Dydeetown World Read online

  "Why Neeka?"

  "Because Jean will be there. She fascinates me. I want to get to know her better. And maybe, if things work out..."

  He let the sentence trail off.

  "She's sterile, you know," I said, for no good reason I could think of.

  "Of course. But there'll be more than enough of kids around, don't you think? What're your plans, Sig?"

  Shrugged. "More of the same."

  "No plans for heading Out Where All the Good Folks Go?"

  "Not a chance. Born an Earthie, gonna stay an Earthie."

  "Want to work for Brode?"

  "Not interested," I said. "Don't like politicos, no matter what the wrapper."

  "Good for you." He stood and held up his thumb. "Got to run. Where do I pay?"

  Waved him off. "It's on me."

  We all shook hands and he left. Doc turned to me.

  "You mean to tell me you're not even tempted to try a new life on Neeka?"

  "Not the least."

  "Even though Jean and B.B. practically begged you to come along?"

  "Me? A farmer?"

  "There's got to be something there for you. They've got cities—"

  "They've got towns, Doc. Little towns scattered all over the map."

  The thought of all those far horizons and wide-open spaces made me shudder.

  "It'll be a shame to let her go," Doc said, eyeing me over his vial of vapor.

  Took instant offense at that.

  "She's nothing to me."

  He laughed. "What kind of a jog do you take me for? You should have seen your face when Lum talked about heading out to Neeka and maybe marrying her."

  "You've been whiffing too much, Doc. You've got permanent brain damage."

  He wandered off to the bar and left me sitting there thinking about emigrating to Neeka. Crazy idea. And yet, maybe there'd be something out there for a roguey guy like me. Something other than farming. Anything but farming.

  It was a thought. A remote maybe.

  Wondered if there'd be anything for Ignatz to eat on Neeka.

  Table of Contents

  DYDEETOWN WORLD

  Foreword

  Part One

  -1-

  -2-

  -3-

  -4-

  -5-

  -6-

  -7-

  -8-

  -9-

  -10-

  -11-

  -12-

  -13-

  -14-

  PART TWO

  -1-

  -2-

  -3-

  -4-

  -5-

  -6-

  -7-

  -8-

  -9-

  -10-

  -11-

  -12-

  -13-

  -14-

  PART THREE

  -1-

  -2-

  -3-

  -4-

  -5-

  -6-

  -7-

  -8-

  -9-

  -10-

  -11-

  -12-

  -13-

  -14-

  -15-

  Epilogue