"Smith, Wilbur - Sunbird" - читать интересную книгу автора (Smith Wilbur)

Sunlight spilled in through the high windows, giving good light to the
paintings and sculptures that decorated the gallery. Here works of the
leading South African artists mingled easily with those of the great
internationals living and dead. Louren Sturvesant, and his ancestors
before him, had spent money wisely. Even now in the urgency of the
moment, my eyes were tugged aside by the soft fleshy glow of a Renoir
nude.

Louren paced easily over the sound-deadening pile of Oriental carpets,
and I matched him stride for stride. My legs are as long as his and as
powerful. "if you turn up what we are both hoping for, then you can go
in full-scale. A permanent camp, airstrip, assistants of your choice, a
full crew, and any equipment you call for. "

"Please God, let it happen," I said softly and at the head of the
staircase we paused.

Louren and I grinned at each other like conspirators.

"You know what it could cost?" I asked. "We might be digging for five or
six years. "

"I hope so," he agreed.

"It could run into-a couple of hundred thousand."

"It's only money, like the man said. " And again that great bull laugh
started me off. We went down the staircase roaring and tittering, each
in his own way. Elated and hyper-tense, we faced each other in the hall.

"I'll be back at seven-thirty Monday evening. Can you meet me at the
airport, Alitalia flight 310 from Zfirich? In the meantime you get your
end arranged. "

"I'll need a copy of that photograph.

"I've already had an enlargement delivered by hand to the Institute. You
have got a week to gloat over it. " He glanced at the gold Piaget on his
wrist. "Damn. I'm late.

He turned to the doorway at the moment that Hilary Sturvesant came
through it from the patio. She wore a short white tennis dress, and her
legs were long and achingly beautiful. A tall girl with gold-brown hair
hanging shiny and soft to her shoulders.

"Darling, you aren't going?"

"I'm sorry, Hil. I meant to tell you I wouldn't be staying for lunch,
but Ben will need somebody to hold him down."