"E. C. Tubb - Dumarest 05 - The Jester at Scar" - читать интересную книгу автора (Tubb E. C)

will leave when they discover there is nothing for them here. If
notтАж" He shrugged. "Open the door."

Wind gusted as she swung open the panel, driving in a spray
of rain and the ubiquitous smell of the planet. From outside
grated a voice, harsh against the wind.

"Hold, Brephor. No need to knock again. You there, woman,
your name is Selene?"

"Yes."

"And you sell food and shelter. That, at least, was what we
were told." The voice became impatient. "Step forward and show
yourself; I have no wish to talk to shadows."

Silently she obeyed, moving the lamp so as to let the guttering
light shine on her face; she remained impassive at the sound of
sharply indrawn breath.
 "Acid," she said evenly. "I was contaminated with parasitical
spores on the face and neck; there was no time to consider my
beauty. It was a matter of burning them away or watching me
die. Sometimes I think they made the wrong decision." The lamp
trembled a little as she fought old memories. "But I forget myself,
gentlemen. You are in need. What is your pleasure?"

"With you? Nothing." Boots squelched in mud as the speaker
turned from the doorway. "Come, Brephor. We waste our time."

"A moment, Hendris You decide too fast." The second voice
was indolent, purring with the sadistic anticipation of a hunting
feline. "The woman has a scarred face, true, but is it essential
that a man look at her face? Such a disfigurement, to some,
could even be attractive. I am sure that you follow my thought,
Hendris. If the face is bad. the rest of her could be most
interesting."

Hendris was sharp. "You scent something, Brephor?"

"Perhaps." His indolence sharpened into something ugly. The
purr became a snarl as Brephor loomed in tho doorway. "Tell me
woman how do you live?"

"I sell food and shelter," she said flatly. "And the monks are
kind."

"The monks? Those beggars of the Church of Universal
Brotherhood?" His laugh was a sneer. "They feed you?"

"They give what they can."