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

"I thought so too," said Vole. "Do you intend to place criminal charges?"
"Maybe. But not just yet. Who is she?"
"Her name is Hernanda Degasto Confurias. Her address is 214-19-64,
Bagram. If you plan to confront this woman and her friend, I advise you to
go in company with a police officer."
"Thank you; I'll keep your advice in mind," said Waldo. He left the
office.
Vole reflected a moment, then punched a set of buttons. He watched the
display screen, which flashed a gratifying run of green lights: the name
Hernanda Confurias was not unknown to the criminal files. Instead of a
data read-out, the screen flickered to show the face of Vole's colleague
Detective Delmar.
"What have you got on Hernanda Confurias?" asked Delmar.
"Nothing of import," said Vole. "Last night on the ParadeтАФ" Vole
described the occurrence. "A senseless matter, or so it seems offhand."
"Put through the photograph," said Delmar. Vole facsimilated across a
copy of the photograph.
"I wouldn't swear to it," said Delmar, "but that looks to me like Big Bo
Histledine."



Waldo found the apartment numbered 214-19-64, then went to a
nearby park where he approached a pair of adolescent girls. "I need your
help," said Waldo. "A certain lady friend is angry with me, and I don't
think she'll answer the door if she sees my face in the robber's portrait, so
I want one, or both, of you to press the door button for me." Waldo
produced a five-dollar note. "I'll pay you, of course, for your trouble."
The girls looked at each other and giggled. "Why not? Where does she
live?"
"Just yonder," said Waldo. "Come along." He gave the girls instructions
and led them to the door, while he waited beyond the range of the sensor
eye, which produced the "robber portrait" on the screen within.
The girls pressed the button, and waited while the person within
scrutinized their images.
 "Who do you want?"
"Hernanda Degasto Confurias. We're from the charm school."
"Charm school?" The door opened; Hernanda looked forth. "Which
charm school?"
Waldo stepped forward. "You girls come some other time. Hernanda, I
want to speak with you."
She tried to close the door, but Waldo pushed through the opening.
Hernanda ran across the room to the alarm button. "Get out of here! Or
I'll press for the police!"
"I am the police," said Waldo.
"No, you're not! I know who you are."
"Who am I?"
"Never mind. Leave here at once!"
Waldo tossed the photograph to the table. "Look at that."
Hernanda gingerly examined the picture. "WellтАФwhat of it?"