"Alastair Reynolds - Chasm City" - читать интересную книгу автора (Reynolds Alastair)

a gun, doubtless drawing a bead on an imaginary hamadryad. "Think you can squeeze me
in on your next hunting trip?"

"I don't know," Dieterling said. "We tend not to use live bait. But I'll talk to the boss and see
what we can arrange."
Red Hand Vasquez flashed his pointed teeth at us. "Funny guy. I like you, Snake. But then
again you work for Cahuella, I gotta like you. How is he anyway? I heard Cahuella got it just
as badly as you did, Mirabel. In fact I'm even hearing some vicious rumours to the effect that
he didn't make it."

Cahuella's death wasn't something we were planning on announcing right now; not until we
had given some thought to its ramifications-but news had evidently reached Nueva
Valparaiso ahead of us.

"I did my best for him," I said.
Vasquez nodded slowly and wisely, as if some sacred belief of his had just been proved
valid.

"Yeah, that's what I heard." He put his left hand on my shoulder, keeping his cigarette away
from the coat's pearl-coloured fabric. "I heard you drove halfway across the planet with a
missing leg, just so you could bring Cahuella and his bitch home. That's some heroic shit,
man, even for a white-eye. You can tell me all about it over some pisco sours, and Snake
can pencil me in for his next field trip. Right, Snake?"

We continued walking in the general direction of the bridge. "I don't think there's time for
that," I said. "Drinks, I mean."
"Like I said, chill." Vasquez strolled ahead of us, still with one hand in his pocket. "I don't get
you guys. All it would take is a word from you, and Reivich wouldn't even be a problem any
more, just a stain on the floor. The offer's still open, Mirabel."

"I have to finish him myself, Vasquez."
"Yeah. That's what I heard. Like some kind of vendetta deal. You had something going with
Cahuella's bitch, didn't you?"

"Subtlety's not your strong point, is it, Red?"
I saw Dieterling wince. We walked on in silence for a few more paces before Vasquez
stopped and turned to face me.
"What did you say?"

"I heard they call you Red Hand Vasquez behind your back."

"And what the fuck business of yours would it be if they did?"
I shrugged. "I don't know. On the other hand, what business is it of yours what went on
between me and Gitta?"

"All right, Mirabel." He took a longer than usual drag on his cigarette. "I think we understand
each other. There are things I don't like people asking about, and there are things you don't
like people asking about. Maybe you were fucking Gitta, I don't know, man." He watched as
I bridled. "But like you said, it wouldn't be my business. I won't ask again. I won't even think
about it again. But do me a favour, right? Don't call me Red Hand. I know that Reivich did