Read Online Flesh by Philip José Farmer - Free Book Online

rainproof ponchos.
    “Next stop, the docks,” Churchill said. “I used to sail yachts for the rich during the summers when I was working my way through college.”
    “I know you can sail,” Sarvant said. “Have you forgotten that you commanded that sailing-ship we stole when we escaped from prison on the planet Vixa?”
    “I forgot,” Churchill said. “I want to size up the chances for getting a job. Afterwards, we’ll start sniffing around. Maybe we can find out what’s happened to Stagg and Calthorp.”
    “Rud,” Sarvant said, “there must be more to this than just getting a job. Why boats particularly? I know you well enough to know you’re operating on more than one level.”
    “Okay. I know you’re no blabbermouth. If I can find a suitable ship, we’ll get hold of Yastzhembski’s boys and take off for Asia, via Europe.”
    “I’m very glad to hear that,” Sarvant said. “I thought you’d just walked out on them, washed your hands of them. But how will you find them?”
    “Are you kidding?” Churchill said, laughing. “All I have to do is ask at the nearest temple.”
    “Temple?”
    “Sure. It’s evident that the government’ll be keeping an eye on us. In fact, it’s had a tail on us ever since we left our prison.”
    “Where is he?”
    “Don’t look around now. I’ll point him out to you later. Just keep walking.”
    Abruptly, Churchill stopped. His way was barred by a circle of men kneeling on the road. There was nothing to keep Churchill from walking around them. But he stopped to look over the shoulders.
    “What are they doing?” Sarvant asked.
    “Playing the twenty-ninth-century version of craps.”
    “It’s against my principles even to watch gambling. I sincerely hope you’re not planning on joining them.”
    “Yes, I think that’s exactly what I’m planning on doing.”
    “Don’t, Rud,” Sarvant said, putting his hand on Churchill’s arm. “Nothing good can come of this.”
    “Chaplain, I’m not a member of your parish. They probably abide by the rules. That’s all I want.” Churchill took three columbias out of his pocket and spoke loudly. “Can I get into this shoot?”
    “Sure,” a huge dark man with a patch over one eye said. “You can play as long as your money lasts. You just get off the ship?”
    “Not so long ago,” Churchill said. He sank to his knees and laid a Columbia on the ground. “My turn for the bones, eh? Come on, babies, Poppa needs a pocketful of rye.”
    Thirty minutes later a grinning Churchill walked toward Sarvant with a handful of silver coins. “The wages of sin,” he said.
    He lost his grin when he heard a loud shout behind him. Turning, he saw the dice players walking toward him. The big one-eyed man was yelling at him.
    “Wait a minute, buddy, we got a couple of questions!”
    “Oh, oh,” Churchill said out of the side of his mouth. “Get ready to run. These guys are poor losers.”
    “You didn’t cheat, did you?” Sarvant said nervously.
    “Of course not! You ought to know me better than that. Besides, I wouldn’t take a chance in that rough bunch.”
    “Listen, buddy,” the one-eyed man said. “You talk kinda funny. Where you come from? Albany?”
    “Manitowoc, Wisconsin,” Churchill said.
    “Never heard of that place. What is it, some small burg up north?”
    “North by west. Why do you want to know?”
    “We don’t like strangers that can’t even talk Deecee straight. Strangers got queer tricks, especially when they are shooting craps. Only a week ago we caught a tar from Norfolk who was using magic to control the dice. We knocked his teeth out and threw him off the dock with a weight around his neck. Never saw him again.”
    “If you thought I was cheating, you should have said something while we were playing.”
    The one-eyed sailor ignored Churchill’s remark and said, “I don’t notice no frat mark on you. What frat you belong to?”
    “Lambda Chi Alpha,” Churchill said. He put his hand on