"Ed Howdershelt - 3rd World Products 1" - читать интересную книгу автора (Howdershelt Ed)

Susie cocked a hip and said, тАЬWhich means what..? It sounds as if you think Dave's right.тАЭ

тАЬCould be. These may be alien Pizarros and we may be the Incas. Or it could be that they want to
establish a way-station or a base in this chunk of space. Or it could be they're just explorers, like our
archaeologists and anthropologists, and they've come here to study us. Hell, they may only want to see if
we have anything worth trading. It doesn't really matter.тАЭ

Both of them stared at me incredulously.
Susie exclaimed, тАЬSaywhat? Why the hell doesn't it matter?тАЭ

I asked, тАЬWell? What's the point in guessing? They'll be whatever they are and we'll find out soon
enough. What could we do against that thing that wouldn't be just as dangerous for us? Nukes? Do we
want fallout drifting over Central Florida? All we can do is wait and see what they want with us.тАЭ

Neither of them said anything for a time, then Susie went to refill a customer's mug. I watched her walk
away.

Hot pants to encourage tips. Legs worth the exposure. Trim and tight and everything right.
Except maybe the makeup. Susie always used a bit too much eye makeup. Sometimes she looked
like a raccoon.

A guy, apparently in his late twenties, was sitting on the other side of the bar, watching us and
presumably listening to us as well. He confirmed this by getting up and making his way around the bar to
our area.

He pulled up a stool on our side and said, тАЬIf you want to know what the public thinks, spend some time
in a bar, right? Hi, I'm Gary.тАЭ

He didn't extend a hand to shake, instead holding his beer in his right hand.

тАЬI'm Dave,тАЭ said Dave, watching him move in and sit down before either of us invited him to join us.
тАЬMake yourself at home, I guess.тАЭ

тАЬI'm Ed,тАЭ I said. тАЬDon't mind him, he growls at all strangers. How long have you been guarding that beer?
It doesn't look very cold.тАЭ

тАЬA while. Probably an hour or so. I'm not much of a drinker, but I needed some time out of the ... uhm,
office.тАЭ

Gary had an unusual slight accent. I couldn't place it at all, and I've heard most of them. He was about
my height, six-two, and close to two hundred pounds. Medium brown hair, gray eyes. Department-store
sneakers, blue jeans, and one of those ubiquitous тАЬalienтАЭ tee-shirts the hucksters were selling. No tan, but
not pale, either. Tourist? Office worker?

Dave was curious, too.

тАЬSo, where you from, Gary?тАЭ he asked, тАЬYou a tourist? You haven't been getting much sun lately.тАЭ

Gary looked hesitant to comment, but managed, тАЬI haven't been getting out much for a while.тАЭ