"Alan Dean Foster - Icerigger 1" - читать интересную книгу автора (Foster Alan Dean)

to get out of here! Take him along, far now. Whiffing expressly said not to leave any scraps,
Katabit."

Ethan didn't like being referred to as a "scrap." It sounded downright threatening. Right now,
however, he was stuck.

"Get over there, you," ordered Walther, gesturing toward the ether captives with his beamer.

"Listen, really, I can't join you. I've got a very important sales conference in half an hour and
..."

Walther melted a small hole in the deck between Ethan's feet. Ethan promptly walked fast, stood
next to the little man on du Kane's left. The man seemed to be adjusting a contact lens.

"Is this really a kidnapping?" he. whispered as the two gun-men conferred among, themselves.

"I'm afraid so, friend." His accent was soft, the words precise. 'We are new technically
accessories to a capital crime." He sounded very like a schoolteacher instructing his students.

"I'm afraid you've got things confused," .than corrected. "An accessory is someone who aids or
abets the crime. You and I are victims, not accessories."

"It's all a matter of viewpoint, you know."

"Everyone, get in the boat!" Walther bawled, not caring anymore if anyone heard.

"Why not just knock 'em all out?" queried Kotabit.

"You heard, fatso ... dangerous. Especially goin' down."

Colette du Kane was staring at Ethan. Maybe that name fit-ted her as, a child, but now ... well,
something like "Hilda" might have been more apropos. Those remarkable eyes chilled him. She didn't
smile.

"Why didn't you go for help, whoever you are?"

"I just walked in and I wasn't sure right away what ..."

"You weren't sure? Oh, never mind." She sighed and baked resigned. "I suppose I shouldn't have
expected otherwise."

He would have given her an argument except for the awkward fact that she was absolutely right.
He'd really overdone his watch.

"Why aren't you beautiful?" he said idiotically. "Damsels in distress are always beautiful." Ire
smiled, intending it as a joke, but she saw it otherwise. Those eyes came around sharply, then the
whole body sagged, quivering, bloated.

"Now you listen," growled Kotabit. His voice was steadier, more self-assured than that of has
companion, even though the smaller man seemed to be in charge.