"Alan Dean Foster - Flinx 2 - Tar Aiym Krang" - читать интересную книгу автора (Foster Alan Dean)

Fortunately that made no difference to the audience. He could not have promised interpretations.
There!
'Good sir, you have in your pocket four tenth pieces, two hundredth pieces ... and a key
admitting you & certain club that...'
'Stop, stop!' The man was waving his gnarled hands frantically and glancing awkwardly at
those in the crowd nearest him. That will do! I am convinced.' He dug into his pocket, came out
with a handful of change, thrust the troublesome key back out of sight of the curious who leaned
close for a look. He started to hand over the coins, then paused almost absently, a look of
perplexity on his face. It changed slowly to one of surprise.


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'By Pali's tide-bore, the whelp is right! Forty-two hundredths. He's right!' He hand ad
over the corns and left, mumbling to himself.
Flying coins punctuated the crowd's somewhat nervous applause. Flinx judged their mood
expertly. Belief had about pulled even with derision. There were naturally those who suspected the
merchant of being a plant. They granted he was a very convincing one.
"Come, come, gentlebeings! What we have here is larvae plav. Surely there are those among
you with questions worth tempting my simple skill'?'
A being at the hack of the crowd, a Quillp in full postmating plumage, craned its thin
ostrichlike neck forward and asked in a high, squeaky voice, 'In what summer-month my hatchlings
come a-bout will?'
'I am truly sorry, sir, but that is a question that involves the future, and I am not a
clairvoyant.' The creature sighed unhappily and prepared to leave the gathering. At this sign of
mortality on Flinx's part a number of others seemed inclined to go with the tall Ornithorpe. Flinx
said hurriedly, 'But I hope fervent all five of your hatchlings successful are!'
The Quillp whirled in surprise and turned goggling eyes on the small stage. 'How did you
know that number my Circle had?' In its excitement it spoke in its native tongue and had to be
reminded by a neighbour to shift to symbo-speech.
I make it a policy not to reveal professional secrets.' Flilix yawned with calculated
elaboration. 'Come, a real question, gentle beings. I bore quickly. Miracles I cannot produce,
though, and they usually bore anyway.' Two humans, big, muscular fellows, were pushing their way
ungently to the stage. The one on Flinx's left wore glasses-not for their antique therapeutic
value, but because in some current fashion circles it was considered something of a fad. He
extended a credcard.
'Can you accept this, boy?'
Flinx bridled at the 'boy.' but extracted his card meter. "Indeed I can, sir. Ask your
question.'
The man opened his mouth, paused. 'How do I know what to pay you?'
I can't set value on my answers, only on your question. Whatever you deem it worth, sir.
If I give no answer I will refund your credits.' He gestured to where the minidrag rested alertly
on his shoulder. 'My pet here seems to have a feel for the emotional states of others which is
quite sensitive. Even more so than myself. A swindler, for example, exudes something that he is
especially sensitive to. I am rarely swindled.'
The man smiled without mirth. I wonder why'?' He dialled a setting on the card, extended
it again. 'Will a hundred credits do?'
Flinx was quick to stifle his reaction. A hundred credits! That was more than he sometimes
made in a month! For a moment he was tempted to lower the figure, mindful of the laugh Mother