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diff --git a/33934.txt b/33934.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..746a012 --- /dev/null +++ b/33934.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1221 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of She Knew He Was Coming, by Kris Neville + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: She Knew He Was Coming + +Author: Kris Neville + +Release Date: October 11, 2010 [EBook #33934] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SHE KNEW HE WAS COMING *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Dianna Adair and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + +[Illustration] + + +_Mary might have learned a more ladylike trade, but one thing is +certain: she had a shining faith in that space guy from Earth. Now, +about that cake she baked ..._ + + + + +She Knew He Was Coming + +By Kris Neville + +Illustrated by Ed Emsh + + +Outside, the bluish sun slanted low across the green dust of the Martian +desert, its last rays sparkling on the far mountain tops. One by one, +lights flickered on in the city. + +"Mary must be expecting that Earthman," Anne said. She held her glastic +blouse tight together over her breasts and leaned a little out of the +window. + +Milly nodded. "The _Azmuth_ landed this morning." + +The noises of commerce were fading. From the window Anne saw the neon +blaze up over the door. For the thousandth time she blinked between the +equivocal words: 30--BEAUTIFUL HOSTESSES--30. Laughter, dry and false, +filtered up from the tea bars along the street. She looked westward, +toward the spaceport, and made out the shadowy nose of the berthed space +liner looming against the night. She could picture the scene--a thousand +stevedores unloading cargo, refill men and native spacewriters scurrying +over the sleek hull, the Earth voyageurs shouting orders and curses. + +"Maybe he isn't even on it." Anne turned from the window. She crossed to +the couch and sat down, fluffing out the green crinkly glass of her +skirt; pendant, multicolored birds flashed from the rings in her ears. +She tucked rosy feet under her scented body. "I don't like Earthmen," +she said. + +"They spend money." + +"They make me sick," Anne said. "With their pale skins and ugly eyes and +hairy bodies." + +"They have strong arms." + +Anne's wide, red mouth curled in distaste. "They're like a bunch of +kids." + +The room was lighted by soft, overhead fire. Heavy drapes hung from the +walls. Sweet, spicy incense curled bluely from the burners by the +window. + +Before the mirror, Milly edged in the narrow line of her pink eyebrows +with a pencil. She folded her lips in, rubbing them together, licked +them, making them a glistening red. She pinched her cheeks. + +"I wonder when they'll catch Crescent?" she said. + +Anne yawned languorously. "It won't be long." + +"I wouldn't want to be in her shoes," Milly said. + +Anne patted her mouth lazily. "She ought to have known she couldn't run +away." + +"What do you think Miss Bestris will do to her?" + +Anne stood up, brushing out the wrinkles in her dress. "I should care." + +"But what will she do?" + +Anne shrugged. "Whip her, maybe. How should _I_ know?" + +"Don't you feel you'd like to run away, once in a while?" Milly asked, +turning to look at the other girl. + +Anne laughed coldly. "I've got better sense." + +"But don't you _want_ to?" + +Anne tossed her purple hair. "Where is there to go? Who is there to go +to?" + +"Yes.... I guess you're right." Milly turned back to her reflection. + +_Buzzzzzz_.... + +Both girls turned their heads to the buttons on the wall. The white one +was glowing. + +"It's Miss Bestris." + +"We'd better go," Milly said. + +Together they walked down the heavily carpeted stairs to the sitting +room. + +The Madame was waiting. She was a large woman, rolling in creases of +fat, and her pink hair was rough and clipped short. She had a pair of +dimples in her cheeks and a single gold band around her right wrist. She +was leaning against the piano. + +"Hurry now, girls, hurry right along," she said. + +More girls were entering the room; they spread out, sitting on the +chairs, curling at the Madame's feet. Their eyes--amethyst, gray or +golden--were on her face. Many had pink hair, others had tresses of +purple or salmon. + +"Now, girls, I suppose you know there's an Earth ship in port?" + +The girls nodded. + +"So I expect we'll have visitors tonight. I want you to all look your +very best." She smiled at them. "Anne, why don't you wear that low-cut, +orange plastic with the spangles, and June, you the prim white one? You +look like an angel in it." June smiled. "And Mary...?" + +"Yes, Miss Bestris?" + +"Mary. Did you buy that neo-nylon I told you about?" + +"No, Miss Bestris." + +"Mary, Mary, Mary. I just don't understand you at all." + +"I'm saving my money, Miss Bestris," Mary said intently. + +"Yes, dear, I know that. We're _all_ saving our money. But we simply +must look presentable. We have a reputation to hold up." + +"Yes, Miss Bestris." + +"Then, Mary, dear, do--do, _please_, buy yourself something decent." + +"Yes, Miss Bestris. I will.... Tomorrow. Tomorrow morning, if I ..." + +[Illustration] + +"Child? If you what?" + +"Nothing, Miss Bestris." + +"Well. See that you get it tomorrow. If you don't, I'm afraid I'll have +to take some of your money and get it for you." + +Mary looked down at the floor. The flaming glow of the hydrojet torches +cast golden lights in her softly purple hair. + +"By the way, Mary. Is that your cake in the oven?" + +"Yes, Miss Bestris." + +The other girls snickered. + +"Let her alone," said the Madame. "If she wants to bake a cake, why +shouldn't she?" + +No one answered. + +Miss Bestris went on around the room, discussing the girls' clothing, +brushing this girl's hair, pinching that girl's cheek, chucking this one +under the chin, smiling, frowning. Then finally she stepped back and +nodded. + +"You all look quite good, I think. I can be proud of you. And now, I +want you all to go to your rooms and make them extra attractive, and +then try to get a little rest, so you'll all be especially beautiful +when the boys come. Run along now." + +The girls filed out, and night continued to settle. After a while, her +cigarette glowing in the gloom, the Madame waddled to her office. There +three people were waiting for her. + + * * * * * + +The office was plain, businesslike, masculine; no lace, no ribbons, no +perfume, only the crisp smell of new paper, the tangy odor of ink, the +sweet smell of eraser fluid. When she came in the door the three people +stood up. + +She waved her cigarette hand with a once delicate gesture and flame +light glinted dully on the gold band. "Please don't get up for me," she +said, but her tone was condescending and the three visitors sat down +respectfully. + +Miss Bestris crossed to her desk; she perched on a corner of it, leaned +back, blew smoke. + +"You wanted to see me about your girls?" + +Two of the people, man and wife, looked at each other. "Yes," they said. +And the other man said, "Yes." + +"Did you bring any pictures?" + +They handed her pictures, and she held them up to the overhead torch. +She studied them critically, pursing and unpursing her lips in secret +calculation. + +"This one," she said finally, holding out one of the pictures. + +The man and wife rustled their clothing; they smiled faintly proud at +each other. + +The other man got up slowly, retrieved his picture, left the room +without saying a word. + +"We can't do for little Lavada," the woman whined. "She was a late +child, and we're getting old, and we thought she would be better here. +It's hard to do for a growing girl when you get old. And my husband +can't keep steady work, because of his health and ..." + +"I'm sure she will be happy here," the Madame said, smiling. + +"Yes," the man agreed. "It's for the best. But--you know--well, we hate +to do it." + +"How old is she?" + +"... Fourteen." + +Miss Bestris studied the picture again. "She doesn't look over twelve." + +"She's fourteen." + +"And healthy--" + +"We have doctors to see to that," the Madame said. "How much did you +have in mind?" + +"Well," the man said, "it's been a month now since I worked, and with +debts and everything...." + +"And something to put aside for winter," his wife added. + +"We couldn't take less than a _milli dordoc_." + +"And we wouldn't even think of it, but we don't have a scrap of bread in +the house." + +"And all our bills, and winter coming on...." + +Miss Bestris turned the picture this way and that. The parents waited. +The woman cleared her throat. The man shuffled his feet. The clock on +the wall went tick-tick, tick-tick. + +"I'll give you eight hundred and thirty _dordocs_," the Madame said. + +"Well...." + +Miss Bestris bent forward, holding out the picture. "Here, then. Take +it. I wouldn't offer that, but I need a girl right now. One of mine ran +away last week, and I'm afraid she won't be able to work for a month or +so after they bring her back. I'm being generous. Eight hundred and +thirty, or take your picture and don't waste my time." + +The man and woman stared at her. And the clock went _tick-tick_. + +"Take it, Chav." + +"... All right," the man said. "We need the money." + +Miss Bestris leaned across the desk, pressed a button on her panel. +Almost immediately, a door slid silently open and her lawyer entered +with a white, printed, standard-form sales contract in his hand. +Efficiently and rapidly, he entered the particulars. "Sign here," he +said, and the parents signed. + +"Now," said the Madame, "if you'll bring in Lavada tomorrow at nine, +I'll arrange for a doctor to be here. If his examination is +satisfactory, the money will be ready." + +The lawyer left, and the woman said, "You understand, we wouldn't do +this but for ..." + +"I understand, perfectly," Miss Bestris said. "You don't need to worry. +This is the best kind of house--Earthmen only, you know, and they're +very particular. My girls are given the best of care. I'm like a mother +to them, and if they are thrifty and diligent, they'll be able to save +enough money in a--a very short time to redeem their contract as +provided by law. You needn't worry at all." + +"Well," the woman said, "I feel better after talking to you. I feel +better about the whole thing to hear you talk like that." + +The clock went _tick-tick_. + +"Uh," the man said, "you won't--? That is, our little daughter is +sometimes wilful and ... uh ... well ... Sometimes." + +Miss Bestris smiled. "We know how to handle girls." + +"You'll treat her...?" + +"As I would my own child," Miss Bestris said; she took out another +cigarette, lit it. "I think we'll call her--well--Poppy. Earthmen like +to feel at home, you know." + +The clock went _tick-tick_. + +"Well, uh," the man said. "Uh. Thank you." + + * * * * * + +In one of the rooms upstairs Mary sat before the dressing table with her +back to the mirror, while June and Adele occupied the two overstuffed +chairs. Night sounds drifted up from the yellow canal, and fresh flower +scents whispered on the warm air. The diaphanous glass curtains rustled +at the open window. + +"They're too expensive," Mary said. "I'm sure Miss Bestris overcharges +us for them." + +"Hush," said June, glancing around at the walls nervously. "Hush, Mary." +She smoothed at the delicate, plutolac lace fringe above her breasts. +"Imported material like this costs money. You can't get it for nothing, +and we have to have the best." + +"I still think she charges too much." + +Adele shrugged delicately and crossed shapely ankles. "I think Miss +Bestris must like you, or she wouldn't let you wear that dress again +tonight. You ought to watch out that you don't get on the wrong side of +her." + +Mary laughed, her amethyst eyes sparkling. "I won't care. Not after +tonight." + +"You're not going to run away?" June asked breathlessly. "You wouldn't +dare do that. You'd catch it, sure!" + +Mary shook her head. "Not _run_ away." + +Adele leaned forward and said huskily, "You got enough money to redeem +your contract?" + +Again Mary shook her head. "No. It's nine hundred and ten _dordocs_. I +have only ninety-three. But I'll have enough in the morning!" She stood +up and crossed to the window, looked out toward the spaceport. + +"How?" + +"Tell us, Mary!" + +"Tell you what?" Anne asked, coming into the room. Languidly she drew +the door closed behind her and rested against it. "Tell you what?" she +insisted, narrowing milky eyes. + +"Mary says she can redeem her contract tomorrow." + +Anne's wide mouth curled contemptuously. "Nonsense!" + +"It's not," said Mary without turning. + +Anne glided sensuously across the room to the bed, her tight fitting +plastic rippling with her tigerish muscles. She sat down. + +"He said he'd take me away, this trip," Mary continued. "He'll sign off, +and then we'll both get a ship and go to one of the frontier planets. +Where it won't matter about--all this." + +Anne laughed harshly. "My God! You believe _that_?" + +"We've both been saving our money," Mary said dreamily. "He's in love +with me. He said so." + +"Honey, that's what they all say." + +Smiling, Mary turned from the window and leaned backward, stretching. +"You don't know him. He's different." + +"They're all the same," Anne said, her mouth twisting bitterly. +"They're just alike. Don't believe any of them." + +And Mary said, "With him, it's different. You'll see." + +After a moment, Anne said, "That Earthman? That what's-his-name?" Mary +nodded, and Anne brushed an imaginary something off her knee. "An +Earthman," Anne said. "They're the worst of all." + +"You don't know him, or you wouldn't say that." + +Adele looked away from Anne. "You love him, don't you, Mary?" + +"Yes." + +"You're a fool," Anne said. "Listen to me. _Love_ a man? God! You'll +see. After him, there'll be another and another, and--just like +Rosy--you'll watch 'em leave you and laugh at you until finally you're +hurt so bad you don't think you can stand being hurt any more, and then +along comes another one, and it starts all over again, and then one +night you take a razor blade and go to the sink and stick out your +throat and...." + +"No! No! You're wrong! He's not like the rest!" + +Anne leaned back carelessly, resting, propped on one hand. "See. You +know I'm right, already." + +"You're not!" + +Anne shrugged. "Honey, tell me that tomorrow night." + +"I better go take my cake out," Mary said. She fled the room in a swirl +of shimmering glastic. + +Anne sneered, "I don't see why Miss Bestris puts up with her the way she +does." + +"You're jealous," June said quietly. + +Anne did not answer. + +"Mary's decent," Adele said. "Maybe that's why. She's from the sticks, +and her parents still come to see her on visiting days, and there's +something about her so--so innocent. Maybe that's why Miss Bestris likes +her." + +June said, "I think she's better than the rest of us. I think Miss +Bestris feels sorry for her in a way." + +"Don't make me laugh," Anne said, facing June. "The only one that'll +ever feel sorry for her is herself!" + +"You shouldn't have talked like that to her!" June snapped. "Why don't +you let her alone? She'll feel bad enough without you helping!" + +Anne rolled over on the bed and stared up at the ceiling. June took a +helox lamp from her drawer and started to bake her hair darker. Those +Earthmen were so funny about colors. + +In the kitchen, Mary took the cake out of the oven. It was steamy and +light and fluffy, and it smelled sweet and warm. She set it on the table +and mixed a two-minute green frosting which she spread, carefully, over +the cake. She patted here and there with the spatula and stood back, her +eyes proud and serious. + +She hummed a little tune under her breath as she scrubbed the pots and +pans. Her hands moved in practiced rhythm, and the water splashed and +gurgled. When the kitchen was again spotless, she looked once more at +the cake, and then, turning out the light, she went back to her room. + +Anne and Adele had left, but June was sitting quietly in the dusky +moonlight. Her white dress seemed vaguely luminous. + +Laughing, Mary flicked on the light. + +"It's a wonderful cake," she said. "The best one I ever made. Just the +way it should be." + +"I wouldn't feel too bad, Mary, if he doesn't come to eat it," June +said. "I don't want to sound like Anne, but there was a lot of sense in +what she said." + +"It's just like a real wedding cake." She hummed the snatch of Martian +tune. "Like in the tele-papers." She laughed with her eyes. "The +bridegroom takes the silver knife and cuts two large pieces of the cake +while the bride, dressed in filament coral, stands at his right hand. +She carries a bouquet of--Anne just likes to be mean!" + +June frowned. Mary crossed to the dressing table. She studied her face +in the mirror. It was heart shaped, elfin; her purple hair was a riot of +curls, and her eyes were amethyst and gold. She smiled at herself. "I +want to look as pretty as I can tonight." She twisted around. "You don't +think he'll come either, do you?" + +"I--no, Mary." + +Mary looked back at the mirror. "He likes our canal blossom perfume." +She dabbed some of it on her ear lobes. "I like it best, too." + +June stood up, crossed to the musikon, found a slow five-toned waltz. +She turned the music very low, and left the color mixer dim enough so +that only the faintest ghosts projected hues moved on walls and ceiling. + +Mary continued to stare into the mirror. "But he will come. I know it." + +June said nothing. + +"Don't you see. I just _know_ he'll come." + +June crossed back to her seat. + +Mary turned from the mirror. "I'm sure he will. He's--I mean...." + +June smiled wanly. + +"Well, he will! You'll see!" + +June said, "Even if it is an old dress, you look very nice in it." + +"I've been learning his language. I can say 'thank you' and 'yes' and +'no' and 'I love you' and all kinds of things in it. He gave me a book, +and I've been studying. I want to be able really to talk with him. We've +got a lot to talk about. I want to find out about his parents, and what +he likes for supper and what kind of music he likes to hear, and--and +all sorts of things. I want to find out all about his planet, and...." + +"Yes," June said wearily, "I know." + +The music played on. The moving lights on the walls were like colored +reflections from a sunlit river. + +"He may be a little late tonight; he has a lot to do, first. But he'll +be here." + +_Buzzzzz_.... + +It was the red button; it blinked on and off. + +"Visitors," June said. + +"Look--" Mary said. "Look, June. I'm not half ready yet. Look. Tell Miss +Bestris I'll be down a little late. Tell her I have a special boy, and +it'll be all right. He wants me to wait for him." + +June was on her feet. "... All right. You'd better not wait too long!" + +"I won't." + +After June was gone, Mary returned to the task of making her face +pretty, but after a moment, she turned from the mirror, leaned back, and +tried to relax. Underneath her dress, her heart was pounding. + +The warm air carried sounds of the night creatures. One of the great +canal insects, screeching, flapped by the window. The tiny third moon +crept up over the horizon, and the buildings cast triple shadows. + +_Buzzz. Buzzzz._ + +Still Mary waited. + +_Buzzz. Buzzzz. Buzzzzzz...._ + +She was afraid to wait any longer. But by now she was sure that he would +be down stairs. + +There was a last-minute flurry of combing and primping, and then she +rustled out of the room, her head erect, her eyes shining. + + * * * * * + +The large reception room was filling. Overhead, the color organ threw +shimmering, prismatic beams on the ceiling. Beneath it, stiff, +embarrassed spacemen, mostly officers dressed in parade uniforms, +chatted in space-pidgin with the laughing, rainbow-haired girls. + +Miss Bestris sat in one corner, her eyes roving the room: settling here +for a second, there for a second, checking, approving, disapproving, +silently. Occasionally she would smile or nod at one of the girls or one +of the spacemen, and once she frowned ever so slightly and shook her +head. + +Anne was reclining on a couch, eating a golden Martian apple, listening +to a second mate; she played with a lock of his hair and smiled her wide +smile. + +June, angelic, sat primly in a straight-backed chair, the captain at her +feet, a boyish, space-pale Earthman, drew embarrassed circles on the +carpet with his index finger. + +In the next room, three couples were dancing to the slow music of an +Earth orchestra. + +An inner door opened, and a uniformed native sheriff stepped in, a +crisp, military figure. "Miss Bestris?" + +She stood up. "Yes?" + +The Earthmen fell silent, waiting. + +"We think we have your runaway." He turned to the door. "Bring her in." + +Two more sheriffs entered, and between them, there was a young, slender +girl. Her face was gaunt and tear-stained. Her body trembled. She looked +at the Madame fearfully. + +"You idiots!" Miss Bestris screamed. "Get her out of here! You'll ruin +my party! Take her out!" + +The two men removed the girl. To the remaining sheriff, Miss Bestris +said, "Damn you, if you ever do anything like that again, I'll ... +I'll...." + +"I'm sorry, Madame. But we wanted immediate identification. Would you +want us to hold the wrong girl?" + +"That's her, all right! Now, get out! Wait for me in my office." + +When they were gone Miss Bestris turned to the silent room. In quite +passable Esperanto she said, "I--am sorry. A misunderstanding. I assure +you, nothing. Go on with the party, and I'll see what I can do for the +poor girl." + +She stood up and in her own language said, "Lively, girls! Smile! You, +Rita, hurry and serve tea!" + +She made her exit. + +The spacemen grumbled among themselves, coughed uneasily, watched the +closed door through which the Madame had gone. Listening, they could +hear only a muted mumble of sing-song sounds in several voices. + +With determined animation, the girls moved about, smiled, chatted. + +Rita came in, wheeling the tea tray, and the girls converged on it, each +trying to be the first to serve her escort. The tea was the Martian +stuff, concocted of a kind of local hemp. The Earthmen found it harsh +and bitter to the taste, but gentle on the soul. + +Anne had filled two cups and returned to the second mate when she caught +sight of Mary coming down the stairs. + +On the lowest step, Mary stood for a long time; her eyes eagerly +searched the crowd. Slowly a puzzled, hurt look came over her face. + +June came to her side after a little while. + +"Isn't he here?" + +"No. Not yet." + +"I'm sorry," June said, touching Mary's arm lightly. + +"It's all right. It's early yet. I'll just sit down by Miss Bestris' +chair and wait for him." + +She turned from June and went to the chair. Before she could sit down, a +space corporal came over, bowed, tried to take her hand. She shook her +head. He smiled twistedly and walked stiffly away. + +Another man smiled at her. She shook her head slowly. + +Someone came in the front door, and she leaned forward. Then she slumped +back limply. + +She heard a tinkly laugh. She looked in its direction. She met Anne's +eyes, bright and amused. Just then Miss Bestris came in, her eyes angry +and her cheeks flushed. She strode across the room. + +"Well," she said. "I'm glad to see you finally came down." She sank +heavily into her chair. "Cresent's back. They just brought her in. The +idiots came right in here with her. I'll bet I lost half-a-dozen +customers. These Earthmen are sensitive about such things." + +Mary was still staring at the door; Miss Bestris looked down at her. + +"Well, what are you sitting here for?" + +"Please, Miss Bestris. I'm waiting for my special boy friend tonight." + +She snorted and looked away. "Why isn't he here?" + +"He will be." + +"He'd better. I'll let you wait another--half an hour. That's all." + +"Thank you, Miss Bestris. You're very kind to me." + +"I indulge you more than I ought to, child," she said. "More than is +good for you, if the truth were known." + +A man came in; Mary stiffened and then relaxed. + +The mutter of voices blended into a steady hum. More couples were +dancing. Miss Bestris moved around the room. The music was tinny. + +Another man came in. + +"Your time's up," the Madame told Mary. + +"Please, let me just wait for another few minutes." + +Miss Bestris fixed her lips grimly. "I've had enough nonsense for +tonight. You heard me!" + +"_Please!_" + +"You heard what I said." + +"Miss Bestris, I couldn't. Not tonight. Honest, I couldn't. If I had to +talk to anybody, I'd break down and cry. He'll ... come. I know he +will." + +Miss Bestris whirled on her. "Listen, you little--" But she stopped, +suddenly. "All right," she said, gritting her teeth. "I can't afford +another scene tonight. But you'll be sorry for this." + +Miss Bestris stormily looked away. The dancers danced; the music swelled +louder. Gradually, deliberately, the lights were waning. + +"Haven't I always been good to you, Mary?" the Madame asked. + +"Yes." + +"Then like an obedient girl, do as I say. If he hasn't come by now, he +just won't. He's gone to some other house." + +"No!" Mary said doggedly. + +"Just remember, tomorrow, how you deliberately disobeyed me. Your silly +emotions are costing me money, and that's one thing I simply won't stand +for." + +"He'll come." Mary said. "You won't lose money." + +Couples sat side by side, laughing, talking in whispers. Occasionally +there were giggles. The room began to empty slowly. + +The lights continued to dim until the rooms were gloomy. Even the +shifting shades of the color organ were no more than a faint ambience. +Anne, laughing, helped her second mate to his feet. + +"I'll give you one more chance," Miss Bestris said. "The next man that +comes in...." + +"No! I just couldn't! Not tonight!" + +A few more customers drifted in. Then even the stragglers stopped +coming. It was very late. + +"He's deserted you; you see that now?" Madame Bestris sneered. + +Mary stood up. There were tears in her eyes. "You can't--you +don't--know--how I feel," she choked. "You don't care!" She turned and +ran up the stairs, crying. + +Several Earthmen, still in the big room, turned to watch. The torches +were misty twinkles now. The last couples climbed the stairs and then +Miss Bestris, too, went to bed. + + * * * * * + +The blue morning came. The town awoke; commerce began. + +At seven, Miss Bestris lay in bed frowning, considering the events of +the previous evening. But she was not so annoyed that she forgot to call +a doctor on the teleview and arrange for him to come at nine to give a +physical examination. + +Her bulk out of bed, she dressed and went to the kitchen to brew a pot +of hemp tea. The cleaning maid, moving about in the next room, heard +Miss Bestris call sharply: "Flavia! Come in here!" + +Flavia appeared with a dust rag in her hand. + +"Did you cut this cake?" + +"No, ma'am." + +Miss Bestris glowered. "That little idiot! She must have slipped down +here after we were all asleep and sat here and cried her silly little +eyes out! If she thinks she can pull that love-sick act on me she'll +soon find out different. Am I supposed to put up with having her moon +over every space tramp that comes in? Why, I've taken more from her--!" + +"Yes, ma'am." + +Miss Bestris waddled to the stairs, climbed them determinedly. At Mary's +door she stopped and twisted the knob. Locked! + +Miss Bestris hammered. "Open up, Mary!" The door rattled under her hand. +"Open that door at once!" + +No answer. + +Miss Bestris pounded harder. "Open up, I say!" + +Anne sauntered into the hall, her dressing gown swishing. "She really +made you look the fool last night, didn't she?" Anne said lazily. + +"You--you slut! Mind your own business." + +Anne smiled and shrugged. + +"Open the door, Mary! Do you hear me! Open it!" + +"Maybe she killed herself," Anne said. "It has happened." + +"My God! No.... She wouldn't dare. You think she would?" + +Anne shrugged again. "They do funny things sometimes." + +Miss Bestris' face was red. "Run down and get my keys. In my desk. You +know where they are." + +Then, "_For God's sake, hurry!_" + +While she waited Miss Bestris rattled the door, pleading and cursing. + +Finally Anne returned. Miss Bestris snatched the key with a shaking +hand. She hurled the door open and burst inside. + +"See here, you little--!" She stopped. + +The room was empty. + +On the neatly made bed reposed a little stack of money. When Miss +Bestris got around to counting it, she found that it contained exactly +nine hundred and ten _dordocs_. + +THE END + + + * * * * * + +Transcriber's Notes: + +This etext was produced from If Worlds of Science Fiction May 1953. +Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. +copyright on this publication was renewed. + +Obvious punctuation errors repaired. + +Page 39 word "lambence" changed to "ambience" (no more than a faint +ambience) meaning a faint light. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of She Knew He Was Coming, by Kris Neville + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SHE KNEW HE WAS COMING *** + +***** This file should be named 33934.txt or 33934.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/3/9/3/33934/ + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Dianna Adair and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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