The Opal, and Other Stories Read online

  By the way, old chap, I meant to say that the apes are no danger to us any more, just in case you were concerned for my safety. We too have decorated our backsides with tinsel and, as long as we are careful to suppress any sign of intelligence when the animals approach, they take us for officers and treat us with great respect, so that we are completely safe. You might feel that shows a certain lack of principle, but there are some concessions you have to make if you live among orang-utans.

  But I’ll have to finish quickly now, outside I can hear the patriotic apes approaching with their smart

  ‘Gwaaah-gwek! Gwaaah-gwek!’

  Hearty but hasty greetings from your old friend,

  Egon Ipse.

  Translated by Mark Mitchell

  Copyright

  Published in the UK by Dedalus Limited,

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  [email protected]

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  ISBN

  printed book 978 1 873982 30 3 ISBN

  e-book 978 1 907650 96 3

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  Publishing History

  First published in Germany in 7973

  First published by Dedalus in 1994

  First ebook edition in 2012

  Translation of introduction copyright © Dedalus 1994

  Printed in Finland by Bookwell Typeset by Refine Catch

  This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, re-sold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

  A C.I.P. Listing for this book is available on request.