"Robert Reed - The Caldera of Good Fortune" - читать интересную книгу автора (Reed Robert)

Only one other berth was filled, its passengers probably on the far
side of the ridge, gazing down at the bubbling, seemingly bottomless lake.

The car stopped, a polite voice warned everyone about the cold to
come, and then the main door slid open.

But the chill wasnтАЩt awful. Crockett guessed the air wasnтАЩt worse than
seventy belowтАФmuch warmer than the hamlet on any sun-scorched day.
He stepped out onto the wide porch where tourists normally paused to
acclimatize themselves, investing a few moments in consideration of witty
things that he might say.

His client remained in the car.

Puzzled, Crockett stepped back inside. Doom was standing where he
had always stood, but now his eyes were closed.

тАЬHave you changed your mind?тАЭ asked Crockett.

The alien didnтАЩt speak.

тАЬYouтАЩre worried about the eruption,тАЭ Crockett decided. тАЬWell, you
shouldnтАЩt be. ItтАЩs a surprisingly peaceful event. IтАЩve known plenty who
stayed up here while it happened. Keep inside the shelters, or even in a
likely hole, and your body wonтАЩt die for more than a few hours.тАЭ

Quietly, his friend said, тАЬI will not be returning.тАЭ

Crockett blinked. тАЬWhat was that?тАЭ

тАЬYou may go, if you wish.тАЭ

тАЬI canтАЩt. Not and leave you here.тАЭ

тАЬBut I need to be here,тАЭ Doom said. тАЬAnd besides, I do not require
your presence. Since I have their permission.тАЭ

тАЬThe Luckies, you mean?тАЭ

тАЬYes.тАЭ

тАЬThen why bring me at all?тАЭ Crockett asked.

Doom had six fingers on each hand, arranged three-and-three. One
of his hands had just reached inside his heavy coat, digging deep while the
white eyes opened, scanned the LuckiesтАЩ false-forest.

тАЬMaybe I should go home,тАЭ Crockett allowed.

тАЬYou will have to walk,тАЭ Doom warned. тАЬNeither car is operational. I