"Asimov, Isaac - Cleon the Emperor" - читать интересную книгу автора (Asimov Isaac)

She stopped for a moment when she reached Raych, and then let herself drop smoothly into an adjacent chair.

УHello,Ф she said, Уyou don't look like a regular here.Ф

Raych smiled. УI'm not. Do you know all the regulars?Ф

УJust about,Ф she said, unembarrassed. УMy name is Manella. What's yours?Ф

Raych was more regretful than ever. She was quite tall, taller than he himself was without his heelsЧsomething he always found attractiveЧhad a milky complexion, and long, softly wavy hair that had distinct glints of dark red in it. Her clothing was not too garish and she might, if she had tried very hard, have passed as a respectable woman of the not-too-hard-working class.

Raych said, УMy name doesn't matter. I don't have much money.Ф

УOh. Too bad.Ф Manella made a face. УCan't you get some?Ф

УI'd like to. I need a job. Do you know of any?Ф

УWhat kind of job?Ф

Raych shrugged. УI don't have any experience in anything fancy, but I ain't proud.Ф

She looked at him thoughtfully. УI'll tell you what, nameless. Sometimes it doesn't take much money.Ф

Raych froze at once. He had been successful enough with women, but with his mustacheЧhis mustache. What could she see in his baby-face?

He said, УTell you what. I had a friend living here a couple of weeks ago and I can't find him. Since you know all the regulars, maybe you know him. His name is Kaspalov. Kaspal Kaspalov.Ф He raised his voice slightly.

She stared at him blankly and shook her head. УI don't know anybody by that name.Ф

УToo bad. He was a Joranumite, and so am I.Ф Again, a blank look. УDo you know what a Joranumite is?Ф

She shook her head. УN-no. I've heard the word but don't know what it means. Is it some kind of job?Ф

Raych felt disappointed.

He said, УIt would take too long to explain.Ф

It sounded like a dismissal and, after a moment of uncertainty, she rose, and drifted away. She did not smile, and Raych was a little surprised that she had remained as long as she did after it was established that he couldn't afford her.

(Well, Seldon always insisted he had the capacity to inspire affection, but surely not in a business woman. For them, payment was the thing. Of course, it meant they overlooked a man being short, but a number of pleasant ordinary women didn't seem to mind.)

His eyes followed Manella automatically as she stopped at another table, where a man was seated by himself. He was of early middle age, with butter-yellow hair, slicked back. He was very smooth-shaven, but it seemed to Raych he could have used a beard, his chin being too prominent and a bit asymmetric.

Apparently, she had no better luck with this beardless one. A few words were exchanged, and she moved on. Too bad, but it was impossible for her to fail often, surely. She was unquestionably desirable. It was surely just a matter of financial arrangements.

He found himself thinking, quite involuntarily, of what the upshot would be if he, after all, couldЧand then realized he had been joined by someone else. It was a man this time. It was, in fact, the man to whom Manella had just spoken.

He was astonished that his own preoccupation had allowed him to be thus approached and, in effect, caught by surprise. He couldn't very well afford this sort of thing.

The man looked at him with a glint of curiosity in his eyes. УYou were just talking to a friend of mine.Ф