"E. C. Tubb - Dumarest 15 - Spectrum of a Forgotten Sun" - читать интересную книгу автора (Tubb E. C)

"Of course not, else you would not have joined up with Haiten
onтАФwhere did you join?"

"Ragould."

"And you arrived there from where?"

"Elmish."

"And before that?" Too many worlds scattered across the spread of
the galaxy. Names which had become faded memories, the habitats of
people who were now ghosts. A fact Lofoten sensed. "Never mind. Just
tell me the world of your origin." He blinked at the answer. "Earth?"
 "Earth."

"A most unusual name for a world." Lofoten glanced at the desk, at
the tell-tales relaying their signals. "Earth? I've never heard of it, but no
matter, I am more interested in your future than your past. Incidentally
Captain Sigiua was most impressed by your conduct. He has agreed to
take you under his command should you join us. The captain was the one
who had you sent to camp."

"I remember," said Dumarest. "If I did join you for how long would it
be?"

"Things are slow at the present. Your expenses would be high and
your income small. Even with rapid promotion, and I think that could be
promised, it would take several years to gain your freedom. Then, of
course, you could remain as a free-lance. Many men have made a career
in a mercenary band and you could be one of them. Atlmar's Legion is
always in need of good men and the rewards could be high."

And death could come fast with the burn of a laser, the shocking
impact of a bullet, the blast of explosives. Dumarest thought of Clar and
how he had diedтАФa small return for a decade of loyalty, but a man would
be a fool to hope for more. A bigger fool to join an organization which
traded in war and used harsh discipline to maintain its dominance over
those wearing its colors. And yet had he any choice?

Leaning back Dumarest veiled his eyes and studied the bland face of
the interrogator. It was a mask of tissue, tiny muscular reactions firmly
controlled, the eyes like glass, the lips carved as if from stone. A proud
face belonging to a proud man and once, perhaps, a sensitive one. An
ambitious man, certainly, no other would have risen as high in the
calling he had chosen to follow.

Lofoten's hands fell, toyed with the knife as, casually, he said, "A
small matter which you can easily put at rest. You were crouched over the
body of your comrade when discovered and were immediately fired on.