September 25, 2025 • 18 mins
In Police Your Planet, Bruce Gordon finds himself at a crossroads as he stares at his ONE WAY ticket, a symbol of his life choices. With a heavy heart, he tears it into thirty pieces, each representing a year of his life filled with regrets and lost opportunities. From his two years as a cop to his struggles in the boxing ring, from fleeting attempts at professional gambling to his explosive rise as a journalist uncovering the Mercury scandals, Bruces journey has been anything but ordinary. But after a shocking revelation about his big scoop, he receives one last assignment that could change everything. Join Bruce as he navigates the complexities of ambition, truth, and the price of exposure. (Summary by Christian Alexander and Excerpt of Chapter 1)
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Chapter ten of Police Your Planet by Lester del Rey.
This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Chapter ten,
Marriage of Convenience. Bruce Gordon jerked the door open to
yell for Izzie while he tucked the bit of notebook
(00:21):
cover into his pocket. Then he stopped as something nibbled
at his mind. The odor Gordon had smelt before registered.
He yanked out the bit of notebook and sniffed. It
hadn't been close enough for any length of time to
be contaminated by Mother Corey, so the smell could only
come from one place. He checked the batteries on his
(00:43):
suit and put it on quickly. There was no point
in wearing the helmet inside the dome, but it was
better than trying to rent one at the lockers. He
buckled it to a strap, The knife slid into its sheath,
and the gun holster snapped on to the suit. As
a final thought, he picked up the stout locust stick
(01:07):
he'd used under Murdoch. There were no cabs outside to night,
of course, the streets were almost deserted except for some
prowler or desperation driven drug addict. He proceeded cautiously, however,
realizing that it would be just like Sheila to ambush him.
But he reached the exit from the dome with no trouble.
(01:29):
Special passed to leave at this hour. The guard there
reminded him, of course, of its urgent power. Gordon was
in no mood to try bribes. He let his hand
drop to the gun police Sergeant Gordon on official business,
he said, curtly, get the hell out of my way.
(01:50):
The guard thought it over and reached for the release.
Gordon swung back as he passed through, and you'd better
be ready to open when I come back. He was
in comparative darkness almost at once, and tonight there was
no sign of the lights of patrolling cops. Then three
specks of glaring blue light suddenly appeared in the sky,
(02:14):
jerking his eyes up. They were dropping rapidly rockets that
flamed bright blue, military rockets. Earth was finally taking a hand.
He crouched in a hollow that had once been some
kind of abasement until the ships had landed and cut
off their jets. Then he stood up, blinking his eyes
(02:38):
until they could again make out the pattern of the
dim bulbs. He had seen enough by the rocket glare
to know that he was headed right, and finally the
ugly half cylinder of patched brick and metal that was
the old Mother Corey's chicken coop showed up against the
faint light. He moved in cautiously, as silently as he could,
(02:59):
and located the set my secret entrance to the building
without meeting anyone. Once in the tunnel that led to
the building, he felt a little safer. He removed his
helmet and strapped it to the back of his suit.
Out of the way. The old hall was in worse
shape than before. Mother Corey had run a somewhat orderly
(03:20):
place with constant vigilance. Bruce Gordon could never have come
into the hallway without being seen in the old days.
Then a pounding sound came from the second floor, and
Gordon drew back into the denser shadows, staring upwards. A
heavy voice picked up the exchange of shouts you, Sheila,
(03:43):
You come out of there. You come out right now,
or I'm going to blast that door down. You open up.
Gordon was already moving up the stairs when a second
voice reached him, and this one was familiar. Jurgens don't
want you all. He wants place we got use for it.
It don't belong to you anyhow. Come out now and
(04:06):
we'll let you go peaceful, or stayin there and will
blast you out in pieces. It was the voice of
Jurgen's henchmen, who had called on Mother Corey before elections.
The thick voice must belong to the big ape who'd
been with him. Come on out, the little man cried again.
You don't have a chance. We've already chased all your
(04:29):
boarders out. Gordon tried to remember which steps had creaked
the worst, but he wasn't too worried if there were
only two of them. Then his head projected above the
top step, and he hesitated. Only the rat and the
(04:49):
ape were standing near a heavy closed door, but four
others were lounging in the background. He lifted his foot
to put it back down to a lower step, just
as Sheila's muffled voice shrilled out a fog of profanity.
He grinned, and then he saw that he'd lifted his
foot to a higher step. There was a sharp yell
(05:11):
from one of the men in the background, and a
knife sailed for him, but the aim was poor. Gordon's
gun came out. Two of the men were dropping before
the others could reach for their own weapons, and while
the rat faced man was just turning, the third dropped
without firing, and the fourth shot went wild. Gordon was
(05:34):
firing rapidly, but not with such a stupid attempt at
speed that he couldn't aim each shot, and at that
distance it was hard to miss. Rat Face jerked back
behind the big hulk of his partner, trying to pull
a gun that seemed to be stuck. A scared man's
(05:54):
ability to get his gun stuck in a simple holster
was always amazing. The big guy simply lunged with his
hands out Gordon's side stepped and caught one of the arms,
swinging the huge body over one hip. It sailed over
the broken railing to land on the floor below and
crash through the rotten planking. He heard the man hit
(06:17):
the basement even while he was swinging the club in
his hand toward the rat faced man. There was a thin,
high pitched scream as a collar bone broke. He slumped
onto the floor and began to try hitching his way
down the steps. Gordon picked up the gun that had
fallen out of the holster as the man fell and
(06:38):
put it into his pouch. He considered the two and
decided they would be no menace. O k Sheila, he
called out, trying to muffle his voice. We got them all,
pie face. Her voice was doubtful. He considered what a
man out here who went under that name might be like. Sure, baby,
(06:59):
open up, Wait a minute, I've got this nailed shut.
There was a sound of an effort of some kind
going on as she talked, though, I ought to let
you stay out there and rot. Damn it. The door
heaved open then, and she appeared in it. Then she
(07:19):
saw him, and her jaw dropped open slightly. You me,
he agreed, and lucky for you, cuddles. Her hands streaked
to a gun in her belt. Kill him this time.
He didn't wait to be attacked. He went for the door,
knocking her aside. His knee caught the outside of her hip.
(07:40):
As she spun, she fell over, dropping the gun. The
two men in the room were both holding knives, but
in the ridiculous overhand position that seems to be an
ingrained stupidity of the human race until it's taught better.
A single flip of his locust club against their wrists
accounted for both of the knights. He grabbed them by
(08:02):
the hair of the heads then and brought the two
skulls together savagely. Sheila lay stretched out on the floor,
where her head had apparently struck against the leg of
a bed. Gordon shoved the bodies of the two men
aside and looked down at the wreck of a man
who lay on the dirty blanket. Hello O'Neil, he said.
(08:24):
The former leader of the Stonewall Gang stared up at
the club, swinging from Gordon's wrist. You ain't gonna beat
me this time. I must sick, men sick, don't beat
me again. Gordon's stomach nodded sickly. Doing something under the
pressure of necessity was one thing, but to see the
sorry results of it later was another. All right, he said,
(08:48):
just stay there until I get away from this rat's nest,
and I won't hit you. I won't even touch you.
He was sure enough that it was no act on
O'Neill's part. He wasn't so sure about Sheila. He checked
the two men on the floor, who were still out cold.
Then he stepped through the door, carefully to make sure
(09:08):
that the big bruiser hadn't come back. His ears barely
detected the sound Sheila made as she reached for the
knife of one of the men. Then it came, the
faintest catch of breath. Gordon threw himself flat to the floor.
She let out a scream as he saw her momentum
carry her over him. She was at the edge of
(09:29):
the rail and starting to fall. He caught her feet
in his hands and yanked her back. There was nothing
phony this time as she hit the floor, just a
matter of coordination cuddles. He told her. Little girls shouldn't
play with knives. They'll grow up to be old maids
that way. Fury blackened her face, but she still couldn't function.
(09:53):
He picked her up and tossed her back into the room.
From the broken mattress on the bed, he dug out
a coil of wire, and her hands and feet with it.
Can't say I think much of your choice of companions
these days, he commented, looking toward the bed, where onea
was cowering. It looks as if your grandfather picks them
better for you, you filthy minded hog. D'ye think I'd
(10:18):
i'd one room in this place with a decent door,
And you can't see why I'd choose that room to
keep Jurgen's devils back. You you. He'd been searching the room,
but there was no sign of the notebook there. He
checked again to see that the wire was tight, and
then picked up the two henchmen, who were showing some
(10:39):
signs of reviving. I'll watch them, a voice said from
the door. Gordon snapped his head up to see Izzie
standing there. He realized he'd been a lot less cautious
than he'd thought. Izzie grinned at his confusion. I got
enough out of the mother to case the pitch, he said.
I knew I was right, and I spotted the ape
(11:01):
man carrying a guy with a bad shoulder away from here.
Jurgen's punk say thanks for coming. What's it going to
cost me? Wouldn't be honest to charge unless you asked
me to convoy you, guv'na. And if you're looking for
the Vixen's room, it's where you bunked before I got around.
(11:22):
After I spotted you here, Sheila Cory forced herself into
a sitting position and spat at Izzy Trader. Crooked, Little Trader,
shut up, Sheila, as he said, your retainer ran out. Surprisingly,
she did shut up. Gordon went to the little space
and saw that Izzie was right. There was a nearly
(11:45):
used up lipstick, a comb, and a cracked mirror. There
was also a small cloth bag containing a few scraps
of clothes. He turned the room upside down, but there
was no sign of the notebook or papers from it.
He located her helmet and carried it down with him.
You're going by by cuddles, he told her. I'm going
(12:09):
to put this on you and then unfasten your arms
and legs, but if you start to so much as
wiggle your big toe, you won't sit down for a month.
She pursed her lips hotly, but made no reply. He
screwed the helmet on and unfastened her arms. For a second,
she tensed while he waited, grinning down at her. Then
(12:30):
she slumped back and lay quiet as he unfastened her legs.
He tossed her over his shoulder and started down the
rickety stairs. There was a little light in the sky.
Five minutes later it was full daylight, which should have
been a signal for the workers to start for their jobs,
(12:53):
But to day they were drifting out unhappily, as if
already sure. There would be no jobs by nightfall. A
few stared at Gordon and his burden, but most of
them didn't even look up the two men trudging along silently. Prisoner,
he announced crisply to the guard, but there was no
(13:16):
protest this time. They went through, and he was lucky
enough to locate a broken down tricycle cab. Mother Corey
let them in without flickering an eyelash. As he saw
his granddaughter, Bruce, Gordon dropped her on to her legs.
Behave yourself, he warned her, as he took off his
helmet and then unfastened hers. Mother Corey chuckled, very touching, cobber,
(13:43):
you have a way with women. It seems too bad
she had to wear a helmet, or you might have
dragged her here by her hair. Ah. Well, let's not
talk about it here. My room is more comfortable and private. Inside.
Sheila sat woodenly on the little sofa, pretending to see
none of them. Mother Corey looked from one to the other,
(14:07):
and then back to Gordon. Well you must have had
some reason for bringing her here, Cobber. I want her
out of my hair. Mother Gordon tried to explain, I
can lock her up carrying a gun without a permit
is reason enough. But I'd rather you keep her here
if you'll take the responsibility. After all, she's your granddaughter,
(14:31):
so she is. That's why I washed my hands of her.
I couldn't control myself at her age, couldn't control my son,
and I don't intend to handle a female of my line.
It looks as if you'll have to arrest her. Ok,
suppose I run a room and put a good lock
on it. You've got the one that connects with mine vacant.
(14:54):
I've run a respectable house now, Gordon. Mother Corey stated flatly,
what you do outside my place is your own business.
But no women except married ones can't trust em. Gordon
stared at the old man, but he apparently meant just
what he said. All right, Mother, he said, finally, how
(15:16):
in the hell do I marry her without any rigmarole
Izzie's face seemed to drop toward the floor. Sheila came
up off the couch with a choking cry and leaped
for the door. Mother Corey's immense arm moved out, casually
sweeping her back onto the couch. Very convenient, the old
(15:36):
man said, The two of you simply fill out a form.
I've got a few left from the last time, and
get Izzie and me to witness it. Drop it in
the mail, and you're married. If you think I'd marry you,
you've filthy, Sheila began. Mother Corey listened attentively, rich but
(15:57):
not very imaginative, he said thoughtfully. But she'll learn. Izzie.
I have a feeling we should let them settle their differences.
As the door shut behind them, Gordon yanked Sheila back
to the couch. Shut up. He told her, this isn't
a game. Hell's popping here. You know that better than
(16:18):
most people, and I'm up to my neck in it.
If I've got to marry you to keep you out
of my hair, I will. Her face was pasty white,
but she bent her head and fluttered her eyelashes up
at him, so romantic, she sighed, you sweep me off
my feet. You why you me or trench? I can
(16:43):
take you to him and tell him you're mixed up
in security and that you either have papers on you
or out at the chicken coop to prove it. He
won't believe you if I take you in well. She
looked up at him a long time in silence, and
the surprise in her eyes. You'd do it, you really would,
(17:05):
all right, I'll sign your damned papers. Ten minutes later,
he stood in what was now connecting double room, watching
Mother Corey nail up the hall door to the room
there was to be hers. There were no windows here,
and his own room had an excellent lock on it
already one he'd put on himself. Izzie came back as
(17:29):
Mother Corey finished the door and began knocking a small
pianel out of the connecting door. The old man was
surprisingly adept with his hands as he fitted hinges and
a catch to the panel and reinstalled it so that
Sheila couldn't swing it open. They're married, as he said,
it's in the mail to the register, along with twenty credits.
(17:53):
Gov'nor were about due to report in. Gordon nodded. Be
with you in a minute, he said, as he paid
Mother Corey for the materials in work. He jerked his
head and the two men went out, leaving him alone
with Sheila. I'll bring you some food to night, and
you may not have a private bath, but it beats
(18:14):
the chicken coop here. He handed her the key to
the connecting door. It's the only key. There is end
of chapter ten
Chapter ten of Police Your Planet by Lester del Rey.
This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Chapter ten,
Marriage of Convenience. Bruce Gordon jerked the door open to
yell for Izzie while he tucked the bit of notebook
(00:21):
cover into his pocket. Then he stopped as something nibbled
at his mind. The odor Gordon had smelt before registered.
He yanked out the bit of notebook and sniffed. It
hadn't been close enough for any length of time to
be contaminated by Mother Corey, so the smell could only
come from one place. He checked the batteries on his
(00:43):
suit and put it on quickly. There was no point
in wearing the helmet inside the dome, but it was
better than trying to rent one at the lockers. He
buckled it to a strap, The knife slid into its sheath,
and the gun holster snapped on to the suit. As
a final thought, he picked up the stout locust stick
(01:07):
he'd used under Murdoch. There were no cabs outside to night,
of course, the streets were almost deserted except for some
prowler or desperation driven drug addict. He proceeded cautiously, however,
realizing that it would be just like Sheila to ambush him.
But he reached the exit from the dome with no trouble.
(01:29):
Special passed to leave at this hour. The guard there
reminded him, of course, of its urgent power. Gordon was
in no mood to try bribes. He let his hand
drop to the gun police Sergeant Gordon on official business,
he said, curtly, get the hell out of my way.
(01:50):
The guard thought it over and reached for the release.
Gordon swung back as he passed through, and you'd better
be ready to open when I come back. He was
in comparative darkness almost at once, and tonight there was
no sign of the lights of patrolling cops. Then three
specks of glaring blue light suddenly appeared in the sky,
(02:14):
jerking his eyes up. They were dropping rapidly rockets that
flamed bright blue, military rockets. Earth was finally taking a hand.
He crouched in a hollow that had once been some
kind of abasement until the ships had landed and cut
off their jets. Then he stood up, blinking his eyes
(02:38):
until they could again make out the pattern of the
dim bulbs. He had seen enough by the rocket glare
to know that he was headed right, and finally the
ugly half cylinder of patched brick and metal that was
the old Mother Corey's chicken coop showed up against the
faint light. He moved in cautiously, as silently as he could,
(02:59):
and located the set my secret entrance to the building
without meeting anyone. Once in the tunnel that led to
the building, he felt a little safer. He removed his
helmet and strapped it to the back of his suit.
Out of the way. The old hall was in worse
shape than before. Mother Corey had run a somewhat orderly
(03:20):
place with constant vigilance. Bruce Gordon could never have come
into the hallway without being seen in the old days.
Then a pounding sound came from the second floor, and
Gordon drew back into the denser shadows, staring upwards. A
heavy voice picked up the exchange of shouts you, Sheila,
(03:43):
You come out of there. You come out right now,
or I'm going to blast that door down. You open up.
Gordon was already moving up the stairs when a second
voice reached him, and this one was familiar. Jurgens don't
want you all. He wants place we got use for it.
It don't belong to you anyhow. Come out now and
(04:06):
we'll let you go peaceful, or stayin there and will
blast you out in pieces. It was the voice of
Jurgen's henchmen, who had called on Mother Corey before elections.
The thick voice must belong to the big ape who'd
been with him. Come on out, the little man cried again.
You don't have a chance. We've already chased all your
(04:29):
boarders out. Gordon tried to remember which steps had creaked
the worst, but he wasn't too worried if there were
only two of them. Then his head projected above the
top step, and he hesitated. Only the rat and the
(04:49):
ape were standing near a heavy closed door, but four
others were lounging in the background. He lifted his foot
to put it back down to a lower step, just
as Sheila's muffled voice shrilled out a fog of profanity.
He grinned, and then he saw that he'd lifted his
foot to a higher step. There was a sharp yell
(05:11):
from one of the men in the background, and a
knife sailed for him, but the aim was poor. Gordon's
gun came out. Two of the men were dropping before
the others could reach for their own weapons, and while
the rat faced man was just turning, the third dropped
without firing, and the fourth shot went wild. Gordon was
(05:34):
firing rapidly, but not with such a stupid attempt at
speed that he couldn't aim each shot, and at that
distance it was hard to miss. Rat Face jerked back
behind the big hulk of his partner, trying to pull
a gun that seemed to be stuck. A scared man's
(05:54):
ability to get his gun stuck in a simple holster
was always amazing. The big guy simply lunged with his
hands out Gordon's side stepped and caught one of the arms,
swinging the huge body over one hip. It sailed over
the broken railing to land on the floor below and
crash through the rotten planking. He heard the man hit
(06:17):
the basement even while he was swinging the club in
his hand toward the rat faced man. There was a thin,
high pitched scream as a collar bone broke. He slumped
onto the floor and began to try hitching his way
down the steps. Gordon picked up the gun that had
fallen out of the holster as the man fell and
(06:38):
put it into his pouch. He considered the two and
decided they would be no menace. O k Sheila, he
called out, trying to muffle his voice. We got them all,
pie face. Her voice was doubtful. He considered what a
man out here who went under that name might be like. Sure, baby,
(06:59):
open up, Wait a minute, I've got this nailed shut.
There was a sound of an effort of some kind
going on as she talked, though, I ought to let
you stay out there and rot. Damn it. The door
heaved open then, and she appeared in it. Then she
(07:19):
saw him, and her jaw dropped open slightly. You me,
he agreed, and lucky for you, cuddles. Her hands streaked
to a gun in her belt. Kill him this time.
He didn't wait to be attacked. He went for the door,
knocking her aside. His knee caught the outside of her hip.
(07:40):
As she spun, she fell over, dropping the gun. The
two men in the room were both holding knives, but
in the ridiculous overhand position that seems to be an
ingrained stupidity of the human race until it's taught better.
A single flip of his locust club against their wrists
accounted for both of the knights. He grabbed them by
(08:02):
the hair of the heads then and brought the two
skulls together savagely. Sheila lay stretched out on the floor,
where her head had apparently struck against the leg of
a bed. Gordon shoved the bodies of the two men
aside and looked down at the wreck of a man
who lay on the dirty blanket. Hello O'Neil, he said.
(08:24):
The former leader of the Stonewall Gang stared up at
the club, swinging from Gordon's wrist. You ain't gonna beat
me this time. I must sick, men sick, don't beat
me again. Gordon's stomach nodded sickly. Doing something under the
pressure of necessity was one thing, but to see the
sorry results of it later was another. All right, he said,
(08:48):
just stay there until I get away from this rat's nest,
and I won't hit you. I won't even touch you.
He was sure enough that it was no act on
O'Neill's part. He wasn't so sure about Sheila. He checked
the two men on the floor, who were still out cold.
Then he stepped through the door, carefully to make sure
(09:08):
that the big bruiser hadn't come back. His ears barely
detected the sound Sheila made as she reached for the
knife of one of the men. Then it came, the
faintest catch of breath. Gordon threw himself flat to the floor.
She let out a scream as he saw her momentum
carry her over him. She was at the edge of
(09:29):
the rail and starting to fall. He caught her feet
in his hands and yanked her back. There was nothing
phony this time as she hit the floor, just a
matter of coordination cuddles. He told her. Little girls shouldn't
play with knives. They'll grow up to be old maids
that way. Fury blackened her face, but she still couldn't function.
(09:53):
He picked her up and tossed her back into the room.
From the broken mattress on the bed, he dug out
a coil of wire, and her hands and feet with it.
Can't say I think much of your choice of companions
these days, he commented, looking toward the bed, where onea
was cowering. It looks as if your grandfather picks them
better for you, you filthy minded hog. D'ye think I'd
(10:18):
i'd one room in this place with a decent door,
And you can't see why I'd choose that room to
keep Jurgen's devils back. You you. He'd been searching the room,
but there was no sign of the notebook there. He
checked again to see that the wire was tight, and
then picked up the two henchmen, who were showing some
(10:39):
signs of reviving. I'll watch them, a voice said from
the door. Gordon snapped his head up to see Izzie
standing there. He realized he'd been a lot less cautious
than he'd thought. Izzie grinned at his confusion. I got
enough out of the mother to case the pitch, he said.
I knew I was right, and I spotted the ape
(11:01):
man carrying a guy with a bad shoulder away from here.
Jurgen's punk say thanks for coming. What's it going to
cost me? Wouldn't be honest to charge unless you asked
me to convoy you, guv'na. And if you're looking for
the Vixen's room, it's where you bunked before I got around.
(11:22):
After I spotted you here, Sheila Cory forced herself into
a sitting position and spat at Izzy Trader. Crooked, Little Trader,
shut up, Sheila, as he said, your retainer ran out. Surprisingly,
she did shut up. Gordon went to the little space
and saw that Izzie was right. There was a nearly
(11:45):
used up lipstick, a comb, and a cracked mirror. There
was also a small cloth bag containing a few scraps
of clothes. He turned the room upside down, but there
was no sign of the notebook or papers from it.
He located her helmet and carried it down with him.
You're going by by cuddles, he told her. I'm going
(12:09):
to put this on you and then unfasten your arms
and legs, but if you start to so much as
wiggle your big toe, you won't sit down for a month.
She pursed her lips hotly, but made no reply. He
screwed the helmet on and unfastened her arms. For a second,
she tensed while he waited, grinning down at her. Then
(12:30):
she slumped back and lay quiet as he unfastened her legs.
He tossed her over his shoulder and started down the
rickety stairs. There was a little light in the sky.
Five minutes later it was full daylight, which should have
been a signal for the workers to start for their jobs,
(12:53):
But to day they were drifting out unhappily, as if
already sure. There would be no jobs by nightfall. A
few stared at Gordon and his burden, but most of
them didn't even look up the two men trudging along silently. Prisoner,
he announced crisply to the guard, but there was no
(13:16):
protest this time. They went through, and he was lucky
enough to locate a broken down tricycle cab. Mother Corey
let them in without flickering an eyelash. As he saw
his granddaughter, Bruce, Gordon dropped her on to her legs.
Behave yourself, he warned her, as he took off his
helmet and then unfastened hers. Mother Corey chuckled, very touching, cobber,
(13:43):
you have a way with women. It seems too bad
she had to wear a helmet, or you might have
dragged her here by her hair. Ah. Well, let's not
talk about it here. My room is more comfortable and private. Inside.
Sheila sat woodenly on the little sofa, pretending to see
none of them. Mother Corey looked from one to the other,
(14:07):
and then back to Gordon. Well you must have had
some reason for bringing her here, Cobber. I want her
out of my hair. Mother Gordon tried to explain, I
can lock her up carrying a gun without a permit
is reason enough. But I'd rather you keep her here
if you'll take the responsibility. After all, she's your granddaughter,
(14:31):
so she is. That's why I washed my hands of her.
I couldn't control myself at her age, couldn't control my son,
and I don't intend to handle a female of my line.
It looks as if you'll have to arrest her. Ok,
suppose I run a room and put a good lock
on it. You've got the one that connects with mine vacant.
(14:54):
I've run a respectable house now, Gordon. Mother Corey stated flatly,
what you do outside my place is your own business.
But no women except married ones can't trust em. Gordon
stared at the old man, but he apparently meant just
what he said. All right, Mother, he said, finally, how
(15:16):
in the hell do I marry her without any rigmarole
Izzie's face seemed to drop toward the floor. Sheila came
up off the couch with a choking cry and leaped
for the door. Mother Corey's immense arm moved out, casually
sweeping her back onto the couch. Very convenient, the old
(15:36):
man said, The two of you simply fill out a form.
I've got a few left from the last time, and
get Izzie and me to witness it. Drop it in
the mail, and you're married. If you think I'd marry you,
you've filthy, Sheila began. Mother Corey listened attentively, rich but
(15:57):
not very imaginative, he said thoughtfully. But she'll learn. Izzie.
I have a feeling we should let them settle their differences.
As the door shut behind them, Gordon yanked Sheila back
to the couch. Shut up. He told her, this isn't
a game. Hell's popping here. You know that better than
(16:18):
most people, and I'm up to my neck in it.
If I've got to marry you to keep you out
of my hair, I will. Her face was pasty white,
but she bent her head and fluttered her eyelashes up
at him, so romantic, she sighed, you sweep me off
my feet. You why you me or trench? I can
(16:43):
take you to him and tell him you're mixed up
in security and that you either have papers on you
or out at the chicken coop to prove it. He
won't believe you if I take you in well. She
looked up at him a long time in silence, and
the surprise in her eyes. You'd do it, you really would,
(17:05):
all right, I'll sign your damned papers. Ten minutes later,
he stood in what was now connecting double room, watching
Mother Corey nail up the hall door to the room
there was to be hers. There were no windows here,
and his own room had an excellent lock on it
already one he'd put on himself. Izzie came back as
(17:29):
Mother Corey finished the door and began knocking a small
pianel out of the connecting door. The old man was
surprisingly adept with his hands as he fitted hinges and
a catch to the panel and reinstalled it so that
Sheila couldn't swing it open. They're married, as he said,
it's in the mail to the register, along with twenty credits.
(17:53):
Gov'nor were about due to report in. Gordon nodded. Be
with you in a minute, he said, as he paid
Mother Corey for the materials in work. He jerked his
head and the two men went out, leaving him alone
with Sheila. I'll bring you some food to night, and
you may not have a private bath, but it beats
(18:14):
the chicken coop here. He handed her the key to
the connecting door. It's the only key. There is end
of chapter ten
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist
It’s 1996 in rural North Carolina, and an oddball crew makes history when they pull off America’s third largest cash heist. But it’s all downhill from there. Join host Johnny Knoxville as he unspools a wild and woolly tale about a group of regular ‘ol folks who risked it all for a chance at a better life. CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist answers the question: what would you do with 17.3 million dollars? The answer includes diamond rings, mansions, velvet Elvis paintings, plus a run for the border, murder-for-hire-plots, and FBI busts.