"Barry B. Longyear - The Hangingstone Rat" - читать интересную книгу автора (Longyear Barry)

I smelled hot tea. When I opened my eyes and looked, Walter was
holding out a steaming cuppa. I took it in both hands, felt it warm my palms,
then took a sip, the healing liquid heating my core.

тАЬThank you. Where on earth did you get this?тАЭ

тАЬI had a few moments before your party made it to the car, sir, and
packed a snack. I arranged a bit of shelter on the east side of that stone
building at the top of the hill.тАЭ

He helped me along, and by the time I had finished the tea, I was
mobile again, my wits about me, but a terrible pain in my ankle. The wall on
the east side of the observation shack was in severe disrepair, but Walter
had taken a few rocks and boards and constructed a makeshift shelter off
to the side of the shack, within which was a plank bench propped upon two
flat stones. He helped me down upon the thing easing the pain in my ankle
considerably. Before I could thank him, he held out a tray of small
sandwiches with one hand and his carafe of tea in the other. I had three of
the former and a refill from the latter as he warmed the enclosure with his
wrinkle remover.

тАЬBy the way, sir, I found those electrical components and pieces of
metal upon the bench beside you during my search.тАЭ

As I was chewing on an absolutely delicious turkey and avocado
sandwich, I examined what looked like pieces to a homemade remote
detonator and fragments of bomb casing. Walter had placed them in
sealed plastic envelopes, dated, site located, and signed. I chanced to look
up and saw between the boards above. I was being protected from the rain
by a plastic sheet decorated with images of hundreds of mice. I swallowed
my mouthful and said, тАЬWalter?тАЭ

тАЬYes, sir?тАЭ

тАЬWhere did you obtain that plastic sheet?тАЭ

тАЬFrom the Marks & Spencer catalog, sir. I originally intended it to
serve as a ground cloth for our picnic here. Because of the inclement
weather, however, I thought this application more practical.тАЭ

The mice on that sheet werenтАЩt Mickey or Minnie, or even Mighty.
They were, instead, a quite realistic vermin infestation of Biblical
proportions. тАЬMice, Walter?тАЭ

тАЬYes, sir. It was for Mrs. Jaggers and her guest. I hope you donтАЩt
object.тАЭ

тАЬNo. No, Walter. Not at all.тАЭ I looked away from the sheet. тАЬSpeaking
of Val and Nadine, do you know where they are?тАЭ