Man's Best Friend
By EVELYN E. SMITH
Illustrated by MEL HUNTER
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from
Galaxy Science Fiction April 1955.
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that
the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
Sometimes a job comes after the man ... and
this one came after Gervase like a tiger!
The annunciator aroused Gervase from pleasant semi-slumber. He knew theinterruption was his own fault for not having turned off the device,but he so seldom had a visitor that he could hardly be blamed for hisforgetfulness. Frowning, he pressed the viewer button. A round, redface appeared on the screen. "May I be the first to congratulate you,Mr. Schnee?" it said.
"You may, indeed," Gervase replied. "But for what?"
"You haven't heard the news? Good, then I'm the first. I imagine Igot a head-start on the others because of my superior facilities forlocating you. Your address wasn't given; these pronouncements do tendto be a bit vague. Matter of tradition, I suppose."
"I haven't heard any news for days," Gervase said, uncomfortablyconscious that he was apologizing. "I've been listening to mysound-tapes and—and meditating," he added defiantly. "Wait a minute;I'll let you in."
He struggled with the door-stud, but the door refused to open. Theautobursar must have neglected to pay the door bill—probably becauseGervase had failed to put enough money into it. But his allowance waslimited and sound-tapes, not to speak of meditators, were so expensive.
Sighing, Gervase got up and opened the door manually. The individualoutside was short and stout and dressed, unfortunately, in the uniformof an upper-echelon salesman. Gervase had been caught! Still, hereminded himself, no one could force him to buy anything. He was a freecitizen.
"Well, come in if you must," he said grudgingly. "I suppose the bignews is that I'm the lucky householder to whom the Little Gem RoomExpander will first be offered."
"Nothing of the sort!" the man replied indignantly.
At this point, Gervase noticed with surprise that the other wore ajeweled merchant-prince's badge. Apparently this was one of thoseconsumer reaction tests in which executives themselves participated tocheck on their employees.
The man remembered to smile. "The Prognosticator has just givenits fortnightly Prognostication. You, Mr. Schnee, are going to beour new Ruler." He seized the young man's limp hand and shook itenthusiastically. "And I'm sure you'll be a splendid one, too."
Gervase accepted a pale green cheroot from the dispenser. It shook inhis lips. "And what's to become of the old Ruler?"
"You're scheduled to dispose of him sometime this month. Now, Mr.Schnee," the man went on briskly, "allow me to introduce myself. I amBedrich Florea, vice president of the Florea Munitions and ContainerCorporation." He extracted a gleaming weapon from his brief case andoffered it to Gervase. The young man recoiled. "If you will only agreeto shoot Overlord Kipp with a Florea Semper Fidelis Gun," the executivecontinued, "my corporation will be happy to place a substantial amountof credits at your disposal in any bank you choose. Six billion, to beexact. Now if you'll just sign here on the dotted line...." He held outa stylus temptingly.
"Nonsense!" Gervase backed away.
"Even a Ruler can use money. Bribery for government officials, breadand circuses for the people—oh, money's a very useful commodity, Mr.Schnee. Shall we