"Harry Harrison - SSR 08 - The Stainless Steel Rat Sings the " - читать интересную книгу автора (Harrison Harry)

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"Excellent," Narcoses said. "You have the will?" The young man nodded. The door was closed and sealed
again.

"Five minutes," Narcoses said.

The newcomer pulled down a zipper that sealed his onepiece suit. Took off the suit-and a lot of flesh with
it. The suit was padded. He was not fat at all, but lean and muscular quite like me. When he peeled off the
fake beard I realized that he looked exactly like me. I blinked rapidly as I stared at my own face.

"Only four minutes left diGriz. Put on the suit. I'll fix the beard."

The well-built and handsome stranger pulled on my discarded robe. Stepped aside when Narcoses took a
key from his pocket, bent and unlocked the restraining cuff on my ankle. f landed it to the other who
emotionlessly bent and snapped it t(> Isis own ankle.

"Why-why are you doing this?" I asked him.

He said nothing, just leaned over to retrieve the gun.

"I'll need another bullet," he said. With my voice.

"The Colonel will supply it," Narcoses said. Then remembered something else he had said just moments
ago,

"You called me diGriz. You know my name?"

"I know a lot more than that," he said pressing the beard and mustache into position on my face. "Carry
these papers. Follow me out of here. Keep your mouth shut."

All of which I was very happy to do. With one last look at my imprisoned self I trotted forth to freedom.

CHAPTER 3

I trotted behind Narcoses, clutching the papers and trying to think bearded and fat. The guards were
ignoring us, watching instead with sadistic fascination as one of their number started to close the
watertight door.

"Wait," the Colonel said, opening a small box and taking out a cartridge. He looked up as I passed, stared
me straight in the face. I felt perspiration bursting from my pores. The momentary glance must have
lasted about a subjective hour. Then he kept on turning and called out to the guard.



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