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

conquest, Earl. The woman finds you pleasing and a man could do worse than take
her under his protection. Had she made me such an offer I would not have
hesitated." Envy thickened his voice a little. "But then I am not tall and strong and
with a face that commands respect I am only old Chom who buys and sells and
makes a profit where he can. A stranger to courts and the places where the rich and
high-born gather. A woman can tell these things."

"Some women do not regard that as important."

"True, but the Ghenka is not one of them." Chom glanced down the corridor to
the closing door of her cabin. "She lives for her art and herself like all her kind.
Could you imagine such a woman living in a hut? Tilling fields or working in a
factory? She needs someone to stand between her and the harshness of life. A
strong protector and someone to take care of unpleasant details. I wonder what
happened to her manager. Perhaps he tried to sell her and she had other ideas. A
knife in the dark, a drop of poison, who can tell? These things happen." He
shrugged, thick shoulders heaving beneath the ornamented fabric of his blouse.
"Well, Earl, such is life. What now? Shall we try our luck?"

Dumarest glanced to where the gambler sat at his table ringed by a handful of
players. Harg Branst was a thin man with prominent ears, his features vulpine and
touched by advancing years. A true professional, he wore no rings and his nails were
neatly trimmed. He rode on a profit-sharing basis, as much a part of the ship's
furnishings as the steward and cabins. He looked up from his cards, met Dumarest's
eyes, and made a slight gesture of invitation for him to join the game.

Chom spoke in a whisper. "Have you noticed his good fortune? Never does he
seem to lose. Now, to me, that is against all the laws of chance."
 "So?"

"Perhaps something could be arranged between us? I have a little skill, and you
are no stranger to the gaming table. It would be a kindness to teach him a lesson."

Dumarest said, dryly, "At a profit, naturally."

"All men must pay to learn," said Chom blandly. "Some do it with their lives. We
need not be so harsh. It will be enough, I think, to trim his wings a little. Working
together it could easily be doneтАФa matter of distraction at a critical moment. You
understand?"

The palming of cards, the switch, the squeeze when, convinced that he could not
lose, the gambler would allow greed to dull his caution. It could be done, granted the
basic skill, but unless the man was a fool the odds were against it. And no man who
earned his living at the tables could be that much of a fool.

"The cost of the journey," urged Chom. "A High passage safe in our pockets
when we land. Insurance in case of need. You agree?" He scowled at the lack of
response. "A golden opportunity, Earl. Almost a gift I cannot understand why you
refuse. WeтАФ" He broke off as if knowing it was useless to argue. "Well, what else
to kill the time? Daroca has some wine. Come, let us test his generosity."