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

rugs of price which lay scattered on the floor. Light shone in a
yellow flood from recessed lanterns, soft, gentle, lulling with
implied warmth and comfort. It was hard to remember that this
room lay within a fortress of stone, harder still to bear in mind
that not all the defenses were outside. There would be men,
perhaps, watching, electronic devices certainly, means to protect
and to kill if the need arose. Akon Batik had not grown old in his
trade by neglecting elementary precautions.

He said, "Why did you bring them to me?"

"You have a reputation," said Dumarest. "You will buy what is
offered. Of course, if you are not interested in the crystals I will
waste no more of your time."

"Did I say that?" Again the long nail touched the little heap.
"But it is in my nature to be curious. I wonder how a man could
manage to elude the guards and the inspection at the field on
Estale. A man working the vein could no doubt manage to retain
a few crystalsтАФbut to leave with them?"

"They are genuine."

"I believe you, but my eyes are not as young as they were and
it would be well to make certain." The jeweler switched on a
lamp and bathed the surface of his desk with invisible ultraviolet
The crystals blazed with a shimmering kaleidoscope of color,
rainbows painting the seamed cheeks, the slanted eyes, glowing
from the dark wood of the paneled walls. For a long moment he
stared at them, then switched off the lamp. "Chorismite," he
said. "There can be no doubt."

Dumarest said, "You will buy them?"

The crux of the matter, but Akon Batik was not to be hurried.
He leaned back, eyes thoughtful as he studied his visitor. A hard
man, he decided, tall, lean, somber in his clothing. Pants tucked
into high boots, the hilt of a knife riding above the right. A tunic
with long sleeves caught at the wrists and high about the throat.
Clothing of a neutral gray and all of it showing the marks of hard
usage, the plastic scratched and scuffed with minor attritions.
His eyes lifted to the face, studying the deep-set eyes, the
determined set of the jaw, the firm mouth which could easily
become cruel. The face of a man who had early learned to survive
without the protection of House or Guild or Organization.

A traveler. A man who moved from world to world in search of
something, or perhaps because he was unable to rest. A
wanderer who had seen a hundred worlds and found none he
could call his own.