"Harry Harrison - Deathworld 1 " - читать интересную книгу автора (Harrison Harry)

wanted him to smile at the quick assumption of his incompetence.
Kerk swung the car into the steady line of traffic heading out of the city to the spaceport. He drove easily while he talked.
"There is a search on in the city, but we're well ahead of that. I'm sure the Cassylians don't want to advertise their bad
sportsmanship, so there won't be anything as crude as a roadblock. But the port will be crawling with every agent they have. They
know once the money gets off-planet, it is gone forever. When we make a break for it they will be sure we still have the cash. So
there will be no trouble with the munition ship getting clear."
Jason sounded a little shocked. "You mean you're setting us up as clay pigeons to cover the takeoff of the ship."
"You could put it that way. But since we have to get off-planet anyway, there is no harm in using our escape as a smokescreen.
Now shut up until I've finished, like I told you. One more interruption and I dump you by the road."
Jason was sure he would. He listened intently-and quietly-as Kerk repeated word for word what he had said before, then
continued.
"The official car gate will probably be wide open with the traffic through it. And a lot of the agents will be in plain clothes.
We might even get onto the field without being recognized, though I doubt it. It is of no importance. We will drive through the
gate and to the takeoff pad. The Pride of Darkhan, for which we hold tickets, will be sounding its two-minute siren and unhooking
the gangway. By the time we get to our seats, the ship will take off."
"That's all very fine," Jason said. "But what will the guards be doing all this time?"
"Shooting at us and each other. We will take advantage of the confusion to get aboard."
This answer did nothing to settle Jason's mind, but he let it slide for the moment. "All right, say we do get aboard. Why don't
they just prevent takeoff until we have been dragged out and stood against a wall?"
Kerk spared him a contemptuous glance before he returned his eyes to the road. "I said the ship was the Pride of Darkhan. If
you had studied this system at all, you would know what that means. Cassylia and Darkhan are sister planets and rivals in every
way. It has been less than two centuries since they fought an intrasystem war that almost destroyed both of them. Now they exist
in an armed-to-the-teeth neutrality that neither dare violate. The moment we set foot aboard the ship we are on Darkhan territory.
There is no extradition agreement between the planets. Cassylia may want us-but not badly enough to start another war."
That was all the explanation there was time for. Kerk swung the car out of the rush of traffic and onto a bridge marked Official
Cars Only. Jason had a feeling of nakedness as they rolled under the harsh port lights toward the guarded gate ahead.
It was closed.
Another car approached the gate from the inside and Kerk slowed their car to a crawl. One of the guards talked to the driver of
the car inside the port, then waved to the gate attendant. The barrier gate began to swing inward and Kerk jammed down on the
accelerator.
Everything happened at once. The turbine howled, the spinning tires screeched on the road and the car crashed open the gate.
Jason had a vanishing glimpse of the open-mouthed guards, then they were skidding around the corner of a building. A few shots
popped after them, but none came close.
Driving with one hand, Kerk reached under the dash and pulled out a gun that was the twin of the monster strapped to his arm.
"Use this instead of your own," he said. "Rocket-propelled explosive slugs. Make a great bang. Don't bother shooting at anyone-
I'll take care of that. Just stir up a little action and make them keep their distance. Like this."
He fired a single, snap shot out the side window and passed the gun to Jason almost before the slug hit. An empty truck blew
up with a roar, raining pieces on the cars around and sending their drivers fleeing in panic.
After that it was a nightmare ride through a madhouse. Kerk drove with an apparent contempt for violent death. Other cars
followed them and were lost in wheel-raising turns. They careened almost the full length of the field, leaving a trail of smoking
chaos.
Then the pursuit was all behind them and the only thing ahead was the slim spire of the Pride of Darkhan.
The Pride was surrounded by a strong wire fence as suited the begrudged status of her planetary origin. The gate was closed
and guarded by soldiers with leveled guns, waiting for a shot at the approaching car. Kerk made no attempt to come near them.
Instead he fed the last reserves of power to the car and headed for the fence. "Cover your face," he shouted.
Jason put his arms in front of his head just as they hit.
Torn metal screamed, the fence buckled, wrapped itself around the car, but did not break. Jason flew off the seat and into the
padded dash. By the time Kerk had the warped door open, he realized that the ride was over. Kerk must have seen the spin of his
eyeballs because he didn't talk, just pulled Jason out and threw him onto the hood of the ruined car.
"Climb over the buckled wire and make a run for the ship," he shouted.