"Harrison, Harry - Bill On The Planet Of Robot Slaves - uc" - читать интересную книгу автора (Harrison Harry)

"Inside, we don't have all day."
Praktis shook the coins into the sink, threw the empty bag into the disposal chute, then soaked the money in antiseptic before counting it.
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"Never know what grotty infections the troops have. You're ten bucks short."
"You should know-you infected most of them. No bowb, Doc, that's the agreed price. Six hundred and twelve."
"That was last week. I'm taking inflation into account."
"That's all that I have," Bill whimpered.
"Then sign a chit against next month's pay."
"You have no soul," Bill muttered as he signed.
"I checked it at the church when I got in the service. What's the name? I have to access the computer to find where I filed your fang."
"Bill. With two L's."
"Two L's only for officers." He punched the keyboard. "Here it is, under Bil where it belongs. Freezer twelve, in the liquid nitrogen."
He grabbed up metal tongs and rushed off, was back in an instant with a plastic cylinder that smoked moistly in the warm air. He threw it into the microwave and pushed buttons.
"Sixty seconds should do it. Any more and it would be cooked."
"No jokes, Doc. This is a serious matter."
"Only to you, trooper. To me it's just a few more bucks for my broker towards buying my discharge." The microwave pinged and he jerked his thumb towards the operating table. "Take your trousers off and lie down."
"Trousers? It goes in my jaw, Doc-where were you thinking of putting it?"
Praktis's only answer was an evil chuckle as he wheeled the electronic surgeon into place.
Bill gagged as the rubber clamps whipped his mouth open. Praktis muttered and punched com
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mands into the keyboard. Bill screamed hoarsely around the clamps as the laser scalpel sizzled his gums and forceps twisted an incisor.
"Oops, sorry, I forgot." Praktis lied sadistically as he shot in a local anesthetic before continuing. In a matter of seconds the tooth was out, Bill's gum was peeled back, the hole in his jaw drilled larger, the roots of the fang firmly implanted, GrowFlesh pumped into the interstices before sutureglue sealed it all into place.
"Rinse and spit and get out of here," Praktis ordered as Bill climbed groggily on his feet.
"That's better," Bill said, admiring himself in the mirror. He twanged each tusk in turn, then smiled a twisted smile. This was really a very revolting expression. "Deathwish Drang would be proud to see me, if he was still alive."
"Out."
"Not yet, Doc." He tore the oversized shoe from his right foot and stretched out his long toes. Then raked three long grooves into the plastic floor. "What about this, huh? What about this?"
"Very nice indeed, if I say so myself. I think your claws need trimming."
"The foot needs changing! Am I to go through the rest of my life with a giant chicken foot stuck onto my ankle?"
"Why not? It sure beats a wooden leg."
"I want a real foot!"
"You got a real foot-a real giant mutated chicken foot. And let me tell you, not that I want to brag, but there isn't another surgeon in the known universe that could have done that. And they complain about my so-called illegal experiments! They'll
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come crawling to me when they have foot troubleyou wait and see."
"I don't want to wait and see nothing. Except a real live human foot there."
"You know the drill, trooper, so don't come whining to me with your petty problems. There is a war on, soldier-or haven't you heard? There are shortages. And one thing in really short supply is spare feet."
"Isn't there anything you can do?"
"I could give you a rabbit's foot instead. They are supposed to be very lucky."
Bill howled, "I want a real foot!"
His howl went unheard because at that moment there was a loud explosion that blew away most of the roof of the hospital.



C H A P T E R 2

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While Dr. Praktis vibrated with fear, gaping vacantly at the gaping hole and falling debris, Bill dived under the metal table. Once his personal ass had been saved he thought of the future, and his chicken foot, so out of pure selfishness reached out and dragged the doctor to safety. A great lump of masonry fell on the spot where Praktis had just been standing and he gurgled with horror. Then bathed Bill with spaniel eyes of gratitude.
"You saved my life," he whimpered.
"Just don't forget that when the next shipment of frozen feet arrive. I want first pick."
"It will be yours! If you are in a hurry I have a very dainty size three foot that was all that was left of a nurse eaten by guard dogs."
"No, thanks. I'll wait. The one I got now has great combat possibilities until Mr. Right Foot comes along."