"Mike Resnick - Encounters" - читать интересную книгу автора (Resnick Mike)

But like I said, the jail was well-appointed and the service was better than I'd paid for in a
batch of hostelries, so except for lacking a little company of the female persuasion and
wondering what particular laws I had broken, I wasn't exactly discommoded at my current
situation, and truth to tell I was eating better than I'd eaten since I'd arrived in Europe.
Then, at about noontime, two of the guys who'd arrested me the night before came to pay me
a visit. One of тАЩem was still in his military uniform, all glittering with medals and sporting a
general's insignia, and the other was dressed in a dour gray business suit. They nodded to
the jailor, who let them into the cell with me and then left the building.
тАЬWell, Heinrich,тАЭ said the General, тАЬwhat do you think?тАЭ
Heinrich peered intently at me through a monocle. тАЬIt's remarkable,тАЭ he said at last.
тАЬAbsolutely remarkable.тАЭ
тАЬI agree,тАЭ said the General. тАЬEven here, in the light of day, no one could tell the difference.тАЭ
тАЬBut it's such an audacious scheme,тАЭ protested Heinrich.
тАЬIt will work,тАЭ said the General adamantly.
тАЬExcuse me for interrupting,тАЭ I said, тАЬbut would you gents like to tell me what I'm doing here, a
clean-cut God-fearing Christian who ain't never broke a law in his life?тАЭ
тАЬMy apologies,тАЭ said the General. тАЬBut it was absolutely essential that we speak to you before
anyone else laid eyes on you.тАЭ
тАЬIt wasn't exactly the laying on of eyes that got so rudely interrupted last night,тАЭ I pointed out.
тАЬWe forgive you for that,тАЭ said Heinrich.
тАЬWell, I'm sure that's right generous of you,тАЭ I said, тАЬbut I hadn't quite got around to doing
anything I need to be forgiven for, if you understand my subtle but outraged meaning.тАЭ
тАЬForget all that,тАЭ said the General. тАЬWe have important business to discuss with you.тАЭ
тАЬYeah?тАЭ I said.
He nodded. тАЬYou could be the answer to our prayers.тАЭ
тАЬWell, you're in luck, General,тАЭ I said. тАЬAnswering prayers is one of the very best things I do,
me being a man of the cloth and all.тАЭ
тАЬYou may be in luck, too, Reverend Jones,тАЭ said the General. тАЬWe have a job for you. It's
dangerous, but the pay is excellent, and you'll know that you are serving the cause of Right
and Justice.тАЭ
тАЬUh ... back up a couple of steps to the dangerous part,тАЭ I said.
тАЬI won't deceive you,тАЭ said the General. тАЬYour life will be constantly at risk.тАЭ
тАЬWell, it sure has been nice chatting with you fellers,тАЭ I said, getting to my feet and walking to
the door of my cell. тАЬBut I think it's time for me to hit the road.тАЭ
тАЬA quarter of a million dollars,тАЭ said the General.
тАЬOn the other hand,тАЭ I said, walking back to my bed and sitting back down on the edge of it, тАЬit
would be rude to leave without at least hearing you out.тАЭ
тАЬI don't know,тАЭ said Heinrich. тАЬAre yousure this is our only option?тАЭ
тАЬWe both know it is,тАЭ answered the General. He turned to me. тАЬWe've yet to be formally
introduced. I am General Gruenwald, head of Sylvania's army, and this is Lord Mayor
Heinrich Rembert.тАЭ
тАЬPleased to meet you,тАЭ I said. тАЬLet's talk about the half million dollars.тАЭ
тАЬAll in good time, Reverend Jones,тАЭ said the General. He pulled a photograph out of his
pocket and handed it over to me. тАЬDo you recognize the man in this picture?тАЭ
тАЬIt's me,тАЭ I said. тАЬBut I sure can't remember posing in all them fancy duds. It must have been
took at a carnival or something when I was on a bender.тАЭ
тАЬIt isnot you,тАЭ said General Gruenwald. тАЬIt is a photograph of King Philbert of Sylvania, and it
was taken two weeks ago.тАЭ
тАЬYou don't say!тАЭ
тАЬWedo say,тАЭ replied Lord Mayor Rembert. тАЬYou could be his double, Reverend Jones. The