"Hammett, Dashiell (as Peter Collinson) - The Road Home - Black Mask 2212" - читать интересную книгу автора (Hammett Dashiell)

THE ROAD HOME


THE ROAD HOME
Peter Collinson (Dashiell Hammett)
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"You're a fool to pass it up! You'll get just as much credit and reward for
taking back proof of my death as you will for taking me back. And I got papers
and stuff buried back near the Yunnan border that you can have to back up your
story; and you needn't be afraid that I'll ever show up to spoil your play."
The gaunt man in faded khaki frowned with patient annoyance and looked away from
the blood-shot brown eyes in front of him, over the teak side of the jahaz to
where the wrinkled snout of a muggar broke the surface of the river. When the
small crocodile submerged again, Hagedom's gray eyes came back to the pleading
ones before him, and he spoke wearily, as one who has been answering the same
arguments again and again.
"I can't do it, Barnes. I left New York two years ago to ;get you, and for two
years I've been in this damned countryЧhere and in YunnanЧhunting you. I
promised my people I'd stay until I found you, and I kept my word. Lord! man,"
with a touch of exasperation, "after all I've gone through you don't expect me
to throw them down nowЧnow that the job's as good as done!"
The dark man in the garb of a native smiled an oily, ingratiating smile and
brushed away his captor's words with a wave of his hand.
"I ain't offering you a dinky coupla thousand dollars; I'm offering you your
pick out of one of the richest gem beds in AsiaЧa bed that was hidden by the
Mran-ma when the British jumped the country. Come back up there with me and I'll
show you rubies and sapphires and topazes that'll knock your eye out. All I'm
asking you is to go back up there with me and take a look at 'em. If you don't
like 'em you'll still have me to take back to New York."
Hagedorn shook his head slowly.
"You're going back to New York with me. Maybe man-hunting isn't the nicest trade
in the world but it's all the trade I've got, and this jewel bed of yours sounds
phoney to me. I can't blame you for not wanting to go backЧbut just the same I'm
taking you."
Barnes glared at the detective disgustedly.
"You're a fine chump! And it's costing me and you thousands of dollars! Hell!"
He spat over the side insultinglyЧnative-likeЧand settled himself back on his
corner of the split-bamboo mat
Hagedorn was looking past the lateen sail, down the riverЧthe beginning of the
route to New YorkЧalong which a miasmal breeze was carrying the fifty-foot boat
with surprising speed. Four more days and they would be aboard a steamer for
Rangoon; then another steamer to Calcutta, and in the end, one to New YorkЧhome,
after two years!
Two years through unknown country, pursuing what until the very day of the
capture had never been more than a vague shadow. Through Yunnan and Burma,
combing wilderness with microscopic thoroughnessЧa game of hide-and-seek up the
rivers, over the hills and through the junglesЧsometimes a year, sometimes two