"(novel) (ebook) - Perry Rhodan 0006 - (3b) The Mutant Corps" - читать интересную книгу автора (Perry Rhodan)

"Thanks a lot. You are very charming, my friend, but any prisoner is given a certain sum of cash upon his release from prison. In this respect our government shows itself to be rather generous. Therefore, you donТt need to give me more than is due to me. Homer G. Adams has remained the old skinflint that he was many years ago, but he still has his pride and will not accept alms from anyone. Well so long, Barry. It was such a pleasure to see you again after all these long years and to have such an interesting chat with you."After Adams had left, Hiram Barry dialled the telephone number of the Midland Bank. He instructed the night clerk to deliver a certain message to the bank manager the very first thing the next morning. Then he dialled another number and announced himself, strangely enough, with a girls name.

"What is that supposed to be, that you me so late at night, lad? I was swamped with business deals all day long, and I had much too much to drink. Please call back again tomorrow, but not before dinner time."

"Just a minute. You will sober up as soon as you have listened to me for a moment."

"Oh, stop that nonsense. I donТt fall for such things."

"For heavenТs sake, will you listen to me! You are in serious trouble if you put down that receiver now. IТll be over at your house in half an hour and break down your door and get you out of bed."

"What has happened?"

"I just had to write a check for 24,000 pounds, drawn against my account at the Midland Bank."

"Wait a minute! Have you lost your mind? Or did somebody break in and hold a gun on you? But whatever it is, my dear boy, call the bank at once and have them stop that check, and then you call up the police right away."

"IТve already informed the bank, but I left quite a different message than you might think. I instructed them to transfer money from my other accounts, because this account has only 14,000 pounds in it right now."The man at the other end of the line had sobered up completely by now. "Will you finally tell me what is going on? Did the devil in person come and get that check from you?"

"You are almost right. It was Homer G. Adams who was released from prison today."

The man at the other end of the line was struck dumb. Only after a few seconds did he manage to groan, "Adams has been released? Then for heavenТs sake, donТt talk with the police."

"Of course I wonТt talk with the police-only with you. That is your end of the business, and in case you donТt remember the hours exactly, the bank will be open tomorrow morning at nine oТclock."The first client to show up at the Midland Bank was Homer C. Adams.

He did not seem to notice the nervously jerking face of the bank teller. Adams stared at the ceiling of the large room with a very bored expression and seemed to be counting the many light bulbs that adorned the beautiful chandelier. Adams was a man of great patience. That his eyes were nevertheless closely examining everything that went on around him could not be noticed by even a very critical observer.

Yet the little man with the big head was inwardly quite worried whether there was enough money in that bank account-Barry could have closed it out a long time ago. After all, it was in BarryТs name.After a few minutes, the teller returned.

"IТm sorry, sir. There seem to be insufficient funds in this account. We cannot pay you the full amount of this check."How much is the shortage?"

"About a hundred pounds, sir."

"Is that all? For that little sum you make such a fuss?"

"We have to keep our accounts balanced, sir " stammered the man behind the window.

"If you want to keep your accounts balanced, you could have given the owner of this account credit for a hundred pounds, couldnТt you?"

"Yes, sir, we do that in general, but in this particular case we were instructed to close out this account after paying out the total amount that was in it."

"ThatТs all right then. IТll be satisfied with whatever sum you have in that account, provided you donТt make me wait more than five minutes."After Adams got the money he left the area as fast as he could. He took the Underground to Picadilly Circus, where he got out and went shopping on Regent Street for all the things he needed. He had dinner at the airport in Croydon. To the waiter who was serving at his table, he appeared to be a very nervous and distrustful person. "Tell me, waiter, how long will it take? I must catch that jet to Tokyo."

"Your plane leaves at 1345, sir. You still have more than an hour and a half till then. You will have no difficulty whatsoever finishing your meal. We serve very promptly here."

Homer G. Adams did not seem quite convinced of that. He turned to a gentleman at the next table and called out with a loud voice, "Pardon me, sir. Are you taking the jet to Tokyo too? I mean the jet that leaves at 1345."

The man examined him and replied, "Sorry, IТm leaving at 1320, but not for east Asia."

"Excuse me," mumbled Adams.