They were set high, a good five feet from lower sill to floor, and
there was no ceiling; the sloping roof was supported by bare timber
rafters. Racks lined the walls, under the windows, holding long-guns
and swords; the pistols and daggers and other small items were displayed
on a number of long tables. In the middle of the room, glaring at the
front door, was a brass four-pounder on a ship's carriage; a Philippine
_latanka_, muzzle tilted upward, stood beside it. Where the ell joined
the house under the shed roof, there was a fireplace, and a short flight
of steps to a landing and a door out of the dwelling, and some
furniture--a davenport, three or four deep chairs facing the fire, a low
cocktail-table, a cellarette, and, in the far corner, a big desk.
As Rand went toward the rear, a young man rose from one of the chairs,
laid aside a magazine, and advanced to meet him. He didn't exactly
harmonize with all the lethal array around him; he would have looked more
at home presiding over an establishment devoted to ladies' items. His
costume ran to pastel shades, he had large and soulful blue eyes and
prettily dimpled cheeks, and his longish blond hair was carefully
disordered into a windblown effect.
"Oh, good afternoon," he greeted.
Pages:
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63