Book information

 

 

"THERE'S NOTHING

HERE TO SCARE A MARINE ..."

 

            "Get it out, get it out! No! I'm not going!" Magnan yelped. Then he fell to his knees and looked up at Retief in desperation. Behind him, Red was doggedly trying to creep uphill.

 

            "Feller's gotta do what a feller's gotta do," he explained.

 

            Magnan scrambled up beside Retief. "Hurry!" he urged. "We have to do as it says! Otherwise ..."

 

            "Mr. Retief," Bill blurted, "don't you hear it too?"

 

            "I didn't hear anything to scare a Marine, Bill."

 

            "Yes, Mother, I'm coming," Magnan added in a conversational tone. "Coming Sergeant?"

Alone now, Retief was scanning the crest of the slope above when the Voice spoke quite clearly, impinging not on his ears but thrusting in among his thoughts.

 

            ... there's a good fellow! I was beginning to think you'd never lower that impressive shield of yours! now, if you'll just come along with the others, I want to explain certain matters to you before disaster overtakes us all ...

 

            Retief heard a sound from ahead, and turned quickly to see a carpet of wriggling foot-long creatures with large glowing eyes advancing toward him in an undulating wave; then a silent impact behind his eyes, and blackness closed in.

 

 

 

KEITH LAUMER

REWARD FOR

RETIEF

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BAEN

BOOKS

 

 

 

REWARD FOR RETIEF

 

This is a work of fiction. All the characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental.

 

Copyright © 1989 by Keith Laumer

 

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form.

 

A Baen Book

Baen Publishing Enterprises

260 Fifth Avenue

New York, N.Y. 10001

 

First Baen printing, February 1989

 

ISBN: 0-671-69804-4

 

Cover art by Gary Ruddell

 

Printed in the United States of America

 

Distributed by

SIMON & SCHUSTER

1230 Avenue of the Americas

New York, N.Y. 10020

 

 

* * * * * *

Back cover

 

 

 

"In Zany-Doo did Jame Retief

a stately pleasure dome decree ..."

 

            Retief's latest assignment is on Zany-Doo, a wild, undeveloped planet whose residents have a marked dislike for Terrans. The caterpilleroid natives seem to have something to hide, but neither Ambassador Spoilsport nor Retief's ineffable boss, Ben Magnan, can figure out what it might be. Then Retief and Magnan stumble into an idyllic enclave unlike anything else they've seen—and realize just how special Zany-Doo is. The planet is at the center of a trans-temporal flux where the very nature of reality can be transformed by a thought.

 

            But even in a world where reality is subject to whim, honor, courage and determination will carry the day. After all, Retief is just a state of mind ...