Logan's Run Read Online Free PDF Page A

Logan.
    A toad of a man scuttled up with a foaming mug in his hand. "Try this," he said. Logan caught the slightly sour odor of fermentation. "It's Volney's home brew. We've got a whole keg of it. It's nothing like the beer from the slots. He's a real artist, Volney is. Puts musk raisins in it."
    "I prefer Scotch."
    "That's your loss, citizen."
    Logan dialed a Scotch. It was taken from him by a red-haired girl in slashvelvets. She downed it hurriedly.
    "Wonderful!" she said Her green eyes were alcohol flushed. She offered Logan a cigarette.
    "No, thanks."
    "Don't be afraid to," she urged him. "There's a police payoff in this area. No tobacco raids. Go ahead."
    "No, thanks."
    The girl took offense. "Afraid to smoke, aren't you? You men! Cowards. Every one of you cowards. I was on pairup with a merchantman until last week. Then we broke it. Know why?"
    "Why?" asked Logan.
    "Because. Because he lacked the essentials. He was content. Content to be content. He had his business and he had me and that's all he wanted. I need a man who wants what he doesn't have. That make sense to you, citizen?"
    "Maybe you don't need a man. Maybe you need a boy."
    "I tried a boy. Eleven. He was good for a while, but I got so I hated his young face. I'm fifteen—and a woman needs a man. How old are you?"
    "Old enough," said Logan, keeping his right hand closed. The flower blinked warmly in palmflesh. He could feel its heat against his fingertips.
    "How about a pairup?"
    "No. No, thanks."
    The green eyes chilled. "Is that all you can say—'no, thanks'?" The girl stood up, weaved away.
    Logan sighed. Where was Lilith?
    The door slid open and a fat bellied man eased in, bearing a double armload of clothing and accessories. Hs voice shrilled in falsetto. "Hail, fellow lungblasters and glassmasters and livefasters! Hail, fellow peepers! The gear is here." The fatman pasted a talk puppet grin on his face and began strutting the room in high-pumping steps. "Gear up! Everybody gear up!"
    "Been waiting long?" Lilith 4 grinned down at Logan; a pink cigarette dangled smoke from her glittercoated lips. She was bare-hipped in silver snakeskins.
    "Let's talk," said Logan. "You know why I'm here."
    The fatman bustled importantly up to them. He thrust a black knit bodystocking and crepe stretchsoles at them. "Gear up, you two," he said, clapping his meaty hands. "Let's peep!"
    "We'll be partners," declared Lilith. "You said you were up to it."
    Logan took the clothing, moved to a changeroom and slipped out of his grays. He'd have to stow the Gun somewhere; no place to conceal it in the skintight bodysuit. At least he'd left the spare ammo packs in his unit; figuring that the six charges in the weapon should see him through. Now he was grateful for this decision. Less bulk to worry about. He slipped the Gun into an alcove, gambling that no one would have occasion to search the closet.
    "You have Greek shoulders," said the mouse-faced poet, who was beginning to gear up next to him.
    Logan grunted and returned to Lilith, who was already dressed and ready. She offered him a Scotch.
    "Thanks, I can use this!" He tipped the glass to his lips.
    A dozen dark-garbed men and women waited in the central chamber. They joined them, and the girl handed Logan a pair of smokegoggles. "Wear these on the ledge."
    Six black-light cameras were arranged neatly on a table. One camera per couple.
    "Righty, righty," said the fatman, signaling for attention. "Now all you peepers know what to do?"
    "Stop being a damn woman, Sharps," said a bored voice, "and get on with it."
    Sharps glanced petulantly at the speaker. " I'm in charge. The cameras belong to me!"
    "And it's your alcohol and your tobacco and your living unit. For which we are all duly grateful. So let's peep."
    Sharps made an obscene gesture. He waved the first couple off. In pairs, the players left the chamber through a ceiling-high view-window.
    Logan found himself kneeling beside Lilith on a narrow ledge high in the complex.