"006 The Mutant Corps" - читать интересную книгу автора (Perry Rhodan)

"You always had a very bright mind, Adams. You could have made a lot of money with your memory alone. I have always admired you and, of course, also envied you a little bit."

"And donТt forget the hatred, Barry. I will accept admiration, and I donТt mind even those that envy me, for vanity feeds on the envy of others. But hatred is I a dangerous thing, as you can see in my example. I do not like people to hate me."

"What do you want, Adams? DonТt talk about hatred that goes back so far. I donТt hate you now."

"Of course you donТt hate me any more. One can forget such things in fourteen years. I donТt need to kill you any more, for your hatred has turned to fear, and with that I will gladly let you go on living. Perhaps this will pay back some of the debt you owe me. ItТs a terrible thing to have to live with fear."

"Did you come here to tell me that? Have you been thinking of hatred during all these fourteen years? I canТt imagine that, for you would have perished thinking of nothing but hatred, and besides, wasnТt it twenty years, if IТm not mistaken?"

"I was sentenced to twenty years, but after fourteen year they felt I had served enough time. I was let off because of good conduct. You should know that."

"Yes." Barry nodded. He had regained his composure somehow in the meantime. "May I offer you a drink?"

"If I could be quite sure that there isnТt any poison in it."

"I wouldnТt be that stupid, Adams. Please have a drink. I still recall how fond you used to be of whiskey. And now, tell me everything. I would like to know how matters stand between the two of us fourteen years later."

"Our relationship is no longer important. There is nothing to, discuss about this, and neither is there anything interesting to report from my years in prison. I wonТt keep you long now, if we come to a quick agreement."

"What should we agree upon?"

"I need a suit. A good, new, fashionable suit."

"Is that all you want? HereТs fifty pounds for that."

"The money will be in addition to all that, Barry. First suit and then some pocket money. You might remember an account at the Midland Bank, way back. It amounted, 16,000 pounds. Not a big sum, I know. It was always my fate never to possess money of my own, apart from this small old age pension-the 16,000 pounds. IТm sure some additional interest has accumulated in the meantime."

"I donТt know what you are referring to, Adams. How should I know anything about your accounts with the Midland Bank?"

"IТm referring to that account which we kept in your name. You might remember that the transaction with Servey, Ltd., showed some profit that could not be shown in your books."

"You mystify me, Adams."

"I canТt see why you shouldnТt understand that. Have you ever wondered why you escaped a prison sentence at that time? Have you ever asked yourself why Homer G. Adams refused to make a statement that, although it would not have exonerated him, would nevertheless have helped to have Hiram Barry sentenced for a long stretch of time? Do you seriously believe that I wanted to protect you so that you could spend my money? No, sir. The reason I let you escape was so that you could protect my money, and today I have returned to get my money back-including interest. If you deduct the cost for the suit, the amount should be about 24,000 pounds. In case you have speculated with my money, it might have even increased to two million pounds, but that doesnТt interest me at all. All I need is, the 24,000 pounds, and you can keep whatever you have earned with my capital in the meantime. I donТt think that I am praising myself, Barry, if I say that I have treated you quite generously. You should rather have expected a much harsher reaction."Barry hesitated with his answer. His fingers were grasping the edge of the table. "You know very well, Adams, that 24,000 pounds is a great deal of money, especially for someone like me. I have never lived in as grand a style as you did."

"It is, of course, anyoneТs privilege to live in the, style he wants. You are a small crook, and no one has ever hindered you from becoming a big one. Besides, you seem to confuse two different things. If I ever swindled somebody out of twelve million pounds, I did it only with money that belonged to somebody else. My big deal that went into the billions had no personal avarice as a motive. I did it, let us say, because I like that kind of a game. I place great importance, Barry, on being considered an amateur and an idealist. I want to be recognized in the eyes of the world as a selfless servant for great things."

"Still to this day?" asked Barry.

Homer G, Adams nodded slowly. "Still today. DonТt you believe for a moment that I will retire from the scene while I am still in the best years. of my life. I Shall return. I had a great deal of time to think, Barry, and I have heard quite a few things. But that would not really interest you too much. Give me the suit and the money, and then I will no longer bother you."Hiram Barry seemed to have come to a decision. "Come up to my bedroom with me, Adams. YouТll have half an hour to inspect my closets and look at my clothes."Adams did not need half an hour to do that. It took him exactly three minutes to make up his mind.

"IТll take this one," he said. "You are hardly any taller than I am, and therefore, the jacket should fit me all right. IТll have to turn up the trouser cuffs a couple of inches, but nobody would notice that in the darkness, and tomorrow I will take the suit to a tailor. Where can I change clothes?"

"Over there is the bathroom."

"Thanks a lot, Barry. I see we understand each other. In the meantime, will you be good enough to write a check for me?"

Ten minutes later Adams returned to the library. A check had I been made out for the sum of 24,000 pounds, and it bore BarryТs flourishing signature, which could hardly be falsified."Would you need any cash, Adams?" Barry inquired politely. "YouТll probably want to go to some hotel."