"E. C. Tubb - Dumarest 04 - Kalin" - читать интересную книгу автора (Tubb E. C)

"Maybe he is, but he wasn't joking about sealing the vessel." A
plump trader fingered the charm hanging about his neck, a good
luck symbol from one of the Magic worlds. He looked shrewdly at
Dumarest. "You've traveled, Earl. You've seen a lot of the galaxy.
What do you advise?"

Dumarest looked at the trader. "About what?"

"You heard what the captain said. Do you think he was
exaggerating? Would it be safe for us to go and see the fun?"

Dumarest made no comment. From the vantage point at the
head of the ramp on which they stood he had a good view of the
city. It sprawled, an ill-lit shapeless conglomeration of buildings
beyond the high wire mesh of the fence. It was barely night but
already the red glow of fire painted the lowering clouds. The soft
breeze carried the echoes of screams, shouts, the savage baying
of a mob.

The woman shivered. "Horrible! Like animals. Dogs worrying
a bone. Why?" she demanded. "Why in a so-called civilized
community do they do it?"

Her companion shrugged. "It is their custom."

"Custom!" She wasn't satisfied. Her eyes met those of
Dumarest, held, with dawning interest. "A word which explains
nothing. Why do they throw aside all law, all restraint?"

"To cleanse themselves, my lady," said Dumarest. "At least,
that is what they claim. Once, perhaps, the thing had purpose
but now it has become a vicious habit. For three days the
population of Logis will hunt and kill, hide and die." He looked at
the flames. "Burn and be burned."

But not all of them. Only the weak and helpless, those without
friends willing to lend their protection. The old days when
harmful mutations, the insane, the crippled, the physically weak
and morally vicious were culled from society were over. Now old
scores would be settled, debts and grudges paid, revenge taken.
A few politicians would be hunted down for their lying promises.
Some cheating traders, businessmen, company heads would be
sacrificed to appease the mob. But, when it was all over, those in
power would still remain.

The woman shivered again at the echo of a scream. Her hand
glittered as she touched the arm of her companion. "Let's go
inside," she said.

"We can sit and talk and play cards, maybe. Listen to music,