"E. C. Tubb - Dumarest 09 - Mayenne" - читать интересную книгу автора (Tubb E. C)

He looked again at Gorlyk, studying, judging. The man had certain disquieting
characteristics. His emotionless impassivity, the dull monotone of his voice, his
precision even. A cyber could feel no emotion; an operation performed at puberty
divorced the brain from all physical sensation so that he was a stranger to hate and
fear, pain and envy. Food was a tasteless fuel, the rarest wine less commendable
than plain water. They were living machines who could never experience love and
whose only pleasure lay in mental achievement. The knowledge that the predictions
they made extrapolated from available data were correct.

Dumarest felt an awareness of danger. If Gorlyk was a cyber in disguise,
divorced from his scarlet robe, his shaven skull covered with a wig or natural hair,
then the Cyclan knew exactly where he was and where he was going. And that was
the one thing he had done his best to avoid.

Daroca looked up from his cards as footsteps sounded down the passage
outside. He frowned as others followed, their vibration loud in the silence of the
salon. "Something odd," he said. "Trouble, perhaps?"

"That bitch has seduced the crew and they're after her." Man was contemptuous.
"Forget it. Deal, Harg."

"Something's wrong," said Chom. His voice reflected his fear. "The engines,
perhaps?"
 "If they go you'd never know it," said Mari. "You'd be dead." She cocked her
head, listening, then rested her ear against the table. "There's a lot of noise
somewhere," she reported. "I can pick it up loud and clear. Sounds like a fight of
some kind."

Dumarest followed her example. Transmitted by the metal structure he could hear
thuds and what seemed to be shouting. As he rose the door of the salon burst open
and a uniformed man came inside.

Officer Kara did his best to be casual. "Harg," he said. "You're wanted in the
hold. Quickly."

The gambler made no move to obey. "That isn't my department."

"Captain Seleem gave the order. If you want to ride on this ship again you'd
better do as he says." His calm broke a little. "Damn you, don't argue with me.
You're wanted in the hold. Now move!"

Reluctantly Harg threw down his cards and headed toward the door. As he
opened it the distant sounds became louder. Dumarest caught the officer by the arm
as he was about to leave.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing that need concern you. If you will all stay in the salon you'll be quite
safe. UnlessтАФ" He broke off, studying Dumarest, his height, the sheer gray of his