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

swung himself into the body, his legs kicking as others hauled
him to safety. Wiess, panting, ran past Dumarest and swore as
Vardoon barred his passage.

"What the hell? Let me on!"

"Take another one." Vardoon called to Dumarest as the man
scuttled away. "Here, Earl! Over here!"

The raft he had chosen was small, canopied, the body fitted
with longitudinal benches. The driver sat at his controls in the
front, turning as Dumarest climbed aboard. He said, to Vardoon,
"That's enough, friend. We've a full load."

The raft could have held more but Dumarest didn't argue. A
light load meant greater speed and safety. He sat on one of the
benches as the canopy swung into place. Beyond it the other rafts
lifted, fanning out as they headed toward the town. One
remained, the last aside from themselves. The overseer was
talking to the driver and, as Dumarest watched, he shrugged and
turned away. A final straggler made his way to it, climbed
aboard, sat waiting.
 "Up," said Vardoon to the driver. "Let's move!"

He joined Dumarest as the vehicle lifted, the antigrav units in
the hull emitting a thin whineтАФan unusual sound and Dumarest
frowned as he heard it. Normally the lift was silent, only the
forward propulsion creating a drone from the air. But the wind
may have aggravated a structural defect, badly designed units or
a faulty repair giving rise to an organ-like resonance.

"Polis," said Vardoon. "I'll be glad to see the back of it. Short
seasons, extremes of heat and cold, people living like moles aside
from a brief period a couple of times a year." He made a sound
as if about to spit. "You can keep it. New to you, Earl?"

"No."

"I guess not. A traveler lands on many strange planets. Me, I
like civilized worlds. Societies which can afford to pay for certain
pleasures. People who like their comfort and are willing to do
something to get it."

Like waging war with hired soldiers. Using profits to buy
another's blood. Dumarest stirred, looking down at the ground
now far below. An unbroken expanse of whiteness which rippled
as if at the touch of a caressing hand. The kiss of wind which
stirred it as if it had been a sea. To the north the sky was dark
with menace.