"Howard Waldrop - DisRxT" - читать интересную книгу автора (Waldrop Howard)

One day Croupie, Beanpole, and Sankandank were going down Paradise StreetтАФSankandank first in
the Sleek Sports Car, Beanpole in his Speedboat, and Croupie in the Big Dump TruckтАФwhen
something went by with a flash and whir and the zizz of sprockets and made an inertialess turn at the next
alley.
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FIVE, SIX, PICK UP STICKS


"There's a New Blur in town," said Sankandank. "Geez!"

"It gleams in the sun," said Croupie. "It's fast!"

"It's got a chain drive," said Beanpole.

"Chain drives are for wusses." said Dave, putting out his Lucky Stripe┬о on the back of his hand and
tossing it away. "Guys come, guys go. Fast, not so fast."

"But, Dave," said Sankandank. "He's, I mean, fast!"

"There's good and fast," said Dave, "and then there's fast and stupid. We'll see."




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Sally was walking up a sloping street with Sticks, who was clattering and pinging his way along in sort of
a loose, slow-motion fall uphill. They were on their way to the clubhouse. Usually Croupie always came
by to get Sticks earlier, but he hadn't been by this morning.

"You doing all right?" asked Sally.

"Whatever do you mean?" asked Sticks.

"Never mind."

And out of nowhere, in the bright sunny morning, there was a flash and streak, and the skidding sound of
brakes locking, and a vision strobed to a stop in front of them.

They stood looking at him, and while they did a B-36 flew over, headed for the North Pole. Aside from
its far-away drone, there was no sound at all.