"Alastair Reynolds - Century Rain" - читать интересную книгу автора (Reynolds Alastair)

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 CenturyRain

guards performed more detailed searches. To one side was a striped wooden cabin where the guards
amused themselves with cards and cheap pornography. A low stone wall overlooked a narrow, pebbled
quay. An empty chair stood by the wall, next to a large trestle table covered with a cloth.

тАЬSay as little as possible,тАЭ Floyd said to Custine.

As the guard with the machine gun returned to his post, another from the inspection area knocked on the
roof of the car. тАЬBring it out. Place it on the table.тАЭ

Floyd and Custine worked the case from the rear of the Mathis. It was cumbersome rather than heavy,
and had already accumulated enough scuffs and scratches that a few more wouldnтАЩt matter.

тАЬYou want me to open it?тАЭ Custine asked.

тАЬOf course,тАЭ the second guard said. тАЬAnd remove the instrument, please.тАЭ

Custine did as he was told, setting the double bass down gently. There was just enough room for it on
the table next to the empty case. тАЬThere,тАЭ he said. тАЬYouтАЩre welcome to examine the case if you think I
have the ingenuity to hide something in it other than the instrument.тАЭ

тАЬItтАЩs not the case IтАЩm concerned about,тАЭ the guard said. He motioned to one of his colleagues, who was
sitting on a folding chair next to the striped cabin. The man put down his newspaper and picked up a
wooden toolkitтАФan inspector of some kind, clearly. тАЬIтАЩve seen these two before,тАЭ the guard continued.
тАЬTheyтАЩre back and forth across the river like itтАЩs going out of fashion. Makes you wonder, doesnтАЩt it?тАЭ

The inspector narrowed his eyes at Custine. тАЬI know this one,тАЭ he said. тАЬUsed to be a policeman, didnтАЩt
you? Some big cheese at Central Headquarters?тАЭ

тАЬI felt a change of career would do me good.тАЭ

Floyd took a fresh toothpick from his shirt pocket, inserted into his mouth and bit down. The sharp end
dug into his mouth, drawing blood.

тАЬQuite a comedown, isnтАЩt it, from high-profile police work to this?тАЭ the inspector persisted, setting his
toolkit down.

тАЬIf you say so,тАЭ Custine replied.

The inspector picked up the double bass, shaking it with a look of deep concentration on his face before
returning it to the table. тАЬNothing rattling around,тАЭ he said, reaching for his toolkit. тАЬStill, they might
have taped something to the inside. WeтАЩll have to take this boy apart.тАЭ


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 CenturyRain