Commissioner Tate had been studying the gun’s label.
“This says the gun kills instantly,” he observed.
“It does kill instantly,” Mantelish said, “if aimed at an attacking Rumlian fire roach. I designed it to aid in the eradication of that noisome species. On the human organism it has only a brief paralyzing effect.”
“It makes you look revolting, too!” Trigger said, studying him fascinatedly.
“A minor matter, my dear. Within an hour or two I shall have regained my normal appearance.”
Holati Tate sighed, placed the gun back on the table. “Well we should be able to pick up your friends since we know who they are,” he said. “I’ll alert the spaceports immediately and get Scout Intelligence on the job. We’re lucky though that they didn’t get more of a head start.”
Mantelish held up his hand. “Please don’t concern yourself about the Tang drug, Holati,” he said. “I’ve notified the police and Fiam and Welk will be arrested very shortly.”
The Commissioner said doubtfully, “Well, our Maccadon police—”
“The matter will require no brilliance on their part, Holati. Fiam informed me he and Welk intended to be enjoying themselves innocently at a social function within twenty minutes after leaving this laboratory. That was approximately half an hour ago . . .” Professor Mantelish nodded at the ComWeb. “I expect the police to call at any moment, to advise me they have been picked up.”
“Better not take a chance on that, Professor,” Trigger warned. “They might change their plans now they have the stuff, and decide to get off the planet immediately.”
“It would make very little difference, Trigger. If Paes Fiam had waited until the official report on the Tang planet was out he would have known better than to force me to inject him with the immortality drug. Aside from their savage ways the Tang are literally an unapproachable people while under its influence; I and the various members of our expedition who experimented with it on ourselves had to wait several months for its effect to wear off again before we were able to return to civilization. We would not have been able to live among the Tang at all if we had not had our olfactory centers temporarily shutoff.”
“Olfactory centers?” said Trigger.
“Yes. It was absolutely necessary. Within half an hour after being administered to an animal organism, the Tang drug produces the most offensive and hideously penetrating stench I have ever encountered. Wherever Paes Fiam and Welk may be on the planet, they have by now been prostrated by it and are unmistakably advertising their presence to anyone within half a mile of them. I have advised the police that space helmets will be needed by the men sent to arrest them, and—”
He broke off as the ComWeb began shrilling its summons, added, “Ah, there is the call I have been expecting! Perhaps you’ll take it, Trigger? Say I’m indisposed; I’m afraid the authorities may be feeling rather irritable with me at the moment.”
Complete Short Fiction (Jerry eBooks) Page 261