"Philip E. High - Twin Planets" - читать интересную книгу автора (High Phillip E)

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Twin Planets by Philip
E. High
Chapter One
Denning had not realized that the events of the past week had shaken
him so much until his eyesight started playing tricks.

He had seen it, hadn't he? He stopped, put his car into reverse and
went slowly backwards. It was an illusion, a trick of the light, surely?

It wasn't.

There was a small shelter containing a seat and a raised metal sign. The
metal sign said Stus Bop.

He climbed out of the car and looked again. Clearly it was not a joke.
The sign was weather-worn, and it was unlikely that the local authorities
would permit such a glaring mistake to go unchanged for long. One knew,
of course, that the sign meant "Bus Stop" but, even after rubbing one's
eyes, it still said Stus Bop.

He frowned, irritated to find that the mistake had shaken him, and
climbed back into the car. Better take a rest. If he were that shaken he'd
better get off the road before he had an accident.

He pulled onto the grass verge, cut the engine and shivered. Damned
cold, wasn't it? Strange, the sun had been shining only a few moments
ago; now the sun had vanished and the' sky had a curiously leaden sheen.

He shivered again. God, he was cold, really cold, but this was July, not
January. Probably a fall in temperature due to an approaching storm, or
more likely still, nerves, sheer nerves. The cold was nerves, the "bus stop"
nerves, the whole business an aftermath of shock.

He lit a cigarette, made certain the handbrake was on and closed his
eyes. Better relax, try to sleep for a few moments. He'd be better after
some rest.

In sleep Denning looked boyish, helpless and curiously ineffectual for
his thirty years. He had good features: a strong chin, a well shaped mouth
and awake, clear gray eyes beneath dark, rather thick brows. Nonetheless,
he still looked guileless and vaguely apprehensive, as if he had been shut
away from the world too long and was doubtful of its attitude towards