"Alan Dean Foster - For Love Of Mother-Not" - читать интересную книгу автора (Foster Alan Dean)

УA boy he is, tender heТs not,Ф she would reply. УSharp he be, and not just for his age. I donТt worry about him. I havenТt the time, for one thing. No matter what happens to him, heТs better off than he was under government care.Ф
УHe wonТt be better off if he ends up lying dead in a gutter somewhere,Ф they warned her.
УHe wonТt,Ф she would reply confidently.
УYouТll be sorry,Ф they said. УYou wait and see.Ф
УIТve been waiting and seeing going on ninety yearsФ was her standard reply, Уand I havenТt been surprised yet. I donТt expect this boy to break that record.Ф
But she was wrong.
It was midafternoon. The morning mist had developed into a heavy rain. She was debating whether or not to send the boy out for some food or to wait. Half a dozen people were wandering through the shop, waiting for the down-pour to let up-an unusually large number for any day.
After a while, Flinx wandered over and tugged shyly at her billowing skirt. УMother Mastiff?Ф
УWhat is it, boy? DonТt bother me now.Ф She turned back to the customer who was inspecting antique jewelry that graced a locked display case near the rear of the stall. It was rare that she sold a piece of the expensive stuff. When she did, the profit was considerable.
The boy persisted, and she snapped at him. УI told ye, Flinx, not now!Ф
УItТs very important. Mother.Ф
She let out a sigh of exasperation and looked apologetically at the outworlder. УExcuse me a moment, good sir. Children, ye know.Ф
The man smiled absently, thoroughly engrossed in a necklace that shone with odd pieces of metal and worn wood.
УWhat is it, Flinx?Ф she demanded, upset with him. УThis better be important. You know how I donТt like to be disturbed when IТm in the middle of-У He interrupted her by pointing to the far end of the shop. УSee that man over there?Ф
She looked up, past him. The man in question was bald and sported a well-trimmed beard and earrings. Instead of the light slickertic favored by the inhabitants of Moth, he wore a heavy offworld overcoat of black material. His features were slighter than his height warranted, and his mouth was almost delicate. Other than the earrings he showed no jewelry. His boots further marked him as an offworld visitor-they were relatively clean.
УI see him. What about him?Ф
УHeТs been stealing jewelry from the end case.Ф
Mother Mastiff frowned. УAre you sure, boy?Ф Her tone was anxious. УHeТs an offworlder, and by the looks of him, a reasonably substantial one at that. If we accuse him falsely-У
УIТm positive, mother.Ф
УYou saw him steal?Ф
УNo, I didnТt exactly see him.Ф
УThen what the devilФ-she wondered in a low, accusatory voice-Уare ye talking about?Ф
УGo look at the case,Ф he urged her.
She hesitated, then shrugged mentally. УNo harm in that, I expect.Ф Now whatever had gotten into the boy? She strolled toward the case, affecting an air of unconcern. As she drew near, the outworlder turned and walked away, apparently unperturbed by her approach. He hardly acted like a nervous thief about to be caught in the act.
Then she was bending over the case. Sure enough, the lock had been professionally picked. At least four rings, among the most valuable items in her modest stock, were missing. She hesitated only briefly before glancing down at Flinx.
УYouТre positive it was him, ye say?Ф
He nodded energetically.
Mother Mastiff put two fingers to her lips and let out a piercing whistle. Almost instantly, a half-dozen neighboring shopkeepers appeared. Still the bald man showed no hint of panic, simply stared curiously, along with the others in the store at the abrupt arrivals. The rain continued to pelt the street. Mother Mastiff raised a hand, pointed directly at the bald man, and said, УRestrain that thief!Ф
The manТs eyes widened in surprise, but he made no move toward retreat. Immediately, several angry shopkeepers had him firmly by the arms. At least two of them were armed.
УThe bald man stood it for a moment or two, then angrily shook off his captors. His accent, when he spoke, marked him as a visitor from one of the softer worlds, like New Riviera or Centaurus B. УNow just a moment! What is going on here? I warn you, the next person who puts hands on me will suffer for it!Ф
УDonТt threaten us, citizen,Ф said Aljean, the accomplished clothier whose big shop dominated the far corner. УWeТll settle this matter quick, and without the attention of police. We donТt much like police on this street.Ф
УI sympathize with you there,Ф the man said, straightening his overcoat where he had been roughly handled. УIТm not especially fond of them myself.Ф After a pause, he added in shock, УSurely that woman does not mean to imply that I -У
УThatТs what sheТs implyinТ, for sure,Ф said one of the men flanking him. УIf youТve nothinТ to fear, then youТve no reason not to gift us a moment of your time.Ф
УCertainly not. I donТt see why-У The outworlder studied their expressions a moment, then shrugged. УOh, well, if it will settle this foolishness.Ф
УItТll settle it,Ф another man said from behind a pistol.
УVery well. And IТll thank you to keep that weapon pointed away from me, please. Surely you donТt need the succor of technology in addition to superior numbers?Ф
The shopkeeper hesitated and then turned the muzzle of his gun downward. But he did not put it away.
Mother Mastiff stared at the man for a moment, then looked expectantly down at Flinx. УWell? Did ye see where he put the rings?Ф
Flinx was gazing steadily at the bald man, those green eyes unwinking. УNo, I didnТt, Mother. But he took them. IТm sure of it.Ф
УRight, then.Ф Her attention went back to the offworlder. УSir, I must ask ye to consent to a brief body search.Ф
УThis is most undignified,Ф he complained. УI shall lodge a complaint with my tourist office.Ф
УIТm sorry,Ф she told him, Уbut if youТve nothing to hide, itТs best that weТre assured of it.Ф
УOh, very well. Please hurry and get it over with. I have other places to go today. IТm on holiday, you know.Ф
Acting uncertainly now, two of the men who had responded to Mother MastiffТs whistle searched the visitor. They did a thorough job of it, working him over with the experience of those who had dealt with thieves before. They searched everything from the lining of his overcoat to the heels of his boots. When they had finished, they gazed helplessly over at Mother Mastiff and shook their heads.
УEmpty he is,Ф they assured her. УNothing on him.Ф
УWhatТs missing. Mother?Ф Aljean asked gently.
УKill rings,Ф she explained. УThe only four kill rings in my stock. Took me years to accumulate them, and I wouldnТt know how to go about replacing them. Search him again.Ф She nodded at the bald man. УTheyТre not very big and would be easy enough to hide.Ф
They complied, paying particular attention this time to the thick metal belt buckle the man wore. It revealed a bidden compartment containing the manТs credcard and little else. No rings.
When the second search proved equally fruitless, Mother Mastiff gazed sternly down at her charge. УWell, Flinx, what have ye to say for yourself?Ф
УHe did take them, he did,Ф the boy insisted, almost crying. УI know he did.Ф He was still staring at the bald man. Suddenly, his eyes widened. УHe swallowed them.Ф