"Vernor Vinge - Rainbows End" - читать интересную книгу автора (Vinge Vernor)

Alfred had a smooth explanation ready: "We've studied the San Diego labs for some months. We know
they have the resources we need." In fact, San Diego was where G├╝nberk Braun's terrible suspicions
were focused.

"Just what are you planning?"

G├╝nberk gave a sour smile. "Let us proceed by installments, Mr. Rabbit. For the first installment, we
suggest a thirty-day deadline. We'd like from you a survey of the San Diego labs' security. More
important, we need credible evidence that you can provide a team of local people to carry out physical
acts in and near those labs."

"Well then. I will hop right on it." The rabbit rolled its eyes. "It's obvious you're looking for an expendable
player, somebody to shield your operation from the Americans. Okay. I can be a cutout. But be warned.
I am very pricey and I will be around to collect afterwards."

Keiko laughed. "No need to be melodramatic, Mr. Rabbit. We know of your famous skills."

"Quite right! But so far you don't believe in them. Now I'll go away, sniff around San Diego, and get
back to you in a couple of weeks. I'll have something to show you by then, and тАФ more important for
me тАФ I'll have used my enormous imagination to specify a first payment in this installment plan that Mr.
So-German-Seeming has proposed." He gave a little bow in G├╝nberk's direction.

Mitsuri and Braun were radiating bemused silence, so it was Alfred who carried on the conversation.
"We'll chat again then. Please remember that for now we want a survey only. We want to know whom
you can recruit and how you might use them."

The rabbit touched its nose. "I will be the soul of discretion. I always know much more than I reveal. But
you three really should improve your performances. Mr. So-German is just an out-of-date stereotype.
And you, senora, the work of impressionist art reveals nothing and everything. Who might have a special
interest in the San Diego bio labs? Who indeed? And as for you тАФ " Rabbit looked at Vaz. "That's a fine
Colombian accent you're hiding."

The creature laughed and hopped off the table. "Talk to you soon." Alfred leaned back and watched the
gray form as it dodged between the legs of passersby. It must have a festival permit, since other people
were evidently seeing the creature. There was no poof of vanishment. The rabbit remained visible for
twenty meters up Carrer de Sardenya, then darted into an alley and was finally and quite naturally lost to
sight.

The three agents sat for a moment in apparently companionable silence, G├╝nberk bent over his virtual
wine, Vaz sipping at his real Rioja and admiring the stilted puppets that were setting up for the afternoon
parade. The three blended well with the normal touristy hurly-burly of the Familia district тАФ except that
most tourists paying for caf├й seating on C. de Sardenya would have had more than a one-third physical
presence.

"He is truly gone," G├╝nberk said, a bit unnecessarily; they could all see the EU signals analysis. A few
more seconds passed. The Japanese and Indian intelligence agencies also reported in: Rabbit remained
unidentified.

"Well that's something," said Keiko. "He got away clean. Perhaps he can function as a cutout."