Manalone

Manalone Read Online Free PDF Page B

Book: Manalone Read Online Free PDF
Author: Colin Kapp
Tags: Science-Fiction
information to selected interrogators.
    ‘Which is very odd, Manalone. Because what could be so damaging about a generalized health statistic … that the government need to invoke a legal Act of Censorship? One impossibility means you don’t have sufficient data… two impossibilities usually means that somebody doesn’t want you to have sufficient data. And when that somebody has the power to invoke an Act of Censorship it raises a unique question … just what have you got yourself into, Manalone?’
    Fully alert now, Manalone cleared the memory from all the computer circuits he had been using, and dropped the camera film into the destructor. Then he went back to his office, lost in thought. A single point of light on the autophone store reminded him that he still had not responded to a call. He keyed the instrument to contact the caller, and picked up the hand set. A recorded voice informed him that Paul Raper was already on his way.

6
Manalone and the Plot Against What?
    Until supperwas finished, Paul Raper had concentrated his attention on maintaining a guarded truce with Sandra, whose dislike of the reporter was patently obvious. The feeling was mutual. Raper was a product of his time, a creature of the assertive buoyancy which the more mature tended to inherit from the Breve. He was not normally given to modulating his character to accommodate a woman he openly disliked. He had kept the peace purely out of consideration for Manalone. Even without Sandra’s presence, though, it was easy to see that something was worrying him.
    ‘What’s on your mind, Paul?’ asked Manalone at last.
    ‘I wish to hell I knew what to call it. In fact I’m hoping you’re going to be able to name it for me. You saw the film?’
    ‘Last night.’
    ‘I tried to warn you not to go, but unfortunately you’d already left. I had the word that the police were watching the place.’
    Manalone nodded and recounted the details of the previous evening, including the interlude with the Breve and the police agent who had followed him.
    ‘I was afraid of that,’ said Raper. ‘I had a similar experience myself. At first I thought it was imagination – but it isn’t. Any ideas yet as to what was wrong with that film?’
    ‘I’m afraid not,’ said Manalone. ‘It was simply a badly made film which apparently used a set of physical postulates which were almost, but not quite, real. I don’t suppose ninety-nine percent of the audience even noticed anything wrong. But it’s an interesting speculation as to how or where that film was made.’
    Sandra wandered close, and Raper held his tongue until she was again out of earshot. When he did continue, his voice was hushed and taut.
    ‘I haven’t told you this before, Manalone, because I didn’t want you to get involved – but that film was only one item out of an increasing collection of things which don’t make sense these day.’
    ‘Like afive percent mortality of mothers in pregnancy?’ asked Manalone quietly.
    Raper was visibly surprised. ‘I don’t know where the hell you got that piece of information, but you’re perfectly right. And I could cite you half a hundred similar items. What we’re accustomed to accept as reality breaks down as soon as you scratch too deeply beneath the surface.’
    Manalone sat silently for a while, trying to wrestle with the implications of what Raper had said. ‘If you think that,’ he said finally, ‘why haven’t you mentioned it to me before?’
    ‘Firstly, you wouldn’t have believed me without first-hand experience. Secondly, as I said just now, I tried to avoid you getting involved. I thought the film was safe, but I was wrong.’
    ‘Involved with whom?’
    ‘With the police.’
    ‘But why the hell …?’
    ‘Manalone, I don’t know why the police are interested. I only know they are.’
    ‘Let’s get back to square one,’ said Manalone decisively. ‘This isn’t making much sense to me so far. Are you trying to tell me that
Read Online Free Pdf

Similar Books

Toygasm

Jan Springer

Castle Dreams

John Dechancie

The Pajama Affair

Vanessa Gray Bartal

Harbor Nocturne

Joseph Wambaugh

Waters Fall

Becky Doughty