"E. C. Tubb - Dumarest 10 - Jondelle" - читать интересную книгу автора (Tubb E. C)

that is about all."

"Enemies?"

"No. None that I know of."

He said, flatly, "Someone for some reason wanted to kidnap
your boy. He is your son, I take it?"

"The child of my body," she said. "Yes."

"Those men weren't there by accident," he said. "They knew
what they wanted and where to find it. Does Elray often take the
lad into the city?"

"No. Not often. He went to collect a part for one of the
machines and thought Jondelle would be interested. They had
walked for a while, at random, sight-seeing and visiting the
Kladour. A normal day for any man to spend with a young boy.
And then, as they were making toward the place where they had
left the raft, those men attacked them. They must have intended
robbery. When you appeared the one with the gun must have
hoped you would believe him. A warning perhaps."

"Perhaps," he said.

"It had to be that. Why should anyone want to steal a boy?
How would they know where to find him if they did? It was a
coincidenceтАФit had to be."
 Dumarest doubted it, but one thing was obvious. It was a
subject she had no wish to discuss with a stranger and it was
none of his business. And he had no desire to become involved.
The boy was not alone. He had his mother and a man who
appeared to be his father, though the fact hadn't been clearly
stated. He had a farm on which to live and there would be
retainers of a kind, workers, those dependent on the owners,
obligated to defend both life and property. The protection of a
House, small though that House might be. And here, at least, he
was isolated from the dangers of the city.

More protection than Dumarest had ever known. More
comfort and security and certainly more love. He leaned back on
the pillows, dreaming, remembering a time best forgotten when
hunger had been a constant companion and rocks and stones his
only playthings.

Makgar said, "You are tired. The boy woke you too soon and
your wound is far from healed. I shall send you food and you will
rest and soon will be well again. Need I say that you are welcome
to stay as long as you wish?"