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

I glanced at Walter. He nodded, touched a button on his steering
column, and a screen dropped down from the roof. All those in the rear
could easily see it, and Shad moved his mech back there for the improved
view. By straining, I could see the screen from the side: constabulary police
cruisers, light arrays flashing, in front of a small cottage. Matheson began
telling me a channel number, but I interrupted and said we already had it
and ended the call. The reporter doing the voiceover let us know that she
was in Gidleigh, at great personal risk to her own person, as multiple police
agencies descended upon the cottageтАЩs occupant suspected of being the
Mad Moor Murderer. A disclaimer came up on the screen explaining that
the bombing had taken place in northern Dartmoor, the use of the
designation тАШMoorтАЩ was for alliterative purposes and in no way referred to
Moors, nor anyone of Moorish descent, nor does the term тАШMadтАЩ refer to
mentally impaired, anger-management challenged ... etcetera, etcetera.

тАЬMathesonтАЩs making the bust in front of the TV cameras while weтАЩre
out here in the boonies,тАЭ said Shad. тАЬBy the time WalterтАЩs car is charged
and we can make it to Gidleigh, itтАЩll all be over. MathesonтАЩll probably get a
medal.тАЭ

тАЬThe Wookie never got a medal,тАЭ said Alice Blue from in back.

I turned and looked at her, not certain if she was joking. тАЬThatтАЩs true,тАЭ I
chimed in. тАЬThe Wookie did everything Han Solo and Luke Skywalker did.
They got medals and the Wookie didnтАЩt.тАЭ

тАЬA clear case of human racism,тАЭ added Val.

We all looked at Shad.
 ShadтАЩs mech was silent for a moment. тАЬYeah,тАЭ he said in good humor.
тАЬHe did the same except for lines. The Wookie only had that one word to
learn for his part.тАЭ He then gave the Wookie call.

тАЬThat shouldnтАЩt have kept the Wookie from getting a medal,тАЭ said
Alice with a demure smile. тАЬPatty Duke only said one word in The Miracle
Worker and she got an Oscar.тАЭ

тАЬWhat word was that, sergeant?тАЭ Walter asked Shad.

тАЬтАШWawa,тАЩтАЬ quoth the micro, granting the point. The motion passed
unanimously. Resolved: The Wookie was stiffed, as we would be whenever
it came time to pass out public kudos for taking down the Mad Moor
Murderer.

After charging WalterтАЩs MG, we took the A 30 back toward Exeter to
bring Alice Blue to Heavitree Tower for the first of many interrogations.
Eventually the conversation turned to ShadтАЩs new meat suit. He said he was
going to arrange with North American Biotronics for a replacement duck,
which should be ready in a matter of weeks.