"E. C. Tubb - Dumarest 14 - Jack of Swords" - читать интересную книгу автора (Tubb E. C)

"When we reach the compound who goes in?"

"I will," said Dumarest. "Ready? Let's get on with it."

Cran led the way and Dumarest followed him close as they left
the poor shelter. It was too early to moveтАФlater the rain would
ease a little, but waiting would rob the others of enthusiasm.
What had to be done must be done fast and they had to be gone
long before dawn.

A blur of light and the compound came into sight. The rain
lashed against the mesh of the high fence and the lights ringing
it, spraying and misting the installation so as to give it the
insubstantial quality of a dream. A dream shattered by the
sudden, snarling roar of a beast as it slammed itself against the
fence.

From a tower a searchlight threw a cone of brilliance, the
beam tracing a path over milling shapes, settling on the fence,
dying as, satisfied, the guard killed the illumination.

Without hesitation Dumarest led the way to within feet of the
mesh well away from the tower. At his orders men vanished like
ghosts into the rain to take up positions at either side. At
intervals they would jar the mesh to create a distraction.

"Cran!"

From within his clothing the man produced wire and a set of
cutters. Quickly he hooked up a jumper-circuit, and resting the
cutters on the mesh, glanced at Dumarest.

"Now?"

"Wait until the next flash."

It came with a livid coruscation, closer than before, dirt
pluming as electronic energy tore at the ground. As thunder
rolled the mesh parted in a narrow slit through which Dumarest
thrust himself. Speed now was all-important and as the
searchlight stabbed to one side where a man had jarred the fence
he dived toward the nearest animal.

It was as large as a horse, horned, the hooves like razors, the
tail ending in a club of bone. A chelach, its eyes small, set deep in
ringed projections of bone; the mouth, open, showed teeth as
sharp as chisels. A beast disturbed by the storm and bristling
with anger. For a second it watched and then, as Dumarest
moved closer, it charged.