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

Dave made a face and said, тАЬOh, hell, of course. My cousin looked like you every time he got back.
Submarine duty. Half the U.S. Navy is parked a few miles offshore. You're probably stationed on one of
those ships out there, aren't you?тАЭ

Gary gave a wry grin and nodded. тАЬOne of those ships. I can't really talk about what's going on out there,
though.тАЭ

Dave said, тАЬYeah, I know how it is. That's the military. If they don't know anything, they won't tell you. If
they do know anything they won't tell you. Been there. Done that.тАЭ

Gary seemed to relax visibly.

He asked me, тАЬDid you mean all that? About it not mattering why the space ship is here? You don't seem
very concerned.тАЭ

тАЬWhat's the point in being overly concerned? They'll be whatever they are.тАЭ

тАЬAnd if they aren't friendly? What then?тАЭ

тАЬPlay it by ear. I don't have to assume the worst, Gary. There are enough people already doing that.
Others will assume the best. I won't do that, either. I won't assume at all. I'll just watch and wait.тАЭ

Dave asked Gary, тАЬWhat do you think about all this?тАЭ

Gary sat back a bit, then said, тАЬI'd like to think they're friendly.тАЭ

Dave laughed and said, тАЬWell, they haven't done anything except hang around; speaking of which, I need
to get going. Nancy wants me to take her to the beach tonight. One of her friends is having an all-night
party.тАЭ

He yelled a goodnight to Susie and headed for the door.

As Dave was walking out, I asked Gary if he had any quarters. He looked at me blankly for a moment. I
pointed at the pool tables and told Susie I wanted two bucksтАЩ worth of quarters. Gary added a couple of
bucks to mine and when we had the change we took our beers to one of the tables near the pool tables.

We were alone in the poolroom. I fed the table and racked the balls, then went to pick out a cue stick.
Gary took a moment to put his beer on a coaster, then ambled over as I rolled a few sticks on the table.
He seemed to be watching my actions intently while trying not to show it. I asked if he'd ever played pool
before.

тАЬNo, I haven't,тАЭ said Gary. тАЬI've never had an opportunity to learn the game.тАЭ

Handing him one of the straighter sticks I'd found, I said, тАЬI guess ships would tend to move too much for
pool.тАЭ

Gary looked at me oddly but only nodded in response.

I broke the rack and made three stripes before I got a bad bounce. When I stepped away from the table