"Eric Flint - Rats ,Bats and Vats" - читать интересную книгу автора (Flint Eric)

Lying was possible, of course, especially to such as these. Primitive
creatures, really, the female as much as the male. But the Expediter thought
that it would still be very difficult. Any explanation as to why the starship
had left so hastily would seem contrived -- even to the two stupid beings who
were bombarding the Expediter with their clamor.
The Expediter pondered the matter for some time before coming to its
conclusion.
No. Further prevarication would hardly be worth the effort. Besides, the
Expediter thought that it was time to discover how well the protease haemato-
toxin affected this species.
The dart-spines targeted, ocelli orientating them to center on the soft,
bulging midriff-masses. The two beings in the room made no attempt to escape.
They simply continued their babble. Apparently, they did not recognize the
purpose of the spines. An interesting datum.
Razor-tipped, barbed harpoon-darts streaked out, each trailing their
protoplasm hose. The skewering force of the darts cut into the gold head-
filamented female in mid-shrill. Her bleat became a scream as the Expediter's
internal myomeres pumped the massive dose of digestive-toxin into the soft-
bodies.
The creatures threshed. The Expediter studied the ensuing process with
interest.
Cell-lysis caused the circulatory fluids to pour out of the eating and scent-
detection orifices. The soft, pallid epidermis ulcerated and erupted, spraying
liquefied flesh. The bipedal beings were now twisting and writhing in bizarre
contortions.
Another interesting datum. The Expediter had not realized that their vertebral
columns could bend as far as that. Endoskeletons were strange biological
adaptations. It made a note of that flexibility.
The Expediter watched as lysis continued. A full two minutes passed before the
bodies finally lay still. Also worth noting. The digestive-toxin was not
rapid, but it was effective. That, of course, was to be expected. The
Overphyle had yet to discover a sentient species immune to it.
The Expediter disengaged the barbs of its harpoon darts, pulled them out and
winched them back into itself. Then, after a moment's hesitation, decided not
to feed. It was not particularly hungry, and there was always a slight risk
with ingesting untested alien protein.
Multiple ocelli checked the room. Other than the two sprawled, bloody, ruined
bodies there were no signs of the Expediter's passage.
Calmly, it left, locking the door behind it. In the silent and luxuriously
appointed room, the only trace that remained of the murderer's identity was a
faint camphor-naphthalene scent. That would dissipate within a few minutes.
The Expediter itself was quite oblivious to the smell, but it hardly mattered.
By the time the servants found the bodies, the odor would be indistinguishable
from the general reek.


Chapter 1:
Under Enemy Attack.
DOWN IN THE BUNKER the music issuing from Chip Connolly's small portable radio
stopped. "We interrupt this broadcast of Forces-Favorite Radio with a