"E. C. Tubb - Dumarest 01 - The Winds of Gath" - читать интересную книгу автора (Tubb E. C)

"Megan!" Dumarest's eyes probed the dirt, the beard, the
shapeless clothing. "As bad as all that?"

"Worse." Megan stooped, picked up his boot, swore as he
thrust a finger through the hole. "Just arrived?"

"Yes."

"How was the handler on your ship?" Megan was too casual.
"A decent type?"

"Couldn't be better. Why?"

"Decent enough to trust a man?"

"He isn't a fool." Dumarest sat down before the hut. "You
know the rules, Megan. No cash, no ride. How long have you
been stuck here?"

"Over a year." Viciously he flung down the damaged boot.
"Four times I've seen the ships come in and four times they've
left without me. If I don't get away soon I won't be able to get
away at all. Even now I'd be taking more than a normal risk."

He was optimistic. Beneath the dirt Megan was gaunt, his
clothes hanging from a skeletal frame. For him to travel Low in
his condition was suicide. He looked enviously at Dumarest.

"You're looking fit," he said. "For a man who's just landed."

"I had luck," said Dumarest, and smiled at the memory. "The
handler stepped out of line and got himself disciplined. He woke
me three days early for the sake of company. He wanted someone
to talk to. I let him talk."

"And got well fed for listening." Megan scowled. "I bet he
wanted to know all about being a traveler."

"You know?"

"It happens all the time. Damn yokels! They can't understand
that it takes guts to operate on your own. They get to hate us for
being what they can't and they vent their spite any way they can.
Damn them all to hell!"

He sat down, lacking the strength for sustained anger.

"I got here by mistake," he said quietly. "A lying handler said
the ship was bound for Largis. I didn't know he'd lied until I was