Universe Twister - Keith Laumer [102]
"So O.K., I'll wait and collect at the other end," the monster said. "Prob'ly a good idea if I work up a good sweat first anyway. Wait here. I'll be back in short order."
"I got to hand it to you, Lafe," Swinehild murmured as the giant strode away into the mist. "You don't let a little beef scare you." She looked lingeringly after the big man. "Not that he don't have a certain animal charm," she added.
"If he lays a hand on you, I'll tear his head off and stuff it down his throat!" Lafayette snapped.
"Hey, Lafe—you're jealous!" Swinehild said delightedly. "But don't let it get out of hand," she added. "I had enough of getting backhanded ears over teakettle every time some bum looks over my architecture."
"Jealous? Me? You're out of your mind." O'Leary jammed his hands in his pockets and began pacing up and down, while Swinehild hummed softly to herself and twiddled with her hair.
It was the better part of a quarter of an hour before the big man returned, moving with surprising softness for his bulk.
"All set," he called in a hoarse whisper. "Let's go."
"What's all the creeping around and whispering for?" O'Leary demanded loudly. "What—" With a swift move, the giant clapped a hand as hard as saddle leather across his mouth.
"Keep it down, Bo," he hissed. "We don't want to wake the neighbors. The boys need their sleep, the hours they work."
O'Leary squirmed free of the grip, snorting a sharp odor of tar and herring from his nostrils.
"Well, naturally, I don't want to commit a nuisance," he whispered. He took Swinehild's hand, led her in the wake of their guide down across the mucky beach to a crumbling stone jetty at the end of which a clumsy, flat-bottomed dory was tied up. It settled six inches lower in the water as the big man climbed in and settled himself on the rowing bench. Lafayette handed Swinehild down, gritting his teeth as the boatman picked her up by the waist and lifted her past him to the stern seat.
"You sit in the front, bub, and watch for floating logs," the big man said. Lafayette was barely in his place when the oars dipped in and sent the boat off with a surge that almost tipped him over the side. He hung on grimly, listening to the creak of the oarlocks, the splash of small waves under the bow, watching the deck recede swiftly, to disappear into the gathering mist. Twisting to look over his shoulder, he saw the distant city lights, haloed by fog, floating far away across the choppy black water. The damp wind seemed to penetrate his bones.
"How long will the trip take?" he called hoarsely, hugging himself.
"Shhh," the oarsman hissed over his shoulder.
"What's the matter now? Are you afraid you'll wake up the fish?" Lafayette snapped.
"Have a heart, pal," the big man whispered urgently. "Sound carries over water like nobody's business . . ." He cocked his head as if listening. Faintly, from the direction of the shore, Lafayette heard a shout.
"Well, it seems everybody isn't as scrupulous as we are," he said tartly. "Is it all right if we talk now? Or—"
"Can it, Buster!" the giant hissed. "They'll hear us!"
"Who?" Lafayette inquired loudly. "What's going on here? Why are we acting like fugitives?"
"On account of the guy I borrowed the boat from might not like the idea too good," the giant rumbled. "But I guess the fat's on the hotplate now. Some o' them guys got ears like bats."
"What idea might the fellow you borrowed the boat from not like?" Lafayette inquired in a puzzled tone.
"The idea I borrowed the boat."
"You mean you didn't have his permission?"
"I hate to wake a guy outa a sound sleep wit' a like frivolous request."
"Why, you . . . you . . ."
"Just call me Clutch, bub. Save the fancy names for the bums which are now undoubtedly pushing off in pursuit." Clutch bent his back to the oars, sending the boat leaping ahead.
"Great," Lafayette groaned. "Perfect. This is our reward for being honest: a race through the night with the