Frank & Brian Herbert Man of two worlds

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of Hanson Family Security. But EE, as it was known on the street, had been
owned by the late Ricardo Green. The surviving son, Esteban
Green, had been Lutt's roommate in their teens at a private school. Lunches,
dinners and dates with sexual partners carefully veiled by the senior Green
had built a bond between the young men.
With instruction from Esteban, Lutt himself had placed the surveillance bugs
around Morey.
Esteban never asked why this was done but Lutt suspected EE of bugging the
bugs. No matter --
spying on the Hansons could be dangerous and Esteban had earned a reputation
for extreme caution after his father's mysterious death in the collapse of a
building EE was watching.
But now I have you where I want you, dear brother. No more of your insults
and backbiting.
Morey frequently hinted he might tell Mother how Lutt consorted with the
cheapest prostitutes.
"If she only knew."
But you consort with criminals, Morey. You steal from your family. You
support the vicious traffic in narcotics and . . .
Ryll interrupted. What fierce emotions you Earthers have! And you are very
devious, Lutt.
Stay the hell out of this!
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Impishly, Ryll seized voice control and said: "You're in deep trouble,
Morey."
Lutt overrode Ryll and shouted: "Be quiet!"
"What are you saying?" Phoenicia demanded. "And why are you changing your
voice that way?"
Morey was fearful. "What do you mean I'm in trouble?"
"Just watch your step, Morey," Lutt said.
"Will you both please try to behave?" Phoenicia pleaded.
What would happen if you told them about me? Ryll asked.
You'd better think about what the Zone Patrol would do with that information.
Your own family would . . . ahhh, rat on you?
Morey would.
Your memories confirm this painful truth.
So stop making my life miserable with interruptions!
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I can do more than interrupt.
Ryll forced the closure of their eyelids and swiveled their eyes inward.
Lutt choked and gagged.
Ryll returned their eyes to normal and opened them.
"Are you all right, dear?" Phoenicia asked. "What did those terrible Zone
people do to you?"
Lutt spoke weakly. "They held me in a cell and asked a lot of dumb questions.
They told you I
had an accident with my Vortraveler, didn't they?"
"They told us nothing," Morey said. "Father informed us this morning where
you could be found and told us to get you."
"Were you hurt in the accident?" Phoenicia asked.
"Just a few bruises."
You could say I was a hallucination following the accident, Ryll suggested.
That way they'd know about me but it would not be information useful for
Morey.
You are a hallucination!
Excellent. This way you'll sound all the more sincere.
You're nuts!
I cannot be a hallucination and insane.
"Tell us about your accident, dear," Phoenicia said.
Lutt took a deep breath, inhaling the slightly offbeat smell of newness in the
limo. Not a natural odor. Something from a can, the way he simulated
newsroom odors at the Enquirer. Another false front, and Phoenicia tried most
of them.
"It helps to talk about dangers we survive," she said.
Lutt stared past his mother and brother through a brass-framed armor-glass
window. It framed an avenue of poplars growing smaller in the distance. The
limo turned a corner and the trees no
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activating a dark green shade in the glass.
"Something you're ashamed of?" Morey asked.
Tell them but don't mention Dreens, Ryll insisted. Do it or I'll
inward-focus.
"All right!" Lutt said.
He leaned back in the velvet cushions and gave a brief account of the accident
and aftermath. At
Ryll's prodding, he added: "I thought an alien got into my body. There was a
voice in my head."
"You hear voices?" Morey asked. He sounded pleased.
You're a poor storyteller, Lutt, Ryll intruded. I'm a very young Dreen but
even I can do much better.
"And poor Drich Baker is dead," Phoenicia said. "Oh, dear! I shall have to
call on his family."
"But Lutt's hearing voices, Mother."
"Not voices, dear. A voice. His accident was more severe than he lets on.
We shall have to employ specialists."
"Isn't this what happened to Uncle Dudley?" Morey asked.
"My brother has nothing to do with this! Don't mention him again or I shall
be forced to tell your father."
"I just wondered if there might be a nutty streak in the family." Morey
sounded plaintive.
Your Uncle Dudley sounds interesting, Ryll offered.
Please let it rest for the moment, Lutt pleaded.
You seem almost polite.
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I'm begging you. Morey would like to use this against me with our father.
And if it gets back to the Zone Patrol . . .
Very well. But only because you're being polite. I shall tally that in your
favor.
"You should not have built that spaceship without your father's consent,"
Phoenicia said. "You know how good he is with inventions and things of that
nature."
"Like this limo?" Lutt asked.
Phoenicia scowled but she only patted Lutt's knees. "Don't worry, dear. Our
specialists will cure you."
"Voices in his head," Morey muttered, nodding.
Phoenicia sent a warning glance at Morey and sank back into her seat. She [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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