The Star-Sent Knaves
By Keith Laumer
()
About this ebook
Keith Laumer
John Keith Laumer (June 9, 1925 – January 23, 1993) was an American science fiction author. Prior to becoming a full-time writer, he was an officer in the United States Air Force and a diplomat in the United States Foreign Service. His older brother March Laumer was also a writer, known for his adult reinterpretations of the Land of Oz (also mentioned in Laumer's The Other Side of Time). Frank Laumer, their youngest brother, is a historian and writer.
Read more from Keith Laumer
Retief: Diplomat-at-Arms Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Worlds of the Imperium Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRetief: The Star-Sent Knaves Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRetief: The Yillian Way Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Night of the Trolls Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Keith Laumer MEGAPACK®: 21 Classic Stories Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A Trace of Memory Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5End as a Hero Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Retief: The Madman from Earth Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsKeith Laumer Super Pack Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWorlds of the Imperium Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Fourth Time Travel MEGAPACK® Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRetief: The Frozen Planet Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Retief: Mightiest Qorn Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Science Fiction Omnibus #1 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Governor of Glave: A Retief Story Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Cultural Exchange Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Retief: Saline Solution Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRetief of the Red-Tape Mountain Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsEnd as a Hero: With linked Table of Contents Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCocoon Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSaline Solution Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGreylorn Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Greylorn Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Retief: The Governor of Glave Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGambler's World Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Long Remembered Thunder Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRetief: The Desert and the Stars Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRetief: Aide Memoire Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBlack Cat Weekly #1: Mystery and Science Fiction Novels and Short Stories Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related to The Star-Sent Knaves
Related ebooks
The Star-Sent Knaves Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSummer Night, Winter Moon Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Case-Book of Jimmy Lavender Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Elsewhere Emporium Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Tin Soldier Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Matter of Time Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Nowhere Emporium Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Forger of Light: Celine Skye Psychic Mystery Series, #2 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPlotting The Play Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Man Who Could Not Shudder Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Hours of the Virgin Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Not Being Dead Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Unexpected Landlord Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Double Double Cross Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Tangle of Traitors Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Lotus Crew Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSecrets Never Die: Clare Woodbrook, #2 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCardinal Black Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Sniffing Out a Crime - Dog Fosterer Museum Mysteries: An Art Detective Dog Lover's Short Story, #1 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPerfect Gallows: A Crime Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Illusion of Innocence Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Winter of Despair Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5V for Victory: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Aaron's Rod (Centaur Classics) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Russian Idea Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Lady Doc Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBlackcollar Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Dark Lords Stir: Evil Arising Cycle Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBearcats and Bulldogs Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Assassin Prince Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Science Fiction For You
A Psalm for the Wild-Built Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Warrior of the Light: A Manual Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Silo Series Collection: Wool, Shift, Dust, and Silo Stories Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Alchemist: A Graphic Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Ocean at the End of the Lane: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Sarah J. Maas: Series Reading Order - with Summaries & Checklist Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Sunlit Man: Secret Projects, #4 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This Is How You Lose the Time War Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Flowers for Algernon Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Wool: Book One of the Silo Series Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Annihilation: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England: Secret Projects, #2 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Frankenstein: Original 1818 Uncensored Version Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I Who Have Never Known Men Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Institute: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5How High We Go in the Dark: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Perelandra: (Space Trilogy, Book Two) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Roadside Picnic Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Authority: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Dark Tower: And Other Stories Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Stories of Ray Bradbury Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Going Postal Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas: A Story Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Kindred: A Graphic Novel Adaptation Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Deep Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Dust: Book Three of the Silo Series Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5That Hideous Strength: (Space Trilogy, Book Three) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Rendezvous with Rama Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Reviews for The Star-Sent Knaves
0 ratings0 reviews
Book preview
The Star-Sent Knaves - Keith Laumer
THE STAR-SENT KNAVES
Keith Laumer
ENDYMION PRESS
Thank you for reading. If you enjoy this book, please leave a review.
All rights reserved. Aside from brief quotations for media coverage and reviews, no part of this book may be reproduced or distributed in any form without the author’s permission. Thank you for supporting authors and a diverse, creative culture by purchasing this book and complying with copyright laws.
Copyright © 2016 by Keith Laumer
Published by Endymion Press
Interior design by Pronoun
Distribution by Pronoun
ISBN: 9781531299064
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I
II
III
IV
V
I
~
CLYDE W. SNITHIAN WAS A bald eagle of a man, dark-eyed, pot-bellied, with the large, expressive hands of a rug merchant. Round-shouldered in a loose cloak, he blinked small reddish eyes at Dan Slane’s travel-stained six foot one.
Kelly here tells me you’ve been demanding to see me.
He nodded toward the florid man at his side. He had a high, thin voice, like something that needed oiling. Something about important information regarding safeguarding my paintings.
That’s right, Mr. Snithian,
Dan said. I believe I can be of great help to you.
Help how? If you’ve got ideas of bilking me....
The red eyes bored into Dan like hot pokers.
Nothing like that, sir. Now, I know you have quite a system of guards here—the papers are full of it—
Damned busybodies! Sensation-mongers! If it wasn’t for the press, I’d have no concern for my paintings today!
Yes sir. But my point is, the one really important spot has been left unguarded.
Now, wait a minute—
Kelly started.
What’s that?
Snithian cut in.
You have a hundred and fifty men guarding the house and grounds day and night—
Two hundred and twenty-five,
Kelly snapped.
—but no one at all in the vault with the paintings,
Slane finished.
Of course not,
Snithian shrilled. Why should I post a man in the vault? It’s under constant surveillance from the corridor outside.
The Harriman paintings were removed from a locked vault,
Dan said. There was a special seal on the door. It wasn’t broken.
By the saints, he’s right,
Kelly exclaimed. Maybe we ought to have a man in that vault.
Another idiotic scheme to waste my money,
Snithian snapped. I’ve made you responsible for security here, Kelly! Let’s have no more nonsense. And throw this nincompoop out!
Snithian turned and stalked away, his cloak flapping at his knees.
I’ll work cheap,
Dan called after him as Kelly took his arm. I’m an art lover.
Never mind that,
Kelly said, escorting Dan along the corridor. He turned in at an office and closed the door.
Now, as the old buzzard said, I’m responsible for security here. If those pictures go, my job goes with them. Your vault idea’s not bad. Just how cheap would you work?
A hundred dollars a week,
Dan said promptly. Plus expenses,
he added.
Kelly nodded. I’ll fingerprint you and run a fast agency check. If you’re clean, I’ll put you on, starting tonight. But keep it quiet.
Dan looked around at the gray walls, with shelves stacked to the low ceiling with wrapped paintings. Two