The Dark Design by Phillip Jose Farmer

“No, I said they hated Christians. And vice versa.”

“No, you didn’t. But that’s not important. To sum it up, Piscator impressed me as a wise and good man. But there was more to him than that. I don’t know how to describe it.

“Perhaps it was that he seemed to be in this world and yet not of it.”

“I think you’re saying this,” Sam said. “He was somehow morally, or perhaps it’s better to say spiritually, superior.”

“He never said so or acted like he thought he was. But, yes, that might be it.”

“I wish I’d known him better.”

“You were too busy building your boat, Sam.”

65

Frigate did not come into the hut until about an hour before suppertime. When asked by Nur where he had been, he said that he had waited all day to see Novak. Finally, Novak’s secretary had said Frigate would have to come back tomorrow. Novak could spare a minute or so for him in the morning.

Frigate looked disgruntled. Waiting in line made him very impa­tient. That he had done so for such a long time meant that he was deeply determined. But he refused to say what he had in mind until he had talked to Novak.

“If he says yes, then I’ll tell you.”

Farrington, Rider, and Pogaas paid him little attention. They were too busy discussing means for getting the Razzle Dazzle back. When asked if he would help them, Frigate said he did not know yet. Nur only smiled and said he would wait until they had made up their own minds about the ethics of the deed.

Nur, as usual, knew more about what was going on than the others. It was he who told them, just before they left the hut to eat breakfast, that the discussion was only academic. The Razzle Daz­zle had been loaded with artifacts for trade by its new owners and would sail down-River just after breakfast.

Martin exploded. “Why didn’t you tell us about this before?”

“I was afraid you three would do something rash such as trying to seize the ship in daylight before hundreds of witnesses. You would never have gotten away with it.”

“We’re not that stupid!”

“No, but you’re that impulsive. Which is a form of stupidity.”

“Thanks a lot,” Tom said. “Well, maybe it’s just as well. I’d much rather go off on one of those patrol steamboats. But we’d have to get the old crew together first and find some people to replace the women. This is going to take time and lots of planning.”

There were some delays, however. A man from the government office told them they had to go to work for the state or clear out. Frigate was absent when this happened. He returned grinning broadly and did not seem at all upset by the news.

“I talked Novak into it!”

“Into what?” Farrington said.

Frigate sat down in a bamboo chair and lit up a cigarette.

“Well, first I asked him if he would build another blimp for us. I didn’t expect him to agree, and he didn’t. He said he meant to build two more blimps-but not for us. These would be used for patrols and for warfare, if war should come.”

“You want us to steal their blimp!” Farrington said. Though he had been angry when Podebrad had deserted them, he had later been relieved. He had denied this, but it was obvious that he was glad that he did not have to fly in the airship.

“No. Neither Nur nor I believe that you would steal anybody’s property, even if you like to talk about it. You two fantasize a lot. Anyway, Nur and I won’t have anything to do with stealing.

“After my first proposal was turned down, I put forth my second. Novak hemmed and hawed, and then said that he would do what I suggested. It wouldn’t require near the materials nor time that the blimp did. He felt bad because we’d been cheated, and he thought that helping us would compensate us.

“Besides, Novak is interested in balloons. His son was a bal­loonist.”

“Balloons!” Martin said. “Are you still pushing that crazy idea?”