The Project Gutenberg EBook of Modus Vivendi, by Gordon Randall Garrett

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Title: Modus Vivendi

Author: Gordon Randall Garrett

Illustrator: Schoenherr

Release Date: October 22, 2009 [EBook #30311]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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Transcriber's Note:

This etext was produced from Analog Science Fact & Fiction September
1961. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S.
copyright on this publication was renewed.

MODUS VIVENDI

By WALTER BUPP

_It's undoubtedly difficult to live with someone who is
Different. He must, because he is Different, live by other
ways. But what makes it so difficult is that, for some
reason he thinks you are Different!_

_Illustrated by Schoenherr_

* * * * *

By the time I got to the office, I was jittery as a new bride. The day
started out all wrong. I woke up weak and washed out. I was pathetic
when I worked out with the weights--they felt as heavy as the
Pyramids. And when I walked from the subway to the building where Mike
Renner and I have our offices, an obvious telepath tailed me all the
way.

I was ready for a scrap. St. Francis himself would have irritated the
hell out of me, and I'd have gone speechless with rage at the mere
sight of sweet Alice Ben Bolt. The guy sitting with Mike in our law
library didn't have a chance.

"What's this?" I growled, seeing Mike seated silent and staring at our
caller across the big table. There wasn't a book or sheet of foolscap
resting on the walnut. Work hadn't started. They were lying in wait
for me. Well, I was lying in wait for the first guy who opened his
mouth.

"The Grievance Committee!" Mike said in a tone of stifled fury. "This
is Horace Dunn."

"_Carpe Diem_," I snarled at Horace, a hammered-down heavyweight.
"What's Renner done now?"

"Me?" Renner demanded, letti