"David Garnett - Off The Track (2)" - читать интересную книгу автора (Garnett David)

huge black and white dog was lying in the shade on one side of the
petrol
pumps. It didn't move when Michael halted on the other side.
"Got any petrol?" Michael said to the dog
It opened its eyes, then closed them again.
"Maybe it's self-service," said Angela.
"I'm not going to risk it. Are you?"
He stretched back in his seat, trying to see into the workshop. One
vehicle was up on a ramp inside. There were a number of others nearby,
but
all of them were on flat tyres or without wheels. In such a climate, it
would take a long time for them to rust.
He heard a chatter of voices and leaned back. There were three or four
children at Angela's door, their hands thrust in through the window.
Two
more appeared next to him, begging.
"Ignore them," he said.
Angela opened her purse and started handing out coins.
"Alright, ignore me," muttered Michael, as the two children at his
window
ran around to join the others.
He straightened his tie, opened the door and stepped out of the car.
Then
he noticed a shadow on the ground, and he turned around quickly, taking
a
step back when he saw the man only two yards away from him.
"Petrol?" he said. "Have you any petrol?"
The man was tall and lean, wearing an oily vest and stained denim
trousers. He stared at Michael, then looked at the car. He touched the
shiny new metal with his grimy fingers. When he drew back, there were
 greasy fingerprints on the wheel arch. He bent down and started to wipe
the paintwork with the rag he was holding. His hand became still when
he
noticed Angela in the passenger seat. He stared at her for a few
seconds,
then finished cleaning the dirt and stood up. He walked around car,
studying it, then looked at the number plate at the front.
Michael wondered if the man had understood him. Carefully, he repeated:
"Have you any petrol?"
"Gas," Angela told him.
"Have you any gasoline?"
"Nice car," said the man.
"It's hired," Michael said quickly.
"Where you folks from?"
"England."
The man nodded slowly, then spat on the windscreen.
Michael took a deep breath and wondered how fast he could get back into
the car and drive away.
Then the man leaned towards the bucket by the pumps and picked up the
wash