"Jack Vance - Assault on a City" - читать интересную книгу автора (Vance Jack)

Bo said, "For a fact, how come you don't raid Cloudhaven?"
 "We got our hands full with the scroffs, like the man said," replied
Delmar, without heat.
Clachey amplified the remark. "They pay; they have the money. The
scroffs don't have the money. They loot to get it. They're the problem,
them and you merchants."
Delmar said to Bo, "This is a final notification, which will be inserted
into your record. I warn you that you have been observed in the company
of known criminals. If this occurs again, it's up and out."
"Thank you for your concern," said Bo in a heavy voice. He rose to his
feet and jerked his hand at Hernanda. "Come along. We can't even take a
drink in a respectable tavern without persecution."
Delmar and Clachey led away the despondent Paul Amhurst.
"Just as well," said Raulf. "He's too erratic."
Bo grunted. "I'm going to have to lay low. Until I think of something."
Raulf made a sign of comprehension; Bo and Hernanda departed
Kongo's. "Where now?" asked Hernanda.
"I don't know ... I don't feel like much. There's nowhere to go." As if
involuntarily he glanced up to the stars which burned through the
night-glare. Rampold? Where was Rampold?
Hernanda took Bo's arm and led him down the escalator to the
Shermond slideway. "I haven't been over to Jillyville for a while. It's just
across the bridge."
Bo grumbled automatically, but could think of nothing better.
They crossed River Louthe by the Vertes Avenue Bridge, and sauntered
through the flower market which for centuries had created a zone of
clotted color in the shadow of the Epidrome.
Hernanda wanted to wander through the Epidrome and perhaps risk a
dollar or two at one of the games of chance. "So long as you use your own
money," said Bo gracelessly. "I don't intend to throw gold down a rathole.
Not at sixteen dollars a day on that buffing machine."
Hernanda became sulky and refused to enter the Epidrome, which
suited Bo well enough. The two moodily walked up to the Parade.
As they passed the Black Opal Cafe, Bo noticed Alice's copper-glinting
hair. He stopped short, then led Hernanda to a table. "Let's have a drink."
"Here? It's the most expensive place along the Parade!"
"Money means nothing to Big Bo the Histle."
 Hernanda shrugged, but made no objection.
Bo selected a table twenty feet from where Waldo sat with Alice. He
punched buttons, deposited coins; a moment later a waitress brought out
their refreshment: lime beer for Bo and frozen rum for Hernanda.
Alice saw them and raised her camera; in irritation Bo put his head
down on his hand. Hernanda stared at Alice and the camera. Tourists
everywhere, taking photographs.
"We should be flattered."
Bo gave Waldo a baleful examination. "Toffs out slummingтАФhim,
anyway. She's off-world. A starlander."
Hernanda scrutinized each detail of Alice's gown, hair, face and her
fillet of jade pebbles. "She's just a child and a bit tatty. She looks as if
she'd never seen a stylist in her life."