"E. C. Tubb - Dumarest 24 - Nectar of Heaven" - читать интересную книгу автора (Tubb E. C)

preparatory movement. Within minutes the workings would be
in full operation.

"What do you think, Earl? Has Wiess got it right?"

"You saw his clothing."

"Too thin and too worn. A blast would go right through it and
he hasn't the fat to fight cold. A gambler too."

"One who loses."

"As I've noticed." Vardoon scowled, scar tissue bunching on
his face, turning it into a mask of savage ferocity. "Three
seasons," he said. "Stuck on Polis for that long and he still lacks
decent clothing. What do you think, Earl?"

Dumarest studied the sky, the pale orb of the sun fogged by
high-drifting cloud. The wind had fallen but the air held a fresh,
astringent odor together with the bite of chill. Far to the north
rested a dullness; massed cloud laced with paler hues. Against
them a flight of birds arrowed toward the south.

"Well?" Vardoon was impatient. "Have we a month or what?"

Dumarest said, "I'm a stranger here, Hart, like yourself, but if
I had money owing I'd collect it now."

"I'm not fool enough to lend. SoтАФ" He broke off as an overseer
yelled his anger. "We'd better get to work before he blows his
top. See you later."

He moved off and Dumarest set to work. The workings were
open-cast mining, the machines ripping into the surface of an
ancient seabed, the lumps of dirt cascading from the grabs
containing nodules of manganese. With long-hafted hammers
Dumarest and the other scudgers broke up the lumps and
searched for the mineral. Pay was based on what they found.

It was hard, unremitting labor, today harder than usual. The
chilled ground yielded too slowly to the impact of the hammers,
the dirt taking too long to crumble. But, if nothing else, the
activity generated body heat.

Dumarest straightened, throwing back the cowl of the
thermal garment he wore over his own clothing, feeling the sweat
dry on his face beneath the touch of a gentle wind. To the north
the clouds were darker than before, the sun a little more hazed.
Turning, he saw a raft lift from the administration area, the
transparent canopy sealed, shimmering with reflected light as it