"Harlan Ellison - Paladin of the Lost Hour" - читать интересную книгу автора (Ellison Harlan)

him?

A flapping shape, screaming something unintelligible, hit the center of the group atfull speed. The
carnaby-gloved hand reaching for the watch grasped at empty air onemoment, and the next was buried
under its owner as the boy was struck a crackback blockthat threw him face first into the soggy ground.
He tried to rise, but something stompedhim at the base of his spine; something kicked him twice in the
kidneys; something rolledover him like a flash flood.

Twisting, twisting, the very old man put his thumb in the right eye of the boyclutching his collar.

The great trenchcoated maelstrom that was Billy Kinetta whirled into the boy as he letloose of the old
man on the ground and, howling, slapped a palm against his stinging eye.Billy locked his fingers and
delivered a roundhouse wallop that sent the boy reelingbackward to fall over Minna's tilted headstone.

Billy's back was to the old man. He did not see the miraculous pocket watch smoothlydescend through
rain that did not touch it, to hover in front of the old man. He did notsee the old man reach up, did not see
the timepiece snuggle into an arthritic hand, didnot see the old man return the turnip to an inside jacket
pocket.

Wind, rain and Billy Kinetta pummeled two young men of a legal age that made themaccountable for
their actions. There was no thought of the knife stuck down in one boot,no chance to reach it, no moment
when the wild thing let them rise. So they crawled. Theyscrabbled across the muddy ground, the slippery
grass, over graves and out of his reach.They ran; falling, rising, falling again; away, without looking
back.

Billy Kinetta, breathing heavily, knees trembling, turned to help the old man to hisfeet; and found him
standing, brushing dirt from his overcoat, snorting in anger andmumbling to himself.

"Are you all right?"

For a moment the old man's recitation of annoyance continued, then he snapped his chindown sharply as
if marking end to the situation, and looked at his cavalry to the rescue."That was very good, young fella.
Considerable style you've got there."

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 Harlan Ellison - Paladin of the Lost Hour



Billy Kinetta stared at him wide-eyed. "Are you sure you're okay?" He reachedover and flicked several
blades of wet grass from the shoulder of the old man's overcoat.

"I'm fine. I'm fine but I'm wet and I'm cranky. Let's go somewhere and have a nicecup of Earl Grey."

There had been a look on Billy Kinetta's face as he stood with lowered eyes, staring atthe grave he had
come to visit. The emergency had removed that look. Now it returned.

"No, thanks. If you're okay, I've got to do some things."

The old man felt himself all over, meticulously, as he replied, "I'm onlysuperficially bruised. Now if I