"Mack Reynolds - Code Duello" - читать интересную книгу автора (Reynolds Mack)

Lee Chang's voice was sweet. "Among other things, it is a most deadly
weapon and involves no electronic gadgetry, metal parts, or anything else
detectable by search devices."

The head of her department grunted and marched across the room to a
somewhat colorless looking young man who had been practicing, rather
ineptly, at the quick draw.

"How about you?" Metaxa snapped.

The young manтАФhe couldn't have been more than in his
mid-twentiesтАФlooked up with an air of apology. "I'm lucky," he said.

Ross Metaxa was bleak. "And I'm Rossie, but just to keep things in
perspective, I think you'd better call me Commissioner Metaxa, and the
hell with the nicknames. I meant what's your so-called special talent?"

"That's what I meant. I'm lucky."

Section G's ultimate head looked at him for a long empty moment.
Then he turned his eyes to Lee Chang Chu, in silence.

The diminutive Chinese girl tinkled laughter. "This is Jerry Rhodes,
Commissioner. He is quite correct. His special talent is that he is lucky."

Ross Metaxa closed his tired, moist eyes and muttered something
inwardly. He opened them again to glare.

Jerry Rhodes cleared his throat, the apology still there. "I don't pretend
to explain it."

"I'll bet you don't," Metaxa said. "Show me."

Rhodes thought for a moment. He said, "There is an element I should
mention. My own fortunes have to be involved."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

The colorless young man fished in a pocket. "Here is a coin. You know
what a coin is?"

"Yes," Metaxa said. "I know what a coin is. In fact, they still use them
on various of the less progressive worlds. Listen, Rhodes, or whatever your
name is, start off on the basis that I'm not stupid. I didn't get to be
Commissioner of Section G by being stupid."
 Rhodes said, "Yes, sir. This is an old coin going back to United States
days." He looked at it. "Sony, France."

"All right, all right, a coin."