"George R. R. Martin -- Second Helpings" - читать интересную книгу автора (Martin George R R)

milk-white skin a deep bronze color, covered his long hairless features with a wig that gave him a
formidable red-gold beard and a wild mane, glued on fierce eyebrows, and draped his massive, paunchy
frame in all manner of brightly colored furs (synthetic) and golden chains (quasigilt, actually) until he
looked the very part of a Karaleo noble. Most of his cats remained safely behind upon the Ark, but Dax,
the black telepathic kitten with the lambent golden eyes, rode with him, snug in one cavernous pocket.
He gave his ship a likely and appropriate name, stocked it with freeze-dried mushroom stew and two
kegs of thick brown St. Christopher Malt, programmed its computer with several of his favorite games,
and set out.
When he emerged from drive into normal space near the globe of SтАЩuthlam and its expansive orbital
docks, Tuf was hailed at once. Upon the control chamberтАЩs huge telescreenтАФshaped like a large eye,
another interesting affectation of the LeoneseтАФappeared the features of a small, spare man with tired
eyes. тАЬThis is Spiderhome Control, Port of SтАЩuthlam,тАЭ he identified himself. тАЬWe have you, fly. ID,
please.тАЭ
Haviland Tuf reached out and activated his comm unit. тАЬThis is Ferocious Veldt Roarer,тАЭ he said in an
even, dispassionate voice. тАЬI wish to secure docking permission.тАЭ
тАЬWhat a surprise,тАЭ the controller said, with bored sarcasm. тАЬDock four-thirty-seven. Out.тАЭ His face was
replaced by a schematic showing the location of the designated berth relative to the rest of the station.
Then the transmission cut off.
A customs team came aboard after docking. One woman inspected his empty holds, ran a swift and
cursory safety check to make sure this odd and unlikely craft was not going to explode or melt down or
otherwise damage the web, and checked the ship over for vermin, Her companion subjected Tuf to a
lengthy inquiry as to his point of origin, destination, business on SтАЩuthlam, and other particulars of his
voyage, punching his fictitious answers into a hand computer.
They were almost finished when Dax emerged sleepily from TufтАЩs pocket and peered at her. тАЬWhat
the...тАЭ she said, startled. She rose so suddenly she almost dropped her computer.
The kittenтАФwell, he was almost a cat now, but still the youngest of TufтАЩs petsтАФhad long, silky hair as
black as the depths of space, bright golden eyes, and a curiously indolent manner. Tuf plucked him out,
cradled him with one arm, stroked him with the other. тАЬThis is Dax,тАЭ he said. The SтАЩuthlamese had a
disconcerting habit of regarding all animals as vermin, and he was anxious to forestall any rash actions on
the part of the customs official. тАЬHe is a pet, madam, and quite harmless.тАЭ
тАЬI know what he is,тАЭ the woman said sharply. тАЬKeep him away from me. If he goes for my throat, youтАЩre
in big trouble, fly.тАЭ
тАЬIndeed,тАЭ said Haviland Tuf. тАЬI will do my best to control his ferocity.тАЭ
She looked relieved. тАЬItтАЩs only a little cat, right? WhatтАЩs that called, a catling?тАЭ
тАЬYour knowledge of zoology is astute,тАЭ Tuf replied.
тАЬI donтАЩt know doodles about zoology,тАЭ the customs inspector said, settling herself back into her seat.
тАЬBut I watch my vidshows from time to time.тАЭ
тАЬNo doubt you chanced to view an educational documentary, then,тАЭ Tuf said.
тАЬYawn,тАЭ the woman said. тАЬNeg on that, fly. IтАЩm more for romance and adventure vids.тАЭ
тАЬI see,тАЭ said Haviland Tuf. тАЬAnd one such drama featured a feline, I assume.тАЭ
She nodded, and just then her colleague emerged from the hold. тАЬAll clean,тАЭ the other woman said. She
spotted Dax, cradled in TufтАЩs arms, and smiled. тАЬA cat vermin,тАЭ she said happily. тАЬSort of cute, isnтАЩt it?тАЭ
тАЬDonтАЩt be fooled,тАЭ the first inspector warned. тАЬTheyтАЩre soft and cuddly but they can rip your lungs out in
the blink of an eye.тАЭ
тАЬHe looks a little small for that,тАЭ her partner said.
тАЬHa! Remember the one in Tuf and Mune.тАЭ
тАЬTuf and Mune,тАЭ Haviland Tuf repeated, his voice without expression.
The second inspector sat down next to the first. тАЬThe Pirate and the Portmaster,тАЭ she said.
тАЬHe was the ruthless lord of life and death, in a ship as large as the sun. She was the spider queen, torn
between love and loyalty. Together they changed the world,тАЭ the first said.