"Foster,.Alan.Dean.-.Splinter.Of.The.Mind's.Eye" - читать интересную книгу автора (Foster Alan Dean)

One small case he flipped open carefully, went rapidly through its contents before snapping it shut and slipping it into a pocket. "I've got enough Imperial currency to last us a while. You?"

She glanced away from him. "What would a representative of the Alliance be doing with common currency on a diplomatic mission?"

Luke sighed. "We'll make do, I suppose. How would you like something to eat besides a concentrate?"

She faced him, visibly more cheerful. "I could eat half a Chou-shou, Luke. Are you sure we ought to, though?"

"We have to mingle sometime. As long as we don't look or act like total strangers, no one should bother us." They started back toward the main street, after burying their packs and flight suits in a syrupy bog.

They were halfway there when the increasing light caused Luke to stop.

"What's the matter?" the Princess asked, worried.

"Two things," Luke insisted, eying her. "First of all, there's your walk."

"And what's wrong with my walk?"

"Nothing. That's the trouble."

Her brows drew together in puzzlement. "I don't follow you, Luke."

He explained slowly. "You're walking likeЕ like a Princess. Not like a working woman. Slump your shoulders, take some of the confidence and distance out of your stride. Stagger a little. You've got to walk like a tired mineral-grubber, not like one of the Imperial family. And then there's the second thingЕ"

Reaching out, he touseled her neat hairdo violently.

"Hey!" she objected, struggling. When he stepped back, her hair formed a nebulous maze of undisciplined strands around her head and face, the intricate double-bun she'd worn now completely obliterated.

"That's better," he observed, "but there's still something not right." After a moment, he reached down, picked up a handful of moist earth, then stepped toward her.

"Oh no," she warned him, putting up both hands defensively and moving backward. "I've been living in sludge for days. I'm not letting you smear that gunk on me!"

"Have it your way, Leia." He dropped the dirt and it hit the ground with a loud splat. "You do it."

The Princess hesitated. Then, using spit and hands and a minimum of dirt, she succeeded in wiping every trace of makeup from her face and dirtying it as little as possible.

"How's this?" she asked guardedly.

Luke nodded approvingly. "Much better. You look like someone who's been out in the desert too long without water."

"Thanks," she muttered. "I'm beginning to feel like it, too."

"It's necessary. I just want to see us get off this world alive."

"We won't if we don't find that food you mentioned." He had to hurry to catch up with her as she headed toward the streetЕ