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Rolf Aversham, who in falling had impaled himself upon
the lances of an iron fence. His legs, thrashing and
kicking, rattled the loose iron, a sound which presently
ceased.
Waylock came back into the room, feverishly tore at
the jacket, extracted the flakes, then returned the garment
to its rack.
A moment later he burst into the study. Chancellor
Imish hastily flicked off a screen upon which nude men
and women cavorted in grotesque comedy. What s
wrong?
I was right, gasped Waylock. Aversham came into
the wardrobe and attacked me! He spied on us while we
talked!
But but Imish rose in his seat. Where is he?
Waylock told him.
3
Chancellor Imish, cheeks twitching, skin the color of stale
208
TO LIVE FOREVER
milk, dictated a report to the Trianwood sub-Chief
Assassin.
His work had become faulty. Then I discovered he
was systematically spying on me. I discharged him and
engaged my friend Gavin Waylock in his place. He came
on me in my wardrobe, attacked me. Luckily Gavin
Waylock was at hand. In the struggle Aversham fell out
of the window. It was accident sheer accident.
The assassin presently departed. Imish came wearily
into the room where Waylock waited. It s done, the
chancellor said. He stared at Waylock. I hope you re
right.
It was the only way, said Waylock. Any other story
might have involved you in a sordid scandal.
Imish shook his head, still dazed by what had
happened.
Incidentally, said Waylock, when would you like
me to commence my duties?
Imish stared. You actually intend to take Rolf s
place?
Well, I have no love for the Actuarian and I ll do
anything I can to help you.
That s a poor way to make slope jump from one job
to another.
I m content, said Waylock.
Imish shook his head. Secretary to the Chancellor is
secretary to a nonentity which is worse than being the
nonentity.
I ve always wanted a title. As your secretary, I become
Vice-Chancellor. Besides, you ve told the assassins that
you hired me to replace Aversham.
Imish compressed his lips. That s no problem. You
could refuse the job.
I m afraid it would be poor publicity. After all, we ve
got the Whitherers to think of
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JACK VANCE
Imish went to his chair, dropped into it, stared with
poignant accusation at Waylock. This is a terrible mess!
I ll do my best to get you out of it. Waylock sat back
in his chair. For long seconds the two men stared at each
other.
I might as well clean out Aversham s belongings,
said Waylock.
210
Chapter XVI
1
A month passed. Autumn came to Clarges. Trees
turned red and yellow, the dawns became gray, the winds
brought a hint of approaching chill.
Clarges celebrated one of the great annual holidays.
The people came out upon the streets to walk. In Ester-
hazy Square a man went into a sudden frenzy, and,
mounting a bench, launched into a tirade, shaking his
fist toward the Actuarian. Men and women stopped to
listen, and presently his anger awoke resonance. A pair
of apprentice assassins came past in their black uniforms,
and the madman called a curse on them. The crowd
turned to stare; the assassins veered away, and made the
mistake of hurrying. The crowd roared and hastened
after. The assassins, running fleetly, managed to escape.
The speaker, overcome by excitement, sank to the ground,
face buried in his hands.
Without a focus, the crowd lost cohesion, and dispersed
into blank-faced components. But for a moment they
had known mass anger; they had acted in concert against
the static order. The news-organs, describing the event,
used the caption: Weirds in the Daylight?
Waylock spent the day at his apartment on Phariot
Way, where Vincent Rodenave had established himself.
Rodenave had lost weight; his eyes peered from under
his brows with demoniac intentness.
211
JACK VANCE
When Waylock called, Rodenave had worked halfway
through the set of televector flakes. A large-scale chart
hung on the wall, studded with scarlet-headed pins, each
representing a cell where an Amaranth kept his surrog-
ates. Waylock studied it with somber satisfaction.
This, he told Rodenave, could be the most dangerous
sheet of paper in the world.
I realize that, said Rodenave. He pointed toward the
window. There s always an assassin in the street. This
apartment is carefully watched. Suppose they choose to
break in?
Waylock frowned, folded the chart, thrust it into his
pocket. Continue with the others. If I can get away this
week
If you can get away? Do you work?
Waylock laughed sourly. I do the work of three men.
Aversham minimized his work. I make myself indispens-
able.
How?
First, by enhancing Imish s own position. He had
given up, was awaiting his assassin in Third. Now he
hopes he ll make Verge. We go everywhere. He exerts
his official status as much as he can. He makes speeches,
champions good causes, gives interviews to the press, in
general behaves like a man of importance. A few
seconds later Waylock said in a thoughtful voice, He
might surprise us all.
2
Returning to Trianwood, Waylock went directly to the
Chancellor s suite. Imish lay on the couch asleep. Way-
lock dropped into a chair.
212
TO LIVE FOREVER
Imish awoke, sat up blinking. Ah, Gavin. The holiday,
how goes it in Clarges?
Waylock considered. Poorly, I should say.
How so?
There is tension in the air. No one rests. A running
stream expends its energy, but when the stream is
impounded, the weight builds up and becomes oppress-
ive.
Imish scratched his head and yawned.
The city is crowded, said Waylock. Mr. Everyman
is abroad, walking the street. No one knows why he
walks, but he does.
Perhaps for exercise, yawned Imish. To take the air,
to see the city.
No, said Waylock. He seems wan and tense. He is
uninterested in the city, he looks only at other men. And
he is disappointed because they look back with his own
face.
Imish frowned. You make him sound so dismal, so
tired.
That was my intent.
Oh nonsense! Imish said bluffly. Clarges was never
built by men such as these.
I agree. Our great days have come and gone.
Why, exclaimed Imish, our organization has never
run so smoothly, we ve never produced so efficiently, or
consumed with so little waste.
And never have the palliatories been so full, said
Waylock.
You re the soul of optimism today.
Waylock said, Sometimes I wonder why I m fighting
for slope. Why rise to Amaranth in a world failing before
one s eyes?
Imish was half-amused, half-alarmed. You re in a
sore state indeed!
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JACK VANCE
A great man, a great chancellor, could change the
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