why—and to know who the devil you are.”
“What right of yours is being abused, Mr. Limbo? You are seeing ogres under the bed. You are free to go if you wish.”
How, thought Limbo: it’s a long bloody walk, and I wouldn’t trust myself with that great Merc.
“If I have a position, an entree, rather, it does not involve you. What have you to fear, Mr. Limbo?”
Limbo sat down. The other man looked at him with a hint of malicious pleasure.
“What have you done that you should be afraid? Am I a big policeman come to arrest you? An inquisitor to find out your sins?” And he began to laugh.
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