Read Online Stalking the Dragon by Mike Resnick - Free Book Online

prize money,” answered the gremlin. “Just a satin rosette and a trophy.”
    â€œIs the trophy solid gold?”
    â€œSilver-plated,” said Jeeves.
    â€œSomething's wrong,” said Mallory.
    â€œYes,” said Jeeves. “Someone's stolen Fluffy.”
    Mallory shook his head impatiently. “There's something wrong with this whole setup.”
    â€œI don't understand.”
    â€œSomebody just tried to kill me,” said Mallory. “You don't risk getting caught for murder or attempted murder for a piece of ribbon and a silver-plated trophy. There's got to be more involved. Lord knows I'm not worth much, but I'm worth more than a ribbon and a trophy.”
    â€œTwenty-seven trillion and six,” announced Felina.
    â€œI'm lonely,” said the cell phone.
    Jeeves stared at Mallory's pants. “Is that your gun talking?” he asked.
    â€œI don't carry a gun.”
    â€œA detective without a gun—isn't that unusual?” asked the gremlin.
    â€œNo,” said Mallory. “Walking around in the middle of the night looking for an eleven-inch dragon named Fluffy is unusual. Not carrying a gun is merely eccentric.”
    â€œTwenty-seven trillion and fourteen,” said Felina.
    â€œYou found eight fish on the boat and threw them in?” asked Mallory, surprised.
    â€œNo, I caught and ate another.”
    â€œThen why is it twenty-seven trillion and fourteen?”
    â€œBecause I don't know what comes before twenty-seven trillion and six,” answered the cat-girl.
    Mallory grimaced. “I'm going to give you a B-plus for that answer. It makes as much sense as anything else this evening.”
    â€œIs a B-plus good to eat?” asked Felina.
    â€œOnly with mustard and whipped cream,” replied the detective.
    â€œEighty-three trillion and ninety-two!” cried Felina, holding up another fish. Suddenly she frowned and threw it back into the water.
    â€œToo small?” asked Mallory.
    â€œToo dead,” she replied. “I like to play with them first.”
    â€œYeah,” concurred Mallory, “I can see where the dead ones hardly play at all.”
    â€œThey cheat,” agreed Felina.
    â€œDo me a favor,” said Mallory. “You see better in the dark than the rest of us. Go to the back of the boat and see if anyone is following us.”
    â€œFor two macaws, a parrot, and a musk ox,” she replied.
    â€œHow about: for not throwing you overboard right now?” said Mallory.
    She considered for a moment, then nodded her agreement. “Okay, I'll go look.”
    â€œWhy do you think we're being followed?” asked Jeeves.
    â€œSomeone took a shot at me. Whoever it was knows we've left the island. It makes sense that he has no further business there. If he's following us, maybe we can arrange a little surprise for him when he lands.”
    â€œHe might not land where we do,” said Jeeves.
    â€œAnd there might be a typhoon in the next thirty seconds,” said Mallory. “I can only plan for what I can control.”
    â€œI thought contingency plans were for what you couldn't control,” said the phone.
    â€œOnce upon a time I thought so too. I even thought cell phones couldn't talk. You live and learn.” Mallory turned and walked to the back of the boat. “Anyone following us?” he asked Felina.
    â€œJust the swimmer,” said the cat-girl.
    â€œSwimmer?” repeated Mallory. “Where?”
    She pointed to a spot in the water.
    â€œStop the boat!” snapped Mallory.
    The boat came to a halt.
    â€œNow where is he?”
    â€œHe's a she,” said Felina.
    â€œOkay, where is she ?”
    â€œShe'll reach us in another minute,” said Felina, pointing to a spot about two hundred yards distant. Mallory peered into the darkness and finally saw a steady ripple in the water, a ripple that was clearly approaching them.
    In another thirty seconds he could