"Eric Frank Russell - The Witness" - читать интересную книгу автора (Russell Eric Frank)

"Name?"
"Dominic Lolordo." He gave it in an undertone, as if reluctant to have it coupled
with his image on the video. "You operate a sea-food restaurant?"
"Yes."
"Do you recognize the creature in that box?"
His eyes slid sidewise. "Yes."
"In what circumstances did you last see it?"
"
In my joint, after hours. "
"It had forced an entrance, had it not, shortly before dawn, and it awakened you
while plundering the place?" "That's correct."
"You did not try to catch it?"
Lolordo made a face. "Catch that? Look at it!"
`"Appearance alone would not deter you if you were being robbed," Mr.
Prosecutor suggested meaningly. "Surely there was something else?"
"It had walked in through the window," said Lolordo, his voice rising
considerably. "Right through the window, leaving a hole its own shape. It went out
the same way, making another hole. No broken glass around, no splinters, nothing.
What can you do with a green nightmare that walks through glass as if it wasn 't
there? "
"Seeing this demonstration of supernormal powers, you ran for assistance?"
"You bet!"
"But it came too late? This unscrupulous plunderer had gone?"
"Yes."
The questioner handed over with a gesture, and the defending attorney began.
"You assert that you were plundered? Of what?"
"Stuff."
"That is not an answer."
"Ain't it?" Lolordo yawned with exaggerated disinterest. The middle judge bent
forward, frowning heavily. "Does the witness desire to be committed for contempt?"
"Lobsters and oysters," said Lolordo, hurriedly and with bad grace.
"In other words, a square meal?" inquired Mr. Defender. "If that's what you want
to call it."
"Was it being consumed as if the defendant were raven-ously hungry?"
"I didn't stick around to see. I took one look and went on my wayтАФfast."
 "So that if the defendant picked up enough of your thoughts to realise that a
felonious act had been committed, there was no opportunity to apologise or make
restitution?"
No reply.
"And, in any case, your departing thoughts were violently hostile?"
"I wasn't hot-footing for a bouquet," assured Lolordo.
Mr. Defender said to the judges, "This witness is imperti-nent. I have no further
use for him."
The judges conferred, and the middle one decided coldly, "The witness will be
detained within the precincts of this court until the case has been decided."
Lolordo stamped away from his seat, glowering right and left.
"Fourth witness!"
The chair was taken by a middle-aged, dapper man who resembled the movie
notion of a bank president or an emi-nent surgeon. He could have been cast equally
well for either part.