"Alan Dean Foster - Flinx 1 - For love of Mother-Not" - читать интересную книгу автора (Foster Alan Dean)

short. There were shouts, then yells of outrage and loud cursing from a dozen different throats.
To the left, past the shielding bulk of the ornithorpe behind her, she could just make out the
bright purple flash of uniformed gendarmes, their slickertics glaring in the dim light. This group
seemed to be moving with more than usual energy.
She turned and fought her way forward and to the right, where a series of steps led to the
platform. Halfway up the stairs, she squinted back into the crowd. The purple тАШtics were just
merging into the first wall of office and shop complexes. Ahead of them a massive human shape
bobbed and dipped as it retreated from the pursuing police.
Mother Mastiff permitted herself a knowing nod. There were those who might want a young boy for
other than humanitarian purposes. Some of them had criminal dossiers on file that stretched as far
back as her lifeline. Obviously someone in the crowd, a salaried informer, perhaps, had recognized
the individual bidding against her and had notified the authorities, who had responded with
commendable speed.
тАЬOne hundred credits, then,тАЭ the disappointed official announced from the platform. тАЬDo I hear any
more?тАЭ Naturally, she would not, but she played out the game for appearanceтАЩs sake. A moment
passed in silence. She shrugged, glanced over to where Mother Mastiff still stood on the
stairway. тАЬHeтАЩs yours, old woman.тАЭ Not тАЬmadamтАЭ any longer, Mother Mastiff thought sardonically.
тАЬPay up, and mind the regulations, now.тАЭ
тАЬIтАЩve been dealing with the regulations of this government since long before ye were born, woman.тАЭ
She mounted the last few steps and, ignoring the official and the boy, strode back toward the
Processing Office. Inside, a bored clerk glanced up at her, noted the transaction-complete record
as it was passed to his desktop computer terminal, and asked matter-of-factly, тАЬName?тАЭ
тАЬMastiff,тАЭ the visitor replied, leaning on her cane.
тАЬThat the last name?тАЭ
тАЬFirst and last.тАЭ
тАЬMastiff Mastiff?тАЭ The clerk gave her a sour look.
тАЬJust Mastiff,тАЭ the old woman said.
тАЬThe government prefers multiple names.тАЭ
тАЬYe know what the government can do with its preferences.тАЭ
The clerk sighed. He tapped the terminalтАЩs keys. тАЬAge?тАЭ
тАЬNone of your business.тАЭ She gave it a momentтАЩs thought and added, тАЬPut down old.тАЭ
The clerk did so, shaking his head dolefully. тАЬIncome?тАЭ
тАЬSufficient.тАЭ
тАЬNow look here, you,тАЭ the clerk began exasperated, тАЬin such matters as the acquisition of
responsibility for welfared individuals, the city government requires certain specifics.тАЭ
тАЬThe city government can shove its specifics in after its preferences.тАЭ Mother Mastiff gestured
toward the platform with her cane, a wide, sweeping gesture that the clerk had the presence of
mind to duck. тАЬThe bidding is over. The other bidder has taken his leave. Hastily. Now I can take
my money and go home, or I can contribute to the governmentтАЩs balance of payments and to your
salary. Which is it to be?тАЭ
тАЬOh, all right,тАЭ the clerk agreed petulantly. He completed his entries and punched a key. A
seemingly endless form spat from the printout slot. Folded, it was about half a centimeter thick.
тАЬRead these.тАЭ
Mother Mastiff hefted the sheaf of forms. тАЬWhat are they?тАЭ
тАЬRegulations regarding your new charge. The boy is yours to raise, not to mistreat. Should you


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