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"Well - the Hecatean, then. What of him?"
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"He is a more unlikely murderer than all the others," said Magnus Ridolph.
"For three reasons: First, he is non-human, and has no experience with rage
and revenge. On Hecate violence unknown. Secondly, as a is non-human, he
would have no points of engagement with Bonfils. A leopard does not attack a
tree; they are different orders of beings. So with the Hecatean. Thirdly, it
would be, physically as well as psychologically, impossible for the Hecatean
to kill Bonfils. His hands have no fingers; they are flaps of sinew. They
could not manipulate a trigger inside a trigger-guard. I think you may
dispense with the
Hecatean."
"But who is there left?" cried Pascoglu in desperation.
"Well, there is you, there is me and there is - "
The door slid back; the bonze in the red cloak looked into the room.
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THE MANY WORLDS OF MAGNUS RIDOLPH by Jack Vance
V
"Come in, come in," said Magnus Ridolph with cordiality. "Our business is just
now complete. We have established that of all the persons here at the Hub,
only you would have killed Lester Bonfils, and so now we have no further need
for the library."
"What?" cried Pascoglu, staring at the bonze, who made a deprecatory gesture.
"I had hoped," said the bonze, "that my part in the affair would escape
notice."
"You are too modest," said Magnus Ridolph. "It is only fitting that a man
should be known for his good works."
The bonze bowed. "I want no encomiums. I merely do my duty. And if you are
truly finished in here, I
have a certain amount of study before me."
"By all means. Come, Mr. Pascoglu; we are inconsiderate, keeping the worthy
bonze from his meditations." And Magnus Ridolph drew the stupefied Pan
Pascoglu into the corridor.
"Is he - is he the murderer?" asked Pascoglu feebly.
"He killed Lester Bonfils," said Magnus Ridolph. "That is clear enough."
"But why?"
"Out of the kindness of his heart. Bonfils spoke to me for a moment. He
clearly was suffering considerable psychic damage."
"But - he could be cured!" exclaimed Pascoglu indignantly. "It wasn't
necessary to kill him to soothe his feelings."
"Not according to our viewpoint," said Magnus Ridolph. "But you must recall
that the bonze is a devout believer in - well, let us call it 'reincarnation'.
He conceived himself performing a happy release for poor tormented Bonfils,
who came to him for help. He killed him for his own good."
They entered Pascoglu's office; Pascoglu went to stare out the window. "But
what am I to do?" he muttered.
"That," said Magnus Ridolph, "is where I cannot advise you."
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THE MANY WORLDS OF MAGNUS RIDOLPH by Jack Vance
"It doesn't seem right to penalize the poor bonze... It's ridiculous. How
could I possibly go about it?"
"The dilemma is real," agreed Magnus Ridolph.
There was a moment of silence, during which Pascoglu morosely tugged at his
mustache. Then Magnus
Ridolph said, "Essentially, you wish to protect your clientele from further
application of misplaced philanthropy."
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"That's the main thing!" cried Pascoglu. "I could pass off Bonfils' death -
explain that it was accidental. I
could ship the paleolithics back to their planet. . ."
"I would likewise separate the bonze from persons showing even the mildest
melancholy. For if he is energetic and dedicated, he might well seek to extend
the range of his beneficence."
Pascoglu suddenly put his hand to his cheek. He turned wide eyes to Magnus
Ridolph. "This morning I
felt pretty low. I was talking to the bonze ... I told him all my troubles. I
complained about expense - "
The door slid quietly aside; the bonze peered in, a half-smile on his benign
face. "Do I intrude?" he asked as he spied Magnus Ridolph. "I had hoped to
find you alone, Mr. Pascoglu."
"I was just going," said Magnus Ridolph politely. "If you'll excuse me..."
"No, no!" cried Pascoglu. "Don't go, Mr. Ridolph!"
"Another time will do as well," said the bonze politely. The door closed
behind him.
"Now I feel worse than ever," Pascoglu moaned. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]