"Kuttner, Henry - Red Gem of Mercury" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kuttner Henry)

Vane realized that Chief of Police Lankershim was speaking.
"And there's something funny about this whole thing, Doc," the official went on.
"When Vane walked into my office an hour or two ago--well, I told you what
happened, didn't I?"
The coroner's gray eyebrows drew together. Level dark eyes scrutinized the jewel
on Vane's forehead as the medico nodded.
"About Stohm? Yes. He confessed, didn't he?"
Lankershim expelled his breath with an angry sound. "He started to--answered
every question I asked him. But he was so bruised up I sent him to the hospital
for first and. And--now he's dead."
"Dead ?"
"Poisoned. I don't know how. I'm checking up on the trustees and the internes.
One of 'em tied up with Pasqual, I know, and he managed to kill Stohm before the
man could sign a confession. And now Vane--"
Lankershim came into the lawyer's range of vision. The hard, seamed face was
very tired.
"I feel sorry for the kid. Maybe he was framed, maybe he wasn't. The cards were
stacked against him, anyhow. And now he's cooling on a slab--" The chief's lips
tightened. "Go ahead and find out what killed him, Doc. If I can pin this on
Pasqual, so help me, I'll send him to the chair."
A scalpel gleamed in the bright white glare. Vane felt a wave of hopeless
sickness. His body tingled with expectation of the searing pain of sharp steel.
His body . . . tingled . . .
Yes. It felt like--like pins-and-needles, the prickling sensation in a limb when
circulation is restored to it after a long time. A pulsating, faint stir, too
brief to be called a movement, came . . .
HIS heart! It was beginning to beat again! But already the coroner was placing
the point of his scalpel below Vane's sternum, preparing for the incision.
Vane tried desperately to move. He managed to make one eyelid quiver. Neither
the medico nor Lankershim noticed. The lawyer threw all his will into a silent,
frantic command.
The coroner hesitated, bent again to his task.
Suddenly he threw his arm out in a convulsive gesture. The scalpel flew from his
hand and rebounded off the wall, to clatter upon the floor.
Lankershim said, "What the hell--"
"I--funny! I couldn't help it! Some reflex--"
It was no reflex. As life returned to Vane, the power of the Stone from the
Stars waxed strong. His heartbeat was distinctly detectable now.
The coroner recovered the scalpel, stared at it, and thrust it into a
sterilizer. He donned another pair of rubber gloves, and, with a different
scalpel, advanced again upon the corpse.
Then he stopped. His eyes and mouth expanded to their ultimate limits of
flexibility. He gurgled inarticulately.
Behind him, Lankershim gasped, "My God! Look at that!">
The corpse sat up.
Vane winced, stretched out his arms, and yawned. He swung his feet from the
table and sat eying [sic] the two astounded men.
The coroner whispered, "You're dead! You're dead!"
Lankershim came out of his trance. He sprang forward.
Vane frowned and said, "Don't move, either of you." His voice was harsh, husky.