"Asimov, Isaac - Lucky Starr 04 - Lucky Starr and the Big Sun of Mercury" - читать интересную книгу автора (Asimov Isaac)

Bigman said, "This blaster is fully charged. I've killed men with it before, and I'm a dead shot.Ф
The enemy obviously had radio. He was obviously receiving, for he glanced at the blaster and made a motion as though to raise a hand to block off the blaster's force.
Bigman studied what he could see of the enemy's suit. It looked quite conventional (did the Sirians use such familiar models?).
Bigman said curtly, "Are you keyed in for radio transmission?Ф
There was sudden sound in his ears and he jumped. The voice was a familiar one, even under the disguising distortion of the radio; it said, "It's Peewee, isn't it?Ф
Never in his life had Bigman needed greater self-control to keep from using his blaster.
As it was, the weapon leaped convulsively in his hand and the figure facing him leaned quickly to one side.
"Urteil!" yelled Bigman.
His surprise turned to disappointment. No Sirian! Only Urteil!
Then the sharp thought: What was Urteil doing here?
Urteil said, "It's Urteil all right. So put away the bean-shooter.Ф
"That gets put away when I feel like it," said Big-man. "What are you doing here?Ф
"The mines of Mercury are not your private property, I think.Ф
"While I have the blaster they are, you fat-faced cobber." Bigman was thinking hard and, to a certain extent, futilely. What was there to do with this poisonous skunk? To take him back to the Dome would reveal the fact that Lucky was no longer in the mines. Bigman could tell them that Lucky had lingered behind, but then they would become either suspicious or concerned when Lucky failed to report. And of what crime could he accuse Urteil? The mines were free to all, at that.
On the other hand, he could not remain indefinitely pointing a blaster at the man.
If Lucky were here, he would knowЧ And as though a telephathic spark had crossed the vacuum between the two men, Urteil suddenly said, "And where's Starr, anyway?Ф
"That," said Bigman, "is nothing you have to worry about." Then, with sudden conviction, "You were following us, weren't you?" and he shoved his blaster forward a little as though encouraging the other to talk.
In the glare of Bigman's suit-light, the other's glassite-hidden face turned downward slightly as though to follow the blaster. He said, "What if I were?Ф
Again there was the impasse.
Bigman said, "You were going along a side passage. You were going to swing in behind us.Ф
"I said What if I were?" Urteil's voice had almost a lazy quality about it, as though its owner were thoroughly relaxed, as though he enjoyed having a blaster pointed at him.
Urteil went on. "But where's your friend? Near here?Ф
"I know where he is. No need for you to worry.Ф
"I insist on worrying. Call him. Your radio is on local transmission or I wouldn't hear you so well. . . . Do you mind if I turn on my fluid jet? I'm thirsty." His hand moved slowly.
"Careful," said Bigman.
"Just a drink.Ф
Bigman watched tensely. He did not expect a weapon to be activated by chest control, but the suit- light could be suddenly raised to blinding intensity, orЧorWell, anything.
But Urteil's fingers finished their motion while Bigman stood irresolute, and there was only the sound of swallowing.
"Scare you?" asked Urteil calmly.
Bigman could find nothing to say.
Urteil's voice grew sharp. "Well, call the man. Call Starr!Ф
Under the impact of the order, Bigman's hand began a movement and stopped.
Urteil laughed. "You almost adjusted radio controls, didn't you? You needed distance tranmission. He's nowhere near here, is he?Ф
"No such thing," cried Bigman hotly. He was burning with mortification. The large and poisonous Urteil was clever. There he stood, the target of a blaster, yet winning the battle, proving himself master of the situation, while with every passing second Bigman's own position, in which he could neither shoot nor lower his blaster, leave nor stay, grew more untenable.
Wildly the thought gnawed at him: Why not shoot?
But he knew he could not. He would be able to advance no reason. And even if he could, the violent death of Senator Swenson's man would make tremendous trouble for the Council of Science. And for Lucky!
If only Lucky were here Partly because he wished that so ardently, his heart leaped as Urteil's light lifted slightly and focused beyond him, and he heard Urteil say, "No, I'm wrong after all and you're right. Here he comes.Ф
Bigman whirled. "LuckyФ
In his right mind, Bigman would have waited calmly enough for Lucky to reach them, for Lucky's arm to be on his shoulder, but Bigman was not quite in his right mind. His position was impossible, his deske for a way out overwhelming.
He had time only for that one cry of "Lucky" before going down under the impact of a body fully twice as massive as his own.
For a few moments he retained the grip on his blaster, but another arm was tearing at his hand, strong fingers were wrenching and twisting his. Bigman's breath was knocked out of him, his brain was whirling with the suddenness of the attack, and his blaster went flying.
The weight lifted from him, and when he turned to struggle to his feet Urteil was towering over him and Bigman was staring into the muzzle of his own blaster.
"I have one of my own," said Urteil, grimly, "but I think I'd rather use yours. Don't move. Stay that way. On hands and knees. That's right.Ф
Never in his life had Bigman so hated himself. To be tricked and hoodwinked this way. He almost deserved death. He would almost rather die than ever have to face Lucky and say, "He looked behind me and said you were coming so I turnedФ
He said in a strangled voice, "Shoot, if you have the nerve for it. Shoot, and Lucky will track you down and see to it that you spend the rest of your life chained to the smallest, coldest asteroid ever used as a prison.Ф
"Lucky will do that? Where is he?Ф
"Find him.Ф
"I will because you'll tell me where he is. And tell me, too, why he came down to the mines in the first place. What's he doing here?Ф
"To find Sirians. You heard him.Ф
"To find comet gas," growled Urteil. "That senile fool, Peverale, may talk Sirians, but your friend never believed any of it. Not even if he only has the brains you do. He came down for another reason. You tell me.Ф