The First Theodore R. Cogswell MEGAPACK ®. Theodore r. Cogswell

want what!”

      “A re-test. I went and read the book.”

      “I don’t believe it.”

      “Well, I did. I’m going over to the drugstore to see if there’s any new Spillane in, but there ain’t. And while I’m looking over the pocket book rack to see if there’s anything else that looks interesting, I sees a picture on a cover that makes me damn near drop my teeth. So I grabs it, and you know what?”

      “What?” said Albert obediently.

      “When I gets home I find I went and bought a copy of this here Canterbury Tales which I’m supposed to be reading for your course but don’t because I take a look the first day and it’s full of funny words. Only this time I start looking through to see if I can find the part they got the picture on the cover from and WOW!”

      “Wow?”

      “Yeah, WOW!” Martinelli sniggered. ‘There’s stuff in there that I don’t see how they let it get printed. Like for example there’s one place where a guy climbs up a ladder to try and make a gal whose husband is supposed to be out of town and—”

      “I have a certain familiarity with the story in question,” said Albert. “Suppose you let me ask the questions.”

      “Sure thing, doc. Shoot!”

      “Give me a precis of ‘The Reeve’s Tale.’”

      Martinelli gulped. “A what?”

      “A precis—an abstract, a summary, a…well, just tell me what happened.”

      “Why didn’t you say so in the first place? Well, there were a couple of guys who were going to Oxford or some place like that and they got a couple of days off. So they’re hitchhiking around and they happen to bump into this miller, see? And he’s got a good-looking wife and a daughter who’s really stacked. So that night while the old man’s asleep, these guys…”

      When Martinelli came back there was a happy smile on his face.

      “I took your note about my grade change by the Dean’s office and he says I’m eligible again. Then I went over to the library for the book you wanted but the gal at the desk couldn’t help me. She said one copy was lost and the other was at the bindery.”

      “Oh well,” said Albert. “I’ll find a copy some place. At least you finally did find out where the library was.”

      “But I got it anyway,” said Martinelli triumphantly. “There was something about the title that stuck in my head so I went over to the drugstore and looked. Sure enough, they got it out in pocket book. Here.” He tossed the small paper-backed volume on Albert’s desk. “From the cover it looks like hot stuff. Maybe there’s more to these here classics than I thought. Anything else I can do for you?”

      “Just a second,” said Albert and made a quick check of his brief case. He had chalk, a piece of brass tubing, and a small quantity of charcoal.

      “I guess not,” he said. “You run on back to the practice field. I have an engagement for this evening;—I suppose you’d call it a heavy date—and I’ve got to get ready for it.”

      “Okay, Doc. I’ll be seeing you.” His hand was on the door knob when Albert stopped him.

      “I have thought of something else. Will you scout around and see if you can find me a fire extinguisher? I’ve got to build a small fire in here shortly and I don’t want to take any chances of it getting out of hand.”

      Martinelli looked bewildered, but he obeyed without question. “I got one in the car,” he said, “I’ll bring it right up.”

      As the door shut behind him, Albert picked up the pocket book and examined the provocative scene on the cover with a great deal of interest. It showed two godlike young creatures engaged in some sort of a Renaissance bed. Albert eyed the male figure with a certain amount of envy—and then shrugged. Even if he were no physical prize, Priscilla’s dimensions were also several inches short of those of the impossibly curved and scantily dressed female who was sprawled out with a dreamy smile on her face.

      “Aglon, Tetragram, vaycheon,” he muttered to himself and then settled down to wait Martinelli’s return with the extinguisher. With a sigh of anticipation, he flipped open the pocket book and began to read the first of The Adventures of Casanova.