"HEINLEIN, Robert A. - The Cat Who Walked Through Walls" - читать интересную книгу автора (Heinlein Robert A)

"Thank you, my love. But let's find out what your testimony would be were
you to be a witness in-what shall we call it? Eh, suppose that I am charged with
having wrongfully caused the death of, uh, Mr. X... Mr. X being the stranger who
came to our table last night when you excused yourself to visit the ladies'
lounge. What did you see?"
"Richard, I saw you kill him. I saw it!"
"A prosecutor would require more details. Did you see him come to our
table?"
"No. I didn't see him until I left the lounge and was headed for our
table... and was startled to see someone sitting in my chair."
"All right, back up a little and tell me exactly what you saw."
"Uh, I came out of the ladies' room and turned left, toward our table. Your
back was toward me, you'll remember-"
"Never mind what I remember; you tell what you remember. How far away were
you?"
"Oh, I don't know. Ten meters, maybe. I could go there and measure it. Does
it matter?"
"If it ever does, you can measure it. You saw me from about ten meters.
What was I doing? Standing? Sitting? Moving?"
"You were seated with your back to me."
"My back was toward you. The light wasn't very good. How did you know it
was I?"
"Why- Richard, you're being intentionally difficult."
"Yes, because prosecutors are intentionally difficult. How did you
recognize me?"
"Uh- It was you. Richard, I know the back of your neck just as I know your
face. Anyhow, when you stood up and moved, I did see your face."
"Was that what I did next? Stand up?"
"No, no. I spotted you, at our table-then I stopped short when I saw
someone seated across from you, in my chair. I just stood there and stared."
"Did you recognize him?"
"No. I don't think I ever saw him before."
"Describe him."
"Uh, I can't, very well."
"Short? Tall? Age? Bearded? Race? How dressed?"
"I never saw him standing up. He wasn't a youngster but he wasn't an old
man, either. I don't think he wore a beard."
"Moustache?"
"I don't know." (I did know. No moustache. Age about thirty.)
"Race?"
"White. Light skin, anyhow, but not blond like a Swede. Richard, there
wasn't time to catch all the details. He threatened you with some sort of weapon
and you shot him and you jumped up as the waiter came over-and I backed up and
waited until they took him away."
"Where did they take him?"
"I'm not sure. I backed into the ladies' lounge and let the door contract.
They could have taken him into the gentlemen's room just across the passage. But
there's another door at the end of the passage marked 'Employees Only.'"
"You say he threatened me with a weapon?"
"Yes. Then you shot him and jumped up and grabbed his weapon and shoved it