"Andre Norton - Cat's eye" - читать интересную книгу автора (Norton Andre)

was well to the fore of the line at the mechanical
assignor. He watched with alert jealousy as three men
ahead ran toward the stamper, assured of workтАФthe
mark on their wrists giving them the freedom of the
city, if only for a day. Then he was facing that

featureless, impersonal mike himself.

"Horan, class two, Norden, lawful workтАФ" The same
old formula he uttered there day after day. He stood,
his feet a little apart, balancing as if the machine
were an opponent ready for battle. Under his breath
he counted five quickly, and a tiny hope was born.
Since he had not been rejected at once, the assignor
did have some request that might be matched by his

meager qualifications.
-8

The five he had counted doubled into ten before the
assignor asked a question: "Knowledge of animals?"

"That of a Norden herd riderтАФ" Troy stretched the
truth to a very thin band, but his small hope was
growing fast.

The assignor meditated. Troy, through his excite-
ment, felt the impatience of the men behind him. Yet
the length of time the machine was taking was so
promisingтАФ

"Employed." Troy gave a small gasp of relief. "Time
of employmentтАФindefinite. EmployerтАФKossi Kyger,
first level, Sixth Square. Report there at once."

The plates in his boot soles beat a rataplan as he
hurried to the stamper, thrust his hand into the slot,
and felt that instant of heat that set the work mark
on his tanned wrist.

"First level, Sixth Square," he repeated aloud, not
because it was so necessary to impress his memory,
but for the pure pleasure of being able to claim a work
address.

Sixth Square lay on the outer fringe of the business
district, which meant that Kyger was engaged in one
of the upper-bracket luxury trades. Rather surprising
that such a merchant would have need for a C.L.C.