"Robert A. Heinlein - To Sail Beyond the Sunset" - читать интересную книгу автора (Heinlein Robert A)

morgue.тАЩ
тАЪOh, IтАЩm sorry! IтАЩm taking my assistant to the MayorтАЩs Orgy.тАЩ
тАЪNo fuss. Zenobia would never miss the first big party of Fiesta; weтАЩll all go
together. So bring her with you.тАЩ
тАЪHim, not her.тАЩ
тАЪPardon my raised eyebrows; I thought you had sworn off. Very well; bring
him.тАЩ
тАЪEric, donтАЩt you find it depressing to be so cynical? HeтАЩs a satyr, not a goose.тАЩ
тАЪSo much the better. With Fiesta starting at sundown, Zenobia will welcome
any gallant indecency he offers her, as long as he does not break her bones.тАЩ
This silly chatter had told me one thing: I was not in New Liverpool. New
Liverpool does not celebrate Fiesta - and this local festival sounded like
Fasching in Munich combined with Carnival in Rio, with a Brixton riot thrown
in. So, not New Liverpool. What city, what planet, what year, and what
universe remained to be seen. Then I would have to see what could be done
about my predicament. Clothes. Money. Status. Then, how to get home. But I
was not worried. As long as the body is warm and the bowels move regularly
no problem can be other than minor and temporary.
The two doctors were still sneering at each other when I suddenly realized
that I had heard not one word of Galacta.
Not even Spanglish. They were speaking English, almost the harsh accent of
my girlhood, with idiom and vocabulary close to that of my native Missouri.
Maureen, this is ridiculous.
While flunkies were getting ready to move the body (disguised as a nameless
something draped in dust covers) the medical examiner (coroner?) got a
signed release from the house physician, and both started to leave. I stopped
the latter.
тАЪDr Ridpath!тАЩ
тАЪYes? What is it, Miss?тАЩ
тАЪIтАЩm Maureen Johnson Long. You are on the staff of the hotel, are you not?тАЩ
тАЪIn a manner of speaking. I have my offices here and am available as house
physician when needed. Do you wish to see me professionally? IтАЩm in a
hurry.тАЩ
тАЪJust one quick question, Doctor. How does one get the attention of a flesh
and blood human being on the staff of this hotel? I canтАЩt seem to raise
anyone but moronic robots - and IтАЩm stranded here with no clothes and no
money.тАЩ
He shrugged. тАЪSomeone is certain to show up before long, once I report that
Judge Hardacres is dead. Are you worried about your fee? Why donтАЩt you
call the talent agency that sent you to him? The judge probably had a running
account with them.тАЩ
тАЪOh! Doctor, IтАЩm not a prostitute. Although I suppose it does look like it.тАЩ
He cocked his left brow so high that it disturbed the tilt of his toupee, and
changed the subject. тАЪYou have a beautiful pussy.тАЩ
I assumed that he was speaking of my feline companion, who is a most
beautiful pussy - a flame-coloured tomcat (just the colour of my hair) in a
striking tiger pattern. He has been much admired in several universes.
тАЪThank you, sir. His name is Pixel and he is a much traveled cat. Pixel, this is
Dr Ridpath:
The doctor put out a finger close to the little pink nose. тАЪHowdy, Pixel.тАЩ