（外文电子版资料）Laumer, Keith - In the Queue.pdfVIP

file:///G|/Program%20Files/eMule/Incoming/Keith%20Laumer%20-%20In%20the%20Queue.txt VERSION 0.5 DTD 032600 IN THE QUEUE Keith Laumer The old man fell just as Fam Hestlers power wheel was passing his place in line, on bis way back from the com- fort station. Hestler, braking, stared down at the twisted face, a mask of soft, pale leather in which the mouth writhed as if trying to tear itself free of the dying body. Then he jumped from the wheel, bent over the victim. Quick as he was, a lean woman with fingers like gnarled roots was before him, clutching ait the old mans fleshless shoulders. Tell them me. Millicent Dredgewicke Crump, she was shrilling into the vacant face. Oh, if you only knew what Ive been through, how I deserve the help Hestler sent her reeling with a deft shove of his foot. He knelt beside the old man, lifted his head. Vultures, he said. Greedy, snapping at a man. Now, I care. And you were getting so close to the head of the line. The tales you could tell, Ill bet. An old-timer. Not like these line, er, jumpers, he diverted the obscenity. I say a man deserves a little dignity at a moment like this Wasting your time, Jack, a meaty voice said. Hestler glanced up into the hippopotamine features of the man he always thought of as Twentieth Back. The old coots dead. Hestler shook the corpse. Tell them Argall Y. Hestler! he yelled into the dead ear. Argall, thats A-R-G-A- L-L Break it up, the brassy voice of a line policeman sliced through the babble. You, get back. A sharp prod lent urgency to the command. Hestler rose reluctantly, his eyes on the waxy face slackening imto an expression of horrified astonishment. Ghoul, the lean woman snarled. Line! She mouthed the unmentionable word. I wasnt thinking of myself, Hestier countered holly. But my boy Argall, through no fault of his own All right, quiet! the cop snarled. He jerked a thumb at the dead man. This guy make any disposition? Yes! the lean woma