The Spell-Bound Scholar

by Christopher Stasheff

When they came apart, Gregory gasped, "But you shall lose your freedom if you stay with me!"

  "I had not really noticed," Allouette said. "If staying alone with you is my desire, after all, have I not exercised that very freedom of which you speak?"

  "How can you be so free to go as not to go?" Gregory protested.

  Allouette laughed. "Is that not something a sage once said?"

  "No," said Cordelia, "it was a poet speaking about a sage." She turned to her brother. "Do you not intend losing your freedom, too, in your own manner, brother?"

  Gregory sighed. "I suppose that all who commit their hearts to something greater than themselves indeed yield up their freedom in large measure, sister, whether that 'something greater' be marriage and family, building an empire, hoarding money, creating great art, or discovering new knowledge."

  "There is some truth in that," Gwen said judiciously, with a lifetime's experience. "The great mistake is to think you can commit yourself to two vocations at once. Still, there is no real happiness without one—only the loneliness and aim-lessness that sooner or later drive one to distraction, and the pleasures that fail to produce happiness."

  "So to which must people devote themselves, Mother?" Gregory asked, very low.

  "In that, son, a man must read his weird," Gwen answered. "Go where you find your bliss."

  "Why, then, I have found it." Gregory held both Allouette's hands and looked into her eyes.

  After a few minutes' silence, the two of them merely standing there and glowing, Gwen cleared her throat. When it produced no reaction she said, "Well, enough delay. We must be up and about, daughter."

  "We must indeed," Cordelia agreed. "Farewell, you two.

  Christopher Stasheff

  We shall send a priest to wander this way, if we see one."

  "We shall be glad to see him," Gregory said automatically, never taking his eyes from Allouette. "Fare you well, Mother, Cordelia."

  "Farewell," Cordelia replied as she hopped on her broomstick.

  From the air, circling to gain height, she noted that as soon as they had departed, the lovers had begun kissing again. As she passed her mother in the gyre, she said, ' 'I think we need no longer worry about him."

  "It will be the first time since he was thirteen," Gwen said, "and is very welcome."

  Below them, Allouette broke the kiss and commanded, "Back to work, ardent lover! We may finish this stronghold tonight and have a roof to cover us!"

  "Shall have need of it, then?" Gregory asked.

  "Aye, great need," Allouette promised. "To work, now!"

  Gregory stole one last kiss. Then, still holding hands, they turned back to building their ivory tower.

  Turn the page for a preview of

  A Phule and His Money

  by Robert Asprin, with Peter J. Heck. Coming in October from Ace Books.

  CHAPTER

  -1-

  JOURNAL #278

  Even the most fortunate circumstances contain the seeds of their own destruction. So it was with the tenure of Phule 's Company on Lorelei.

  At first glance, a posh gambling resort like Lorelei would appear a plum assignment for a Space Legion company that until recently had been the laughingstock of the Legion. Omega Company had long been the Legion s dumping ground for incompetents and malcontents. My employer, Willard Phule (or "Captain Jester,'' to use his Legion name), was given command of Omega Company as punishment for a small indiscretion of his own, namely ordering a peace conference strafed. He was lucky — only his status as a wealthy munitions heir kept him from being expelled outright. The generals meant to so overload him with frustration and embarrassment that he would resign. A spoiled rich kid could find plenty of more pleasant ways to misspend his youth, they thought.

  Instead he had decided to make the company the best in the Legion, and by applying unorthodox methods had come a long way toward that goal. But he had powerful enemies, and Lorelei appeared a perfect trap for the unwary. Dominated by gangsters, and given over to every sort of sybaritic entertainment, it would have destroyed most military units. That Phule 1 s company had succeeded beyond all hopes confounded those enemies — but they were determined to find new ways to destroy him.

  Robert Asprin with Peter I. Heck

  Now, the company was about to receive new troops — the first significant additions to its ranks since he took command. In such a tight-knit unit, any change of personnel has an impact. When the new troops have been selected by one's enemies, the impact is likely to be disastrous...

  "They'll be docking any minute, now," said Phule, consulting his chronometer. It was the third time he'd checked it in the last five minutes. Since there were numerous time displays on view throughout the space station's arrival lounge, an observer might have concluded that Phule's preoccupation with the time—combined with his pacing and nonstop talking—was a sign of nervousness. That observer would have been right.

  "A few minutes one way or the other won't make much difference, Captain," said Sgt. Brandy, who had come with her commanding officer to greet the new troops assigned to Phule's Company. "They're coming, and we'll deal with it. All of us will. I've been through this enough times before."

  "Oh, I know you have," said Phule, nodding appreciatively to his Top Sergeant. "And I know you'll do everything you can to make them fit in smoothly. I've seen what you can do, Brandy. But this isn't just any new batch of recruits. It's a completely unique situation."

  "You mean the Gambolts, sir?" said Lt. Armstrong, the third in the greeting party. He stood ramrod straight, almost managing to look comfortable despite the exaggerated precision of his uniform and posture. "I don't see where they'll be a problem. They're among the finest fighters in the galaxy. It's an honor to have them in our unit."

  "Yes, I appreciate that," said Phule. "But Gambolts have never served in mixed units with humans before—and these three specifically requested to be assigned to us. It's a tribute to the good work we've done. But I can't help wonder..." His voice trailed off.

  Brandy shook her head firmly. "Whether the troops will accept them? Don't worry about that, Captain. This outfit may be the most tolerant bunch in the Legion. When you've had

  A Phule and His Money

  to live down the reputation we've been saddled with, you don't have room to get snooty about your barracksmates."

  4 'Losers can't be choosers, in other words," said Phule. "I suppose that's been true in the past. Most of the company have had to accept whatever hand the Legion dealt them. But we've been changing that."

  "You've been changing that, sir," said Lt. Armstrong. "If not for you, we'd still be back on Haskin's Planet, slogging through the swamps. Now we're among the elite companies of the Legion—all thanks to your efforts."

  "I can't take all the credit," said Phule. "It's been a team effort, and every member has contributed. That's why I'm anxious about the new troops, to tell you the truth. The Gam-bolts have always had their own elite unit in the Regular Army. Now three of them are coming to us—and I have to wonder why. Will they fit into the team? Will they hold themselves apart from the rest of the unit? Will they—"

  Whatever he was about to say was interrupted by the blare of a klaxon and a red-lit sign flashing on and off by the arrival door. The sign now read, shuttle docking: prepare for debarking passengers. Phule and his subordinates turned to face the door. Some of their questions were about to be answered.

  One advantage of building a casino on a space station is that it can be a true twenty-four-hour operation. With no local cycle of day and night, there is no need for visitors to adjust to the local clock, or to go through what in prespace days used to be called "jet lag." So the Fat Chance Casino was likely to have an eager crowd of gamblers at any hour. This, in turn, meant that Phule's Company had to be alert for trouble at any hour.

  But Moustache, who was in charge of "daytime" security at the casino, wasn't expecting any real trouble. The tall non-com with a balding head and a bright red moustache sat at
the bar sipping a brisk "cuppa" tea, scanning the early afternoon crowd with detached interest. He knew he wouldn't spot everything—it wasn't really his job, after all. Other members of the Omega Mob, disguised as waiters, croupiers,

  Robert Asprin with Peter I. Heck

  or fellow-customers, mingled with the crowd, probing for the myriad signs that someone was trying to cheat. Behind the elegant-looking facade, other vigilant eyes performed the same task, aided by state-of-the-art surveillance equipment.

  Of course, since the showdown with Maxine Pruett's hoodlums, there had been even less trouble. Word had quickly gone out on the gamblers' grapevine to forget about trying to beat the Fat Chance. Still, there was always a handful of small-time grifters who thought they could outsmart the house security staff. Most of these were quickly spotted and quietly removed from the casino floor to a private lounge to await deportation on the next ship off-station. It was all handled very professionally—and unsuccessful grifters usually accepted their fate with a stoical shrug. After all, it was one of the risks of doing business.

  So it came as a surprise when a voice spoke quietly in Moustache's earphone. It was Rose—"Mother" to the Company—the voice of Comm Central, the vital glue that bound the company together. "Wake up, you old buzzard," she said teasingly. "We're about to get some rough trade. I know you senior citizens need your afternoon naps, but it'd be a shame for you to doze through the entertainment."

  "Where?" said Moustache, instantly alert. He spoke under his breath, knowing that the super-sensitive directional microphone on his wrist communicator could pick up a whisper inaudible to someone at the next table.

  "Blackjack tables, darlin'," said Mother. "We've got a mom and pop team palming and passing cards at Number Five. I've already tipped the dealer, and she's stalling."

  "Good," said Moustache, standing up from the bar. "Who's covering that sector?"

  "The dealer's a civilian employee. Her orders are to stay clear if trouble starts and let security handle it. We've got a couple of actors playing legionnaires stationed around the room, and they may be all we really need. But Gabriel's on the nearest exit in case they try to run. And if he needs help, we've got Sushi and Do-Wop undercover in that area— they're already closing in on Number Five. You might dodder

  A Phule and His Money

  over, yourself, grandpa—just to see how it all comes out. The grifters might accept you as a father figure."

  "Well, Mother, perhaps I'll introduce them to you, as well," said Moustache, smiling to himself. Of course he wouldn't follow through on that threat; there was no reason to let anyone know how thoroughly the gambling tables were monitored. It might inhibit the free-spending attitude the casino wanted to encourage in its legitimate customers. And to give professional gamblers a behind-the-scenes look at security might give them ideas how to beat it.

  Moustache had perfected the art of moving quickly without appearing to be in any particular hurry. If a noncom looked flustered or rushed, the troops might decide there was something for them to worry about. Moustache had been a career noncom in the regular Army before forced retirement made him join the Space Legion. His crisp military bearing and his carefully polished "British Sergeant-Major" air made him the perfect front man for Phule's undercover surveillance operation in the Fat Chance. While all eyes were on him and his troop of uniformed actors (with a salting of genuine legionnaires to handle any rough stuff), the real security team could work unobserved, ready to respond to any threat before the opposition was aware of them.

  That was exactly what was happening as Moustache rounded a bank of quantum slot machines and entered the Blackjack area of the casino. Do-Wop had slouched into a vacant seat at table Number Five, within an arm's length of a pudgy gray-haired man wearing a well-broken-in business suit over a brightly colored shirt. Beside him sat a woman of similar age, in a slightly-too-tight dress and a too-elaborate, blatantly dyed hairdo. A travelling salesman on vacation with his wife, or so it appeared at first glance. But if Mother was correct—and she probably was—the outfits were sheep's clothing, camouflage to make a team of card cheats look like innocent tourists. At the far end of the table stood Sushi, looking for all the world as if he were trying to decide how the cards were running at this table before sitting down to play.

  The dealer glanced up as Moustache came into view, and

  Robert Asprin with Peter I. Heck

  he winked at her. It was time to put an end to this incident. He stepped forward and put a hand lightly on the man's shoulder. "Excuse me, sir," he said. His voice was very polite but carried an unmistakable stamp of authority.

  The man glanced over his shoulder, barely long enough for him to register much more than Moustache's black Legion uniform. What happened next took everyone by surprise. Both the man and the woman abruptly shoved back their chairs, knocking Moustache off balance. In the split second before he could recover, the woman had spun around and begun to throw punches, concentrating on his midsection— which, given the difference of their heights, was her most convenient target.

  The woman was stronger than Moustache had expected. He had to call on all his training to fight off a middle-aged tourist. Using his superior reach, he grabbed the chair she had vacated and shoved her back against the table with it, trying to keep her pinned out of lethal range. Do-Wop was already stepping forward to help subdue her, and there were black-uniformed figures closing in from a distance, so all Moustache had to do was keep her at bay and hope the man didn't come to her assistance. With luck, he'd have nothing more serious than bruises to show for this episode.

  But the woman's companion had ideas of his own. Instead of helping her break free, he leaped up on the table and launched himself in a flying kick at Sushi.

  Sushi had held back from the altercation, ready to cut off either of the pair who tried to escape. So while he was caught by surprise, his reflexes and training got him out of trouble. Instead of trying to duck under the kick, he leaned backward far enough to make the attacker's flailing feet miss him, then gave the flying body a hard shove in the ribs as he went past, trying to spoil the attacker's balance. To that extent Sushi succeeded, and the tourist landed ignominiously on a chair that toppled with a loud crack as the back legs gave way.

  But the shove transferred enough momentum to Sushi to knock him off balance, as well. He spun around, bounced off the table behind him, and landed on hands and knees on the floor a short distance from his assailant. Almost at once, he

  A Phule and His Money

  sprang up, ready for action. Sushi expected the man to be halfway to the exit, or more likely, lying dazed on the floor. Instead, he was surprised to find the man already in a compact fighting stance. That made no sense at all. The man must have known he was surrounded by the legionnaires. If he wasn't going to try to escape, he should have given up quietly as soon as his cheating was discovered. Unless .. .

  Sushi looked more closely at his opponent. Under the baggy suit and graying hair—which upon closer inspection appeared to have been dyed—was a man close to his prime, solidly built and obviously trained in the martial arts. His facial features showed Asian ancestry. Suddenly Sushi understood.

  Sushi rose to his feet and bowed, slowly. "I have been expecting you," he said to the man. He kept his voice low, speaking in Japanese. "We have business to tend to, but we should not discuss it in front of outsiders."

  The other man snarled. "My family does not dicker with impostors. Our only business today is your death."

  "Do not judge too quickly," said Sushi. "Look!" He made a surreptitious motion with his left hand and then dropped both arms to his sides, leaving himself open to the other man's attack.

  The other man's face changed in an instant, and he too adopted a more relaxed stance. "Ah! I did not know! Perhaps there is something to discuss after all. But you are right— outsiders should not hear what we have to say, though I think there are few here who would understand us."

  "One moment, please," said Su
shi. "I will tell the others you have surrendered to me for questioning, and then we will go someplace where we may talk freely. They will not question me, because they believe I am loyal to their captain. Your woman will be taken to a safe place and not harmed, and you may retrieve her at your convenience."

  "That is good. I will tell her so," said the Yakuza. The two turned to the rest of the group. Moustache had one hand on the woman's arm—she had stopped fighting when Sushi had begun talking to his opponent in Japanese; presumably she understood that language.

  Robert Asprin with Peter J. Heck

  "I need to talk to this man," Sushi said. "She'll go with you to the holding lounge, and I don't think she'll cause any trouble now. I'll take responsibility."

  Moustache looked to Do-Wop, who nodded. "Cool with me if you know what you're doing," said Do-Wop. "But be careful—just because you know that cat's lingo don't mean you want to turn your back on him."

  "Don't worry, it's under control," said Sushi. He gestured to the Yakuza and together they walked out of the casino. Even before they were gone the normal sounds of gambling had resumed.

  "There they are," said Brandy, and there was no question what she meant. Three human-sized cats in Space Legion uniforms would have stood out in any crowd. And while the Gambolts were famed for their ability to infiltrate an enemy position without being seen or heard, there was no need for stealth here. They bounced into the entry lounge, three oversized balls of feline energy, eyes darting in every direction. Behind them, a group of humans in similar uniform slouched into the lounge—the rest of the recruits.

  The Gambolts immediately spotted the three black-uniformed humans standing together. They glided over and drew up in front of Phule, coming to attention. One of them turned on a translator and said, "New recruits reporting for duty, Sir!" The Gambolt vocal equipment could make a limited range of human sounds, but communication was far smoother with a translator in place.

  "Welcome to Omega Company," said Phule, stepping forward. He waited until all the recruits had moved up to join them, in a ragged semblance of a line. "I am Captain Jester, and this is Lieutenant Armstrong. Sergeant Brandy here will be in charge of your training. You'll meet the rest of your comrades and officers back at the hotel. We're pleased to have you as part of our outfit." He turned to Armstrong, who had brought out a clipboard. "Carry on, Lieutenant,"