"A. E. Van Vogt - The Silkie" - читать интересную книгу автора (Van Vogt A E)

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PROLOGUE
1
THE STREET of the Haitian city had been excruciatingly hot to Marie's feet, like walking over sheets
of heated metal. It was cooler in the garden, but she had to come out from under the shady trees into the
sun where the old man sat. Now he laughed unpleasantly, showing his even white false teeth.

He said, 'Put up money to raise a sunken treasure ship? Think I'm a fool!'

He laughed again, then blinked his eyes at her with a weary lasciviousness. He added significantly, 'Now,
of course, if a pretty young thing like you could be nice to an old man...'

He waited, sunning himself like a wrinkled toad, soaking the heat into bones that seemed no longer
capable of warming themselves. Despite the sun, he shivered as if he were cold.

Marie Lederle studied him with curious eyes. She had been brought up by a sea captain with a lusty
sense of humor, and now she was merely surprised that this old lecher could still get a moist gleam in his
eye at the sight of a young woman.

She said steadily, 'The ship went down during the war near an island off Santa Yuile. It was my father's
last command, so when the company refused to sponsor an expedition, he decided to go after private
capital. A friend suggested you.'

That was a lie; she had made inquiries. He was merely the latest of a long list of prospects. She went on
quickly, 'And for heaven's sake, don't get outraged. There are still people who have the adventurous
spirit. Why shouldn't an old gambler like you, Mr Reicher, spend his last days doing something exciting?'

The perfect teeth showed in a grin behind the almost lipless mouth. 'There you have the answer, my
dear.' His tone was more pleasant. 'My spare money is going into medical research. I'm still hoping a
discovery will be made.... ' He shrugged his thin shoulders, and naked fear showed on his face. 'I don't
long for the grave, you know.'

For a moment, Marie felt sorry for him. She thought of the time when she, too, would be old and
rickety. The thought passed by like a cloud in a summer sky. She had a more pressing problem.
 'Then you're not interested?'