"Henry Kuttner - Clash by Night" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kuttner Henry)

orderly at the door, and presently a filled glass stood at Scott's elbow.
His quick gaze ran along the rows effaces. Good soldiers, he thought - tough, well trained, and
experienced. They had been under fire. A small outfit, the Mob, but a powerful one.
Cine Mendez sipped his own drink. 'To business. The Doonsmen wish to hire our help in fighting the
Helldivers. Virginia Keep has bought the services of the Helldivers to attack Montana Keep.' He
enumerated on stubby fingers. 'You offer us fifty thousand cash and thirty-five per cent of the
korium ransom. So?'
That's correct.'
'We ask fifty per cent.'
'It's high. The Doones have superior manpower and equipment.'
'To us, not to the Helldivers. Besides, the percentage is contingent. If we should lose, we get
only the cash payment.'
Scott nodded. 'That's correct, but the only real danger from the Helldivers is their submarine
corps. The Doones have plenty of surface and air equipment. We might lick the Helldivers without
you.'
'I don't think so.' Mendez shook his bald head. 'They have some new underwater torpedoes that make
hash out of heavy armour plate. But we have new sub-detectors. We can blast the Helldivers' subs
for you before they get within torpedo range.'
Scott said bluntly, 'You've been stalling, Cine Mendez.
We're not that bad off. If we can't get you, we'll find another outfit.'
'With sub-detectors?'
'Yardley's Company is good at undersea work.'
A major near the head of the table spoke up. 'That's true, sir. They have suicide subs - not too


file:///F|/rah/Henry%20Kuttner/Kuttner%20-%20Clash%20by%20Night%20(SS%20Collection)%20UC.txt (14 of 91) [2/4/03 10:11:40 PM]
 file:///F|/rah/Henry%20Kuttner/Kuttner%20-%20Clash%20by%20Night%20(SS%20Collection)%20UC.txt

dependable, but they have them.'
Cine Mendez wiped his bald head with his palms in a slow circular motion. 'Hm-m-m. Well, captain,
I don't know. Yardley's Company isn't as good as ours for this job.'
'All right,' Scott said, 'I've carte blanche. We don't know how much korium Virginia Keep has in
her vaults. How would this proposition strike you: the Mob gets fifty per cent of the korium
ransom up to a quarter of a million; thirty-five per cent above that.'
'Forty-five.'
'Forty, above a quarter of a million; forty-five below that sum.'
'Gentlemen?' Cine Mendez asked, looking down the table. 'Your vote?'
There were several ayes, and a scattering of nays. Mendez shrugged.
'Then I have the deciding vote. Very well. We get forty-five per cent of the Virginia Keep ransom
up to a quarter of a million; forty per cent on any amount above that. Agreed. We'll drink to it.'
Orderlies served drinks. As Mendez rose, the others followed his example. The cine nodded to
Scott.
'Will you propose a toast, captain?'
'With pleasure. Nelson's toast, then - a willing foe and sea room!'
They drank to that, as Free Companions had always drunk that toast on the eve of battle. As they
seated themselves once more, Mendez said, 'Major Matson, please telaudio Cine Rhys and arrange
details. We must know his plans.'
'Yes, sir.'
Mendez glanced at Scott. 'Now how else may I serve you?'
'Nothing else. I'll get back to our fort. Details can be worked out on the telaudio, on tight