"Paul Preuss - Venus Prime 1 - Breaking Strain" - читать интересную книгу автора (Preuss Paul)

тАЬI never laid eyes on you before in my life,тАЭ she said.

тАЬNo, I know you. WasnтАЩt you one of them up at Cloud Ranch this morninтАЩ?тАЭ

тАЬDonтАЩt mention that place to me. I never want to hear that place mentioned in my presence as long as I


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 ARTHUR C. CLARKE'S VENUS PRIME: VOLUME I

live.тАЭ

тАЬSo you was up there.тАЭ He nodded in satisfaction, giving the bartender a significant glance. His bearded
buddy also gave the bartender a significant glance, but what it signified was a mystery to them all. The
carpenter turned back to Sparta, looking her slowly up and down. тАЬI knew it was you, just from the way
you stared at me. тАЩCourse you donтАЩt much look the same as you did.тАЭ

тАЬHow good would you look if youтАЩd been walking in the snow half the day?тАЭ She tugged at a strand of
her matted brown hair, as if heтАЩd hurt her feelings.

тАЬNobody willinтАЩ to give you a ride out?тАЭ

Sparta shrugged and stared straight ahead, pretending to sip the glass of foul wine.

He persisted. тАЬGet in over your head?тАЭ

тАЬWhat are you, a stinking shrink?тАЭ she snarled. тАЬI play the fiddle. When somebody hires me to play the
fiddle, I expect to play the fiddle, period. How come the only people who make money in this business
are creeps?тАЭ

тАЬLady, donтАЩt get me wrong.тАЭ The carpenter ran a hand through his matted blond hair. тАЬI thought
everybody around here knew they made a lot more than just music sensies up there.тАЭ

тАЬIтАЩm not from around here.тАЭ

тАЬYeah.тАЭ He sipped thoughtfully at his beer. So did his buddy. тАЬWell . . . sorry.тАЭ For a while they all
stared at their drinks, a school of philosophers deep in contemplation. The bartender absently swiped at
the bartop with his rag.

тАЬWhere are you from?тАЭ the carpenter resumed, hopefully.

тАЬBack east,тАЭ she replied. тАЬAnd I wish I was back there now. Tell me thereтАЩs a bus out of here in ten
minutes and youтАЩll make my day.тАЭ

The bearded guy behind the carpenter laughed at that, but the carpenter didnтАЩt. тАЬThereтАЩs no buses
through here,тАЭ he said.

тАЬNo surprise.тАЭ