"David,.Peter.-.Spider-Man.2" - читать интересную книгу автора (David Peter)

Spider-Man 2 By Peter David

Spider-Man and all related characters: TM & й 2004 Marvel Characters,
Inc.Spider-Man 2, the movie, й 2004 Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. All
rights reserved.


First Edition: May 2004
I
Otto Octavius needed several extra arms. Certainly the two he possessed were
proving inadequate.
Octavius was a darkly complexioned man, stout but reasonably muscular, hair
hanging loosely about his face with very little attention paid to tonsorial
trivialities. He was in his mid-forties and had an air about him that managed to
be both distracted and intense. In other words, he tended to be very focused on
things that had nothing to do with his whereabouts at any given moment.
He was busy trying to extricate himself from a taxicab on the corner of Sixth
Avenue and Greenwich Avenue, at the edge of the university campus. He held a
slide carousel in one hand; tucked in the crook of his other elbow was a folder
thick with notes, and he was clutching a briefcase with his remaining free hand.
This left him nothing with which to close the door except his foot, and he was
having difficulty maintaining his balance. Then the cabbie informed him, with no
small sense of irritation, that the twenty Octavius thought heТd handed him was
actually a ten. Now he had to try to get at his wallet.
He muttered under his breath, tried to figure what he could put down where, and
was extremely relieved when a familiar voice called from behind him, УOtto!Ф
A blondish man in a lab coat ran up to him. УOtto, we were supposed to meet at
the southeast corner! This is the southwest!Ф
УIs it?Ф Octavius asked distractedly. УIТm sorry, Curtis, IТm not a shipТs
navigator, you know. Can you lend me a hand?Ф
УIf the one will be sufficient, then certainly.Ф
Octavius winced as he glanced at the flapping sleeve of ConnorsТ lab coat,
pinned at the right shoulder, underscoring the lack of an arm.
УSorry, Curtis,Ф Octavius muttered to Connors.
УYo! Buddy!Ф snapped the cabdriver.
УI amnot your buddy,Ф Octavius informed him archly.
УDamn right! What about my money?Ф
УCurtis,Ф said Octavius, nodding toward his right coat pocket. УWould you mind
pulling out my wallet? The man needs another ten.Ф
УDonТt worry, itТs my treat,Ф said Connors, removing a roll of bills from his
pocket and deftly extracting a ten.
УCurtis, I canТt allow you toЧФ
УDonТt be ridiculous. ItТs my pleasure, Otto,Ф Connors interrupted, handing the
money to the cabbie. УItТs the very least I can do. After all, you did agree to
come down here and speak to my students.Ф
УYes, wellЕ I suppose I did,Ф admitted Octavius. УBut I insist on buying you
lunch afterward.Ф
Having paid the cabbie, Connors took OttoТs briefcase to help ease his load.
УI truly am sorry about the Сlend a handТ comment, Curtis. It was insensitive of me.Ф
УNonsense.Ф