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

Just then a strange distant voice sang out, тАЬNadine, honey is that
you?тАЭ

From the other side of the little stone building I heard Nadine call out,
тАЬItтАЩs Chuck Berry!тАЭ

тАЬHelp me up, Walter. ThatтАЩs Shad!тАЭ

Before he could get me to my feet, Nadine ran into the shelter
followed by Val. In NadineтАЩs mouth she carried a small object that
resembled a microтАФthe lipstick sized forensic mech we used for getting
past reporters and into really tight places. She jumped up on the wooden
plank and deposited the micro in my hand. тАЬGuy is in this thing, Harry, isnтАЩt
he? Guy sings that song to me. Because of my name. ThatтАЩs Chuck BerryтАЩs
voice.тАЭ

тАЬYes,тАЭ I said as I examined the tiny vehicle. All of the black paint was
gone from the microтАЩs port side, and one of the tiny claw grapples up front
was broken off. The other forensic instruments, however, looked
serviceable. The tiny flashing red power readout on its front end indicated
an occupant coming off standby. тАЬHeтАЩs in there, Nadine,тАЭ I said.

The micro energized fully and rose into the air, its chipped lens aimed
at my face. тАЬJaggs. ItтАЩs about time you got here.тАЭ

тАЬI say, look what the cat dragged in,тАЭ I responded happily.

Hovering, the micro turned around. тАЬHi, Walter.тАЭ

тАЬVery good to see you, sir.тАЭ

Aimed at my wife, Shad said, тАЬHi, Val.тАЭ

тАЬItтАЩs so good to find you alive, Guy. We were so worried.тАЭ

тАЬAnd therein lies a tale. But first,тАЭ he did a middling job of rubbing the
microтАЩs port side against NadineтАЩs left whiskers and cheek. тАЬI really missed
you.тАЭ

тАЬNadineтАЩs the one who suggested coming out here,тАЭ I said.

тАЬIn that case,тАЭ he said to Nadine, тАЬyou definitely pulled my engrams
out of the fire.тАЭ

тАЬGuy,тАЭ said Nadine meekly, тАЬyour ducky suit. IтАЩm afraid itтАЩs gone.тАЭ

тАЬYeah. IтАЩve been finding pieces of myself scattered all over the north
end of this hill. That rat, too.тАЭ He faced me. тАЬAll I found of yours, Jaggs, was
a lot of blood.тАЭ He did a quick scan of me. тАЬBusted ankle, ribs, ear implants,
and a cut throat. You got off light. Which reminds me: Is there anyone else