"E. C. Tubb - Dumarest 23 - World of Promise" - читать интересную книгу автора (Tubb E. C)

A cage stood beneath suspended lights, a thing of stout bars
and braces, wheeled for ease of transport, ringed with a handful
of guards. In it paced a beast.

It was half again as tall as a man, twice as broad, the hands
like spades, the fingers tipped with claws as were the toes of the
splayed feet. The body was dark with thickly matted hair grown
so close that it seemed the texture of horn. The face was a
nightmare of jutting jaw, fangs, burning eyes and pointed ears.
The plated skull bore two stubby horns, their tips glistening with
metallic sharpness. The neck was as thick as the thighs, which
were as thick as the waist of a woman.

"Look at it!" A man sucked in his breath as he spoke to the
woman at his side. "How would you like to meet that in a dark
alley?"

"I wouldn't." The sight which entranced him nauseated her.
"Come away, Lou."

"You don't like it?"

"I think it's vile." She gave her reason. "It's too much like a
man. An animal is one thing but this is disgusting." An
association others had made and which added to its attraction.
The head guard, sweating despite the cold, walked past, a
padded cap held suggestively in his hand. In it rested the gleam
of coins.

"What is it?" He shrugged at the question, pausing until a few
coins had joined the others, smiling as he received his due.
"Friends you are fortunate to have the privilege of seeing a
product of the Chetame Laboratories. Note the coat, the eyes, the
fangs. The body hair is as fine as fur, matted almost at the skin
to form a natural armor. The hide itself is as tough as that of a
bull. The fangs are copied from the stabbing teeth of a feline,
while within the jaw lie the pointed molars of a carnivore."

He paused, waiting for the expected questions.
 "The feet? They are modeled on those of a bird and can kick
forward as well as back. The horns alone bear the touch of added
artifice, as you can see by the gleam of metal tips. A worthy
opponent for any hunter seeking a novel prey. A guardian of
value for the protection of home and palace." He allowed himself
to be humorous. "If any of you gentlemen wishes to safeguard the
chastity of your woman then a beast such as this would be a
good investmentтАФbut first make sure it has been gelded."

A titter followed the crude joke, one not appreciated by the