Demons of the Dancing Gods Read Online Free PDF Page B

bribe and not just arrest us for violating some rule
    thus-and-so?"
    The big man chuckled. "Because people are the same. The
    more straightlaced and officious they are, the more corrupt they
    wind up being. That fellow had no flexibility at all, yet here
    he is at the only major border crossing to a town dependent on
    tourists. He wouldn't last long there if he was for real—the
    people in that poor little town would have lynched him. No,
    he's an old pro. He spotted us for people likely to have money
    and tried the good old shakedown. I've seen his type many
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    Chalker, Jack L - Demons of the Dancing Gods
    times, usually at seldom-used border stations."
    She was still shaking her head. "But what if he was wrong?
    What if we didn't have the money or never caught on? I notice
    he never asked for a bribe, and you never actually offered one."
    "Well, if we hadn't gone across, we'd have gone back and
    stayed in Machang long enough to gripe about him. Somebody
    would cue us in—bet on it. Somebody working with him, most
    likely. And that same somebody would find out if we had no
    money and offer to get us across for something—say one of
    the horses. Don't worry—that fellow will spend the end of his
    days either a very rich and comfortable man or in jail. Bet on
    his being rich. Don't believe what they told you in school—
    crime pays real good. That's why so many people are in the
    business."
    She thought about that for a minute. "Uh—were you ever
    in that business?"
    He laughed. "At one time or another, I think most everybody
    is. For truckers, it's maybe half the time. Not even the most
    honest, flag-waving Jesus man doesn't run an overloaded rig
    once in a while and skip the coops—weigh stations—or maybe
    run at ten or twenty over the speed limit. About a quarter of
    us haul stuff we shouldn't in addition to what's on the waybill,
    to make a few bucks. You talk as if you never did anything
    illegal, either."
    "Let's not talk about that," she responded, and they rode
    on.
    Again the road followed the river for a long way; but midway
    through the second day out from the border crossing, the main
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    JACK L. CHALKER
    road diverged into three branches, one heading west, one south,
    and one southeast. Joe looked at Marge quizzically. "Which
    one?"
    She didn't hesitate. "None of them. We go due east now.
    That way." She pointed.
    He looked in the indicated direction and could make out a
    not-very-wom dirt path that went out over the meadows and
    toward a wild forested area far to the east. "You sure?"
    She nodded. "Forget the maps and road markers now. I
    can—well, I can feel it. It's kind of like a—magnet, is the
    best way I can say it."
    He shrugged, and they set off on the primitive path.
    And yet it wasn't so much a magnet as a presence, she
    decided. There was something there, something warm and alive,
    something that she could feel with every step now. It was an
    odd, indescribable feeling, and she could only hope that Joe
    would trust her.
    Joe really had no choice. He let her take the lead, although
    the path was still clear enough to follow, and just relaxed.
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    Chalker, Jack L - Demons of the Dancing Gods
    They camped well into the forest that night. It was a pretty
    peaceful place, but he didn't want to take any chances; he
    suggested they alternate sleeping, with Marge going first. She
    tried it, but soon was back by the small fire.
    "Trouble?"
    She shrugged. "I don't know. We're very close now, Joe.
    We'll reach it easily tomorrow with^time to spare."
    "Cold feet, huh?"
    "Something like that. I mean, I don't know what to say,
    what to do. I really don't know what's going to happen to me—
    what I'm really turning into, if that makes any sense."
    He nodded sympathetically. "Yeah, I think I know. It's been
    pretty rough on you here."
    "Oh, no, not really. Remember, I was a total washout back
    home. I was on my way to kill myself when I ran into you,
    you know. No, it's the other side. I've