"E. C. Tubb - Dumarest 12 - Eloise" - читать интересную книгу автора (Tubb E. C)

"What the hell!" She stared at the clamping hand. "Mister!
You're hurting me!"

"We don't need your friend," he said flatly. "And I don't want
company."

"Not even mine?" She smiled as she rubbed her wrist, the
marks of his fingers clear against the flesh. A mechanical
grimace, as if she had remembered to play a part.

"You're strong. Damned strong. And fast; I never even saw you
move. You'd be a joy to watch in a ring. How it it, mister? We
could make a deal. My cut wouldn't hurt you."

"No," he said dryly. "But it could hurt me." He saw by her
expression that she didn't understand. To her the fights were a
spectacle to be enjoyed, something by which to make a profit;
but to those engaged it was something far different. Dumarest
leaned back, remembering; the bright lights, the crowd, the stink
of oil and sweat and fear. The smell, too, of blood; and the savage
anticipation of those who watched others kill and maim, to cut
and bleed and die for their titillation.

It was always the same. In an arena open to the air, where
men fought in the light of the sun; or in some small back room
filled with shadows, the risks were the same. A slip, a momentary
inattention, an accident, a broken blade or a patch of blood; all
could bring swift and painful death. Only speed and skill had
saved him, that and luckтАФand who could tell how long that luck
would last? Already, perhaps, it had run out.

"Mister?" He felt the touch of her hand, saw the puzzled
expression in her eyes. "Did I say something wrong?"

"No." He moved his hand away from her touch. "But you're
wasting your time."

"So what? It's my time." But even as she shrugged, she had
turned to look at the others. "Nothing," she said, reaching for her
glass. "Let the others have the pickingsтАФthose old crows need it
more than I do. Anyway, it makes a change to talk. What's your
name? Where are you from? How long have you been on the
move?"

Too many questions from a harlot who should be intent on
business; watched, probably, by a ruthless pimp who would not
be gentle. And there were more.

"Did you really come in on that trader? When are you pulling
out?"