"Alan E. Nourse - Morley's Chain" - читать интересную книгу автора (Nourse Alan E)

me a few years, then a couple of attempts to break out, and I'd be in for life. I'm a Sharkie, remember.
People don't waste time with us."
"Tam, you're talking nonsense. Good Lord, man, you'd have no freedom, no lifeтАФ"
 "What freedom do I have now?" Tam snarled, his voice growing wild. "Freedom to starve? Freedom
to crawl on my hands and knees for a little bit of food? I don't want that kind of freedom." His eyes grew
shrewd, shifted slyly to Dave Hawke's broad face. "Just a simple charge," he said slowly. "Like assault,
for instance. Criminal assaultтАФit has an ugly sound, doesn't it, Dave? That should give me ten yearsтАФ"
his fist clenched at his side. "Yes, criminal assault is just what ought to do the trickтАФ"
The big man tried to dodge, but Tam was too quick. His fist caught Dave in the chest, and Tam was
on him like a fury, kicking, scratching, snarling, pounding. Dave choked and cried out, "Tam, for God's
sake stopтАФ" A blow caught him in the mouth, choking off his words as Tam fought, all the hate and
bitterness of long weary years translated into scratching, swearing desperation. Dave pushed him off, like
a bear trying to disentangle a maddened dog from his fur, but Tam was back at him, fighting harder. The
door opened, and Miss Jackson's frightened face appeared briefly, then vanished. Finally Dave lifted a
heavy fist, drove it hard into Tam's stomach, then sadly lifted the choking, gasping man to the floor.
The police came in, seconds later, clubs drawn, eyes wide. They dragged Tam out, one on each arm.
Dave sank back, his eyes filling, a sickness growing in the pit of his stomach. In court, a Sharkie would
draw the maximum sentence, without leniency. Ten years in prisonтАФ
Dave leaned forward, his face in his hands, tears running down his black cheeks, sobs shaking his
broad, heavy shoulders. "Why wouldn't he listen? Why couldn't he have gone to Mercury? Only a few
months, not long enough to hurt him. Why couldn't he have gone, and worked out in the sun, got that hot
sun down on his hands and faceтАФnot for long, just for a little while. Two or three months, and he'd have
been dark enough to passтАФ"