"Arcady And Boris Strugatsky. Prisoners of Power" - читать интересную книгу автораeyes. Guy's head was spinning. What happened to the shots? Had he strangled
them? Or smashed them with the butt of his gun? He, Mac, do that to a woman? Never! But the shots? There hadn't been any, Five paces away, Mac halted and, looking the captain straight in the eye, flung the gun at his feet. "Good-bye, captain," he said. "I released them, and now I want to leave. Take your gun! Take your clothes!" He turned to Guy and, unbuckling his belt, said to him: "Guy, this is a dirty business. They've been lying to us." He pulled off his boots and jump suit, tied everything into a bundle and stood there, almost naked, in his silver shorts and barefoot, just as Guy had seen him for the first time on the southern border. He went over to the truck and placed the bundle on the hood. Guy was shocked. He looked at the captain - then almost froze in horror. "Captain!" he shouted. "Don't! He's out of his mind! He - " "Candidate Sim!" snapped the captain, his hand on his holster. "Get into the car! You're under arrest." "That's what you think. I'm free. I've come for Guy. Let's go, Guy. They've made a sucker out of you. They're dishonest people. Before I had doubts about them, but now I'm sure. Let's go, Guy." Guy shook his head. He wanted to say something, to explain something, but he had neither the time nor the words to express it. The captain had drawn his pistol. "Candidate Sim! Into the car!" "Are you coming?" asked Mac. through his head: Mac was about to be shot. Oh God, what should he do? "OK," said Mac. "I'll find you. I'll find out everything and I'll find you. You don't belong with them. Give Rada my love." He turned and began to walk away, striding over the stone fragments as easily as if he were wearing boots. Guy stared mutely at his triangular back and waited for the shot and the black hole beneath his left shoulder blade. "Candidate Sim," said the captain without raising his voice. "For the last time, I'm ordering you to return. I'm going to shoot." Mac halted and turned toward him again. "Shoot?" he said. "Why? Well, the reason doesn't matter. Put down your pistol." Holding the pistol at his hip, Chachu aimed at Mac. "I'm counting to three. Get into the truck, candidate. One!" "Come, hand over your pistol." Mac extended his hand and advanced toward the captain. "Two!" "Don't!" shouted Guy. The captain fired. Mac was close to him. Guy saw the bullet hit his shoulder. Mac staggered back, as if he had run into an obstacle. "You fool!" said Mac. "Hand over your gun, you vicious fool!" Mac continued to advance toward the captain, his hand reaching out for the weapon. Blood was spurting from his shoulder. With a strangely unsteady cry, the captain retreated and fired three shots in rapid succession into the broad tanned chest. Mac fell on his back, rose, and fell again. The |
|
|