"Terry Dowling - Flashmen" - читать интересную книгу автора (Dowling Terry)

тАЬSunny.тАЭ

Both men carried their duelling sticks in plain sight as if it truly were
ten years before and the contract shut-downs and call-backs had never
happened.

тАЬWhatтАЩs the drift?тАЭ Sam asked, falling into the old ways in spite of
himself, as if the ten years were like smoke.

тАЬRaising a crew,тАЭ Sunny said. тАЬTrouble out in the Landings.тАЭ

тАЬSomeone thinks,тАЭ Walt added.

тАЬFlashpoint?тАЭ Sam asked, going straight to it. Major strike? Even: A
new Landing?

Walt studied the crowd, using a part of his skill few people knew
about. тАЬNot sure yet.тАЭ

Sam almost smiled at the melodrama. тАЬSomeone?тАЭ

тАЬOutatowner,тАЭ Sunny replied, which meant protected sources and
need to know and told Sam pretty much everything. Possibly no strike, no
flashpoint at all. But official. Some other reason.

Sam was careful not to smile, not to shake his head, just like on those
long-ago, never-so-long-ago days when Sam Aitchander, Wilt Senny and
Sunny Jim Cosimo belonged to as good a flash crew as you were likely to
find. тАЬBad idea right now, Sunny, Walt. The Sailmaker is still there.тАЭ

Telling it like it was. The Landing that could reach out. Snatch and
smash even the best.

тАЬNeed to make five,тАЭ Walt Senny said, a spade on gravel. Affectation,
most like, though how could you know? Sergio Leone and a hundred years
of marketing departments had a lot to answer for. тАЬFigured Angel for point
and you for star again, Sam.тАЭ

But the ten years were there. Things had changed.

тАЬOther business right now, Walt,тАЭ Sam said, trying to keep the
promise heтАЩd made to himself. тАЬNot sure the Landings are the place to be.тАЭ

Walt and Sunny expected it. They played their main card.

тАЬAnother crew going in as well,тАЭ Sunny said, which could very well be
before the fact knowing Walt and Sunny, a lie but a likelihood and a serious
one, what it implied. тАЬPunky Bannas is putting it together. The Crown
Regulators ride again!тАЭ