"E. C. Tubb - Dumarest 19 - The Quillian Sector" - читать интересную книгу автора (Tubb E. C)

Irae said, "Tell me something of yourself."

"I have, shall we say, a certain skill." Bochner's voice carried
no pride, it was merely a vehicle used to convey a fact. "I realized
I had it when very young and took steps to cultivate and perfect.
I have an affinity with wild things. I sense their habits and,
knowing them, can anticipate what they will do." He added with
the same easy tone, "I am probably the finest hunter ever to be
born on Pontia, and on that world you hunt or you starve."

"Animals." Irae watched the eyes as he spoke. "Beasts
operating on instinctive patterns of behavior."

He had looked for anger. None came, nor did the eyes change
as they had before. That, he knew, had been a demonstration, a
dropping of the veil to show a little of the real nature of the man.

Bochner said, "Beast or man, my lord, they are the same."

"A man can think."

"And for that attribute, has lost others. But we talk to little
purpose. My record is known to you."

A good one or he would not now be standing before them. A
noted hunter, a skilled assassin, but this time such skills would
be unwanted.

Bochner shrugged as Irae made that clear. "I understand. I
find Dumarest and hold him with the least amount of force
necessary until he can be handed over to your agents. Of course,
it may be that I shall have to cripple him to ruin his mobility.
Break his legs, for example, and even his arms. But his life will
not be in danger. That is acceptable?"

"We want the man unharmed and in full possession of his
mental faculties."
 "You want the man in any way he can be delivered," said
Bochner flatly. "As long as he is alive on delivery. If that isn't the
case, why send for me?" His eyes moved from one to the other of
the scarlet figures. "I shall not let you down, my lords. My
reputation was not gained by bungling my commissions. And,
speaking of commissions my feeтАФ"

"Will be paid," said Yoka. "The Cyclan does not break its
word."

A bow was Bochner's answer, but Irae added more; it was well
that the man should remember the power of the Cyclan, and that