She Knew He Was Coming

by Kris Neville

obedient girl, do as I say. If he hasn't come by now, hejust won't. He's gone to some other house."

  "No!" Mary said doggedly.

  "Just remember, tomorrow, how you deliberately disobeyed me. Your sillyemotions are costing me money, and that's one thing I simply won't standfor."

  "He'll come." Mary said. "You won't lose money."

  Couples sat side by side, laughing, talking in whispers. Occasionallythere were giggles. The room began to empty slowly.

  The lights continued to dim until the rooms were gloomy. Even theshifting shades of the color organ were no more than a faint ambience.Anne, laughing, helped her second mate to his feet.

  "I'll give you one more chance," Miss Bestris said. "The next man thatcomes in...."

  "No! I just couldn't! Not tonight!"

  A few more customers drifted in. Then even the stragglers stoppedcoming. It was very late.

  "He's deserted you; you see that now?" Madame Bestris sneered.

  Mary stood up. There were tears in her eyes. "You can't--youdon't--know--how I feel," she choked. "You don't care!" She turned andran up the stairs, crying.

  Several Earthmen, still in the big room, turned to watch. The torcheswere misty twinkles now. The last couples climbed the stairs and thenMiss Bestris, too, went to bed.

  * * * * *

  The blue morning came. The town awoke; commerce began.

  At seven, Miss Bestris lay in bed frowning, considering the events ofthe previous evening. But she was not so annoyed that she forgot to calla doctor on the teleview and arrange for him to come at nine to give aphysical examination.

  Her bulk out of bed, she dressed and went to the kitchen to brew a potof hemp tea. The cleaning maid, moving about in the next room, heardMiss Bestris call sharply: "Flavia! Come in here!"

  Flavia appeared with a dust rag in her hand.

  "Did you cut this cake?"

  "No, ma'am."

  Miss Bestris glowered. "That little idiot! She must have slipped downhere after we were all asleep and sat here and cried her silly littleeyes out! If she thinks she can pull that love-sick act on me she'llsoon find out different. Am I supposed to put up with having her moonover every space tramp that comes in? Why, I've taken more from her--!"

  "Yes, ma'am."

  Miss Bestris waddled to the stairs, climbed them determinedly. At Mary'sdoor she stopped and twisted the knob. Locked!

  Miss Bestris hammered. "Open up, Mary!" The door rattled under her hand."Open that door at once!"

  No answer.

  Miss Bestris pounded harder. "Open up, I say!"

  Anne sauntered into the hall, her dressing gown swishing. "She reallymade you look the fool last night, didn't she?" Anne said lazily.

  "You--you slut! Mind your own business."

  Anne smiled and shrugged.

  "Open the door, Mary! Do you hear me! Open it!"

  "Maybe she killed herself," Anne said. "It has happened."

  "My God! No.... She wouldn't dare. You think she would?"

  Anne shrugged again. "They do funny things sometimes."

  Miss Bestris' face was red. "Run down and get my keys. In my desk. Youknow where they are."

  Then, "_For God's sake, hurry!_"

  While she waited Miss Bestris rattled the door, pleading and cursing.

  Finally Anne returned. Miss Bestris snatched the key with a shakinghand. She hurled the door open and burst inside.

  "See here, you little--!" She stopped.

  The room was empty.

  On the neatly made bed reposed a little stack of money. When MissBestris got around to counting it, she found that it contained exactlynine hundred and ten _dordocs_.

  THE END

  * * * * *

  Transcriber's Notes:

  This etext was produced from If Worlds of Science Fiction May 1953.Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S.copyright on this publication was renewed.

  Obvious punctuation errors repaired.

  Page 39 word "lambence" changed to "ambience" (no more than a faintambience) meaning a faint light.