Transcriber's Note:
This etext was produced from Analog Science Fact & Fiction May 1961. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.
GONE FISHING
By JAMES H. SCHMITZ
There is no predictable correlation between intelligence and ethics,nor is ruthlessness necessarily an evil thing. And there is nothinglike enforced, uninterrupted contemplation to learn to distinguish onefrom another....
Illustrated by Krenkel
arney Chard, thirty-seven—financier, entrepreneur, occasionalblackmailer, occasional con man, and very competent in all theseactivities—stood on a rickety wooden lake dock, squinting against thelate afternoon sun, and waiting for his current business prospect togive up the pretense of being interested in trying to catch fish.
The prospect, who stood a few yards farther up the dock, rod in onehand, was named Dr. Oliver B. McAllen. He was a retired physicist,though less retired than was generally assumed. A dozen years ago hehad rated as one of the country's top men in his line. And, whiledressed like an aging tramp in what he had referred to as fishingtogs, he was at the moment potentially the country's wealthiestcitizen. There was a clandestine invention he'd fathered which hecalled the McAllen Tube. The Tube was the reason Barney Chard had cometo see McAllen.
Gently raising and lowering the fishing rod, and blinking out over thequiet water, Dr. McAllen looked preoccupied with disturbingspeculations not connected with his sport. The man had a secrecy bug.The invention, Barney thought, had turned out to be bigger than theinventor. McAllen was afraid of the Tube, and in the forefront of hisreflections must be the inescapable fact that the secret of theMcAllen Tube could no longer be kept without Barney Chard'sco-operation. Barney had evidence of its existence, and didn't reallyneed the evidence. A few hints dropped here and there would have madeMcAllen's twelve years of elaborate precaution quite meaningless.
Ergo, McAllen must be pondering now, how could one persuade Mr. Chardto remain silent?
But there was a second consideration Barney had planted in the oldscientist's mind. Mr. Chard, that knowledgeable man of the world,exuded not at all by chance the impression of great quantities ofavailable cash. His manner, the conservatively tailored business suit,the priceless chip of a platinum watch ... and McAllen needed cashbadly. He'd been fairly wealthy himself at one time; but since hehad refrained from exploiting the Tube's commercial possibilities, hiscontinuing work with it was exhausting his capital. At least thatcould be assumed to be the reason for McAllen's impoverishment, whichwas a matter Barney had established. In months the old man would beliving on beans.
Ergo again, McAllen's thoughts must be running, how might one notmerely coax Mr. Chard into silence, but actually get him to comethrough with some much-needed financial support? What inducement,aside from the Tube, could be offered someone in his position?
Barney grinned inwardly as he snapped the end of his cigarette out onthe amber-tinted water. The mark always sells himself, and McAllen waswell along in the process. Polite silence was all that was necessaryat the moment. He lit a fresh cigarette,