"Laumer, Keith - Retief of the COTUC" - читать интересную книгу автора (Laumer Keith)

great Hoobrik wi' his saucy sayings!"

"Saucy sayings, is it! I've had enough o' yer
own saucy sayings, Gloob! Methinks I'll split
the creature on the spot!" The speaker drew a
giant cutlass with a whistle of honed metal.

"Stay, Zub Larf!" a mountainous Tsugg in
soiled yellow robes bellowed. " 'Tis but dull,
idling here in camp. I say let's see a sample o'
the oddling's tricks, ere we slit his weasand."

"Here, what passes?" a familiar baritone
cut through the clamor. A large Tsugg in a
red sash pushed through the mob, which gave
way grudgingly, with much muttering. The

34 Keith Laumer
newcomer halted with a jerk when his eye fell

on Retief.
"Methinks," he said, "I've seen you before,

sirrah."
"We've met," Relief acknowledged.

"Though all you Terries look alike to me ..."
Dir Blash fingered his jaw gingerly. "Me-
seemeth 'twas in the Street of the Sweet-
makers ..."

"So it was."

"Aha! I've got it!" Dir Blash clapped Retief

on the shoulder. "My boon companion! Ah,
bullies," he addressed his fellows, "this Terry
gave me a shot of something with a kick like a
VorchЧthough for the life of me I can't recall
the precise circumstances. How wert thou

yclept again, sirrah?"

"Retief. Lucky you have the kind of mem-
ory you do, Dir Blash; your compatriots were
just debating the best method of putting me

out of my misery."

"Say you so?" Dir Blash looked around