"L. Sprague De Camp - The Hostage of Zir" - читать интересную книгу автора (De Camp L Sprague)

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The outfitter was the first Krishnan whom Reith had seen at close range. He was
about the size and shape of a tall, lean earthmanтАФtaller than Reith, who was of
good height himself. The Krishnan's skin had a faint olive-green tinge and his
hair a dark, bluish-green sheen. His features were not unlike those of Reith's
touristsтАФall but one of them CaucasoidsтАФbut flatter and more oriental-looking.

When Reith looked closely, he picked out many small differences: the pointed
ears, the form of the teeth, and so on. The most conspicuous feature was the
Krishnan's external organs of smell: a pair of feathery appendages, like a moth's
antennae. They sprouted up and out from the inner ends of the Krishnan's
eyebrows, like a pair of extra brows.

Castanhoso explained: "Years ago, earthmen went out disguised with wigs and
dyes. It was not safe to travel otherwise. Now we have normal relations with
nearby states, and their people know we are not all scoundrels or sorcerers.
Likewise, they are no longer so easily fooled; most of them know a terran voice.
For the more distant parts, however, we still advise the old disguises. Now I
present Mr. Sivird bad-Fatehan, our outfitter."

The Krishnan said: "May ze stars favor you. Ze Senhor Dom Herculeu and I, we
have already discuss your requirements. You will need some rough clozes for ze
outdoors, and formal costumes for presentation at ze court of DurтАж"

Because of lack of space, the tourists had brought few changes of clothes. For
most sightseeing, terran garments would do; but it was thought that, for the court
of Dur, it was better to follow local custom.

Is this one of those courts," said Silvester Pride, "where the dames go around
with bare tits? Boy, I can't wait to see that!"

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"You are mistaken, Mr. Pride," said Castanhoso coldly. "That is the custom at
Rosid and Hershid, but Baianch is nearly a thousand kilometers north of here. I
must warn all of you that you will need to dress more warmly. It is like going
from your Philadelphia toтАФtoтАФwhat would be an example, Mr. Reith?"

Reith thought. "Montreal."

For formal outfits, most of the party chose sober costumes. But the two tanned,
muscular young men, Considine and Turner, who jingled with jewellery and kept