"James P. Hogan - Leapfrog" - читать интересную книгу автора (Hogan James P)

years now, yes? ItтАЩs often I am wondering how they figure out what to
do with you, Halloran. . . . So, to Mars, welcome I say to you, and to
Moscow-Manhattan.тАЭ
They shook hands firmly. It was the first time they had done so,
even though they had met on numerous occasions as adversaries. тАЬI
wondered if it was you, Sergei . . . from the name,тАЭ Halloran said.
тАЬAs I knew you would.тАЭ
тАЬYou knew who I was, of course.тАЭ
тАЬOf course. IтАЩve seen your file. It wouldnтАЩt have been customary
for them to show you mine.тАЭ
тАЬWhoтАЩd have guessed weтАЩd wind up like this?тАЭ Halloran said.
тАЬTimes sure change. It all seems such a long time ago, now. But then, I
guess, it was literally another world.тАЭ
тАЬThe axes are buried under the bridge,тАЭ Vusilov pronounced. тАЬAnd
now, as the first thing, we must drink some toast. Come.тАЭ He took
HalloranтАЩs elbow lightly and steered him across to the bar. The
bartender, young, swarthy, with dark eyes and flat-combed hair, looked
up inquiringly. тАЬThis is Aifredo,тАЭ Vusilov said, gesturing with a sweep
of his hand. тАЬThe best bartender on Mars.тАЭ
тАЬThe only one, too,тАЭ Aifredo said.
тАЬWell, what of it? That also makes you the best.тАЭ
тАЬI thought there was a bar down in the main surface base,тАЭ
Halloran said.
тАЬPah!тАЭ Vusilov waved a hand. тАЬThat is just a workmanтАЩs club.
Dishwashing beer from serve-yourself machines. This is the only bar.
Alfredo is the source of all thatтАЩs worth knowing up here. If you want
to know what goes on, ask Aifredo. Alfredo, I want you to meet Ed
Halloran, a good friend of mine who is very old. He has now come here
to work with us.тАЭ
тАЬPleased to meet you, Ed,тАЭ Aifredo said.
тАЬHi,тАЭ Halloran responded.
тАЬNow, you see, from the old days I remember the files we keep on
everybody. Your favorite choice to be poisoned with is a scotch, yes?тАЭ
тАЬThat would do fine.тАЭ
тАЬI refuse absolutely. Today you are joining us here, so it must
first be vodka. We have the best.тАЭ
тАЬOkay. Make it on ice, with a splash of lime.тАЭ
тАЬAnd my usual, Alfredo,тАЭ Vusilov said. тАЬPut them on MCMтАЩs
account.тАЭ
Aifredo turned away and began pouring the drinks. After a few
seconds, Halloran asked Vusilov idly, тАЬWhen was the last time?тАЭ
VusilovтАЩs beady bright eyes darted restlessly as he thought back~
тАЬIn 2015, wasnтАЩt it? Vienna. Hah-hah! Yes, I remember.тАЭ The Russian
guffawed loudly and slapped the bar with the palm of his hand. тАЬYou
paid a hundred thousand dollars to buy back the coding cartridge. But
the truth, you never knew! It was worthless to us, anyway. We didnтАЩt
have the key.тАЭ
Halloran raised a restraining hand. тАЬNow wait a minute. You may
be the boss here, but IтАЩm not gonna let you get away with that. We knew
about the code. It was worth about as much as those hundreddollar bills