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

mid-level concourse to an equally new hotel called the OasisтАФapt enough in a heavy-footed kind of
way that went with marketing mindsets, Kieran supposed. And, this being Mars, of course there were
storefronts and stalls, robot hucksters, and ad displays placed to catch new arrivals straight off the ship,
offering currency exchange, accommodation and real estate, vehicles and surface gear, drugs and
narcotics, and all manner of human services ranging from legal representation and insurance to sex
partners and tour guides. They also bought electronics, optronics, holovids, and other
technologies in high demand from Earth or the lunar concessions. For those used to the effects of
controls and regulations back home the rates looked unbeatable, and everyone parted happy.
Kieran stopped to scan over the shelves of a candy kiosk and bought a pack of beef jerky before
continuing on down to the Freight and Baggage level. He found the office of Two Moons Shuttle
Lines (тАЬAnd Anywhere in OrbitтАЭ)тАФenlarged and moved from its former cubbyhole to a new, more
prominent position facing out across the floorтАФand arranged for his checked bags from Phobos to be
forwarded c/o Ms. June Holland, No. 357 Park View Apartments, Nineveh. That taken care of, a clerk
directed him to the counter where animals, wheelchairs, bicycles, dune hoppers, and anything else in
need of special handling were claimed.
Guinness was waiting patiently in one of the company-provided shipping cages, enjoying the
attentions of an admiring female Asian counter agent and one of the baggage handlers from behind
the scenes. The dog sprang to alertness as his radar picked up KieranтАЩs approach, tongue lolling from
a strong mouth, tail thumping against the cageтАЩs wire sides. He was mostly black, with tan flashes at
the chest and chin, and had a long, broody face with floppy ears.
тАЬIs he yours?тАЭ the girl asked Kieran, as if there could have been any doubt.
тАЬThatтАЩs some intelligent dog,тАЭ the baggage handler complimented. тАЬI swear he understands
everything we say.тАЭ
тАЬActually, heтАЩs really not that smart,тАЭ Kieran said. тАЬLanguages confuse him. He does it by
telepathy.тАЭ GuinnessтАЩs brow knitted. He blinked and turned his eyes toward the spaceport workers as
if in silent appeal.
тАЬWhat is he?тАЭ the girl asked as Kieran presented the claim document and a card to verify receipt.
тАЬPart doberman, part labrador. The doberman came out in the coloring. The face and the
temperament are all lab.тАЭ Kieran took the leash from a pouch in his bag and stooped to unlatch the
cage door. Guinness bounded out and treated him to a slurp of affection across the nose before Kieran
diverted him with a strip of beef jerky from his jacket pocket.
тАЬGuinness,тАЭ the handler read from the transaction details that appeared on the screen, while the
girl ruffled the dogтАЩs ears. тАЬAre you Irish?тАЭ
тАЬOh, thereтАЩs some lurking back in the ancestry somewhere, sure enough. But with a color scheme
like that, what else could you call him in any case?тАЭ
тАЬThe trip doesnтАЩt seem to have bothered him the way it can some animals,тАЭ the girl said. тАЬDid you
come in on the Earth ship?тАЭ
тАЬNo. From Urbek Station, near side of the Belt. Before that, places around Jupiter. But heтАЩs used
to all that.тАЭ Kieran scratched the center of GuinnessтАЩs forehead. тАЬArenтАЩt you, boy, eh?тАЭ
The girl studied Kieran: tall, broad and powerfully built, with lean, tanned features, wavy brown
hair, clear blue eyes, and a smile that came easily. His clothes were casual for traveling, but good
quality. тАЬDo you two travel around a lot, then?тАЭ she asked.
Guinness looked at Kieran expectantly. The jerky was gone. Kieran tossed another piece, which
the dog caught expertly. тАЬWe get around, sure. ThereтАЩs a lot out there to see. IтАЩve always been
insatiably curious.тАЭ
тАЬSo whereтАЩs home?тАЭ
тАЬOh, a place here, a place there. Maybe IтАЩll check out some possibilities on Mars while IтАЩm here.
ItтАЩs getting more interesting. I suppose you could say the Solar System is home now.тАЭ

Two levels farther down, a maglev car riding the field trough between two induction rails carried