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

"Then we'd better get out of here." Branchard scooped up a
discarded weapon. "Let's go!"

They found a place in a small inn towards the center of the
town; a discrete place with a troupe of dancers moving gracefully
to the tap of a drum, gossamer fabrics catching varicolored light
so that they seemed to move in a kaleidoscope of subtle
luminescence. The wine was worth less than a tenth of what they
paid, but the price was for entertainment and privacy. In the
glow of an emerald lantern, Branchard examined the weapon he
had found.

"A dart gun," he commented. "Vibratory missiles which throw
the central nervous system all to hell. They can cripple, but rarely
kill. Whoever was after you, Earl, didn't want you dead. Robbers,
maybe?"

"Maybe." Dumarest looked at his shoulder. The plastic was
torn, the mesh beneath bright. Unable to penetrate, the missile
had left him unharmed.

"But you don't think so." Branchard was shrewd. "You could
be right. Three men, armed like they were; it doesn't make sense.
One would have been enough, but I guess they wanted to make
sure."

Dumarest said, "I waited. What kept you?"

"I had trouble finding Eglantine."

"And?"

"I found him," said Branchard heavily. "Earl, you're crazy. His
ship's a wreck. If you want to commit suicide there are a
hundred more pleasant ways. Listen," he added urgently, "there's
no need for going off like that. Stick with the Tophier. We're
doing well, mostly thanks to you, and we can do better. Why
waste all you've made on chartering a vessel which won't be able
to hold air for much longer, let alone get where you want it to?
Why not use the Tophier! Hell," he said dryly, "we can use the
trade."

"Where are you heading when you leave Tynar?"

Branchard shrugged, "It depends on what we can get as cargo,
Earl. Maybe Lochis with metals, or Hemdalt with stones. Branch,
even if we can get nothing but local products. Anywhere which
will show a profit. You know that."
 "Yes," said Dumarest. "And so do others."