"E. C. Tubb - Dumarest 07 - Technos" - читать интересную книгу автора (Tubb E. C)

in inviting nudity. Her lips were very red and very full; moist and
full of promise.

"You're late," she whispered, "But I'm always ready for
business. What's the matter with your friend? Is he drunk?"

"Silence!" Dumarest reached out and dropped his hand on the
candle, killing the dancing flame. From beyond the door came
the sound of harsh voices.

"Well, he isn't here. Damned if I can see how a man can run
like that with the burn we gave him."

"He's tough," said a second voice. "And scared. A scared man
can do a lot of surprising things. He must have run faster than
we thought. He isn't here, anyway. I guess we'd better call it a
night."

The rasp of their boots grew faint as they moved away.

"Earl!" Lemain stirred in the grip of the supporting arm.
"Earl, IтАФ"

His voice died as Dumarest clamped his hand over his mouth.
Silk rustled as the woman moved in the darkness, the scent of
her perfume heavy in the air.

"They've gone now," she said. "May I relight the candle?"

"No," said Dumarest. "And make no sound."

For ten minutes he waited, standing immobile against the
door, the weight of the injured man dragging at his arm. The
silence felt thick and heavy, broken only by the soft rustle of
garments, the ragged breathing of Lemain. And then, from
outside, boots rang against the cobbles.

"It's a bust," said a harsh voice disgustedly. "If he'd holed up
in here he would have come out by now. I guess he must have
given us the slip somehow."

"It doesn't matter." The second guard was philosophical. "He
didn't get away with anything so there's nothing to cry about.
And with that burn we gave him he can't get far. We'll check
with the field and see if he made it as far as there. If not, we'll say
that he's dead. We lose the bonus but save ourselves a lot of
work. Agreed?"

"Sure," said his companion. "Who's going to worry about a
crumb like that anyway."