"Andre Norton - Crosstime 2 - Crossroads of Time" - читать интересную книгу автора (Norton Andre)

had been sitting in the dark for at least an hour certain that trouble was
ahead and that action on his part was necessary?
Then, moved perhaps by that unblinking, demanding stare, he plunged:
"I just had a feeling that something was wrongЧthat I must open the
door."
And those tawny eyes held his as if they would bore into his skull and
lay bare every one of his thoughts. Suddenly he resented that suggestion of
invasion, and found he was able to break away from that odd hold, that
compulsion.
But to his surprise Kittson was nodding. "I'll buy that, Walker. I've faith
in hunches. Well, it was a good thing for me that yoursЧ" He paused, froze
into immobility except for a gesture with one hand which held Blake as
quiet. Kittson might be listening, but thought Blake strained his own ears
he could hear nothing at all.
A second later there was a discreet tap at the door. Blake got up.
Kittson was as still as a hunter waiting for prey to come within striking
distance. But his head turned to Blake and he shaped words with such
exaggerated lip movements that the younger man could read them.
"Ask who?"
Blake went to the door, his hand dropped to the catch but he did not
release it as he asked, "Who's there?"
"Hotel security officer." The reply was prompt, only slightly muffled by
the barrier. A hand came over his shoulder with a scrap of paper. Block
letters read, "SayЧ check with desk."
"Let me check with the desk," Blake called. He flattened himself against
the door. There was no objection, no answer from without. But, after a
moment, Blake heard the faint footfalls of someone moving away. He went
back to his seat on the bed.
Kittson had preempted the single comfortable .chair and was gazing
out into the air shaft as if he found the brickwork beyond of absorbing
interest.

"I take it that that was not the hotel dick?"
"No, he was not. Which puts us all in a jam of sorts." Kittson took out a
cigarette case, offered its contents to Blake, and snapped a lighter for
them both. "That was an attempt to discover what had happened here.
Unfortunately it means that you have now been linked with us. And that
leads to complications all around.
"There are good and sufficient reasons why we do not want our actions
to become public. We shall have to ask you to cooperate with us."
Blake stirred. "I'm just an innocent bystander. I didn't come here to
play cops and robbers. And I'm not even asking what I'm mixed up
inЧwhich I believe shows some restraint on my part." Again Kittson
smiled faintly and Blake continued, "I just want to go about my own
businessЕ"
Kittson tossed his hat on the desk and leaned back his black head to
blow a perfect smoke ring. "And we'd like nothing better than to see you
do just that. But I'm afraid it's too late for second thoughts now. You
should have had those before you opened your door. Others have taken an
interest in you, and that might proveЧat the bestЧembarrassing. At the