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so much to find out he thought, with sudden chagrin that he hadn't a clue what he wanted to find out. It
was just afeeling, there was no logical basis for it.
Outside in the street, intent machines moved busily about their tasks of removing the scars of the previous
night. They washed, swept and sucked up debris. Recovery units shuttled to and fro towing wrecked
ground cars behind them. Few police were in evidence but mecho-wardens were active, controlling the
thin flow of traffic and warning pedestrians of subsidences in the sidewalks and other minor hazards.
The two men walked slowly down the street but Reed's slowness was forced. It was no sinecure taking a
morning stroll with a man who, he knew, was now hotter figuratively speaking than the inside of the sun.
No doubt, by now, the Enemy had raised their dead or alive inducements to a fantastic sum. Five
million now would be a conservative estimate for the lucky killer.
Theremust be recognition computers still operating, sweeping the streets from high windows. There had
to be a few hard-core or cash-dazed killers who stayed behind in the faint hope of getting a shot at
Maynard. One lucky shot and they would have enough money to buy themselves a small city or a major
continent on one of the newly discovered planets.
Reed walked slowly from sheer will-power but, inside his jacket, his hand was closed tight round the butt
of his machine pistol.
They came to a large square, dominated by a tall and imposing building.
City medical centre. Maynard shook his head sadly. I'm afraid they had their hands full last night."
As he spoke, two men came down the steps. One limped painfully, the other had a permaplast pad
decorating his left temple.
Reed knew with sudden shock awareness that they were enemy agents. Worse, he knewhow he knew.
The men, despite their obvious injuries, were well groomed and perfectly tailored but about them was the
unmistakable stamp ofbeasts.
Reed couldn't define it, he couldn't really see it. Yet, had he been asked to put it into words, he could
have done so. They were like animalsdisguised as men and very thinly disguised at that. They were not
specific animals, they were not lions or tigers or jackals, it was an essence, a compositebeast-image.
There was an impression of talons, of fangs and of lashing tails so intense that one could almost smell
them.
Without perceptible movement he began to slide his gun out of the holster.
Don't. Maynard's hand was firm on his elbow.
But they're He struggled desperately to free himself without attracting too much attention.
I said don't. I know who they are just as well as you, perhaps better watch. Very deliberately he
turned and walked up the wide steps to meet them.
Reed swore obscenely. Maynard was blocking the target, if anything started One of the men looked up
and came to an abrupt stop.
It was clear that he recognized Maynard instantly but he made no attempt to reach for a weapon.
Instead, he raised his hands from his sides as if to assure the other that he had no malicious intent. The
other man's reaction was almost the same and the colour drained from both their faces.
Reed had a brief and rather frightening impression of slinking curs, bellies close to the ground, longing to
snap but too terrified to do so.
I am Maynard. The words reached Reed clearly.
You are fancy! How are you, Mr. Maynard glad to know you. The words had a shaky and
ingratiating pseudo-friendliness.
You are looking for me, I understand."
Oh,no no." The denials carried too much force. You are quite mistaken, quite. Both were now
backing away and running their fingers round the inside of their collars as if they found some difficulty in
breathing.
If you think we had anything to do with that business last night, you are quite mistaken. As a matter of
fact, we were all for you, we are all for you. They were now taking short but visible steps backwards
and occasionally stumbling.
It's the truth, Mr. Maynard, we mean you no harm at all. Here, as a mark of goodwill They laid their
guns carefully on the steps and retreated from them, protesting. Rest assured, we are your friends if
you need anything just call on us any time They turned suddenly and ran.
Maynard turned and walked unhurriedly back.
You see, a gun was not necessary."
All right, all right, you projected something. Reed was suddenly on edge again.
On the contrary, I merely approached them."
As you wish. No doubt I shall have some sort of revelation in due course if I can hang on to my sanity
that long."
Maynard grinned sympathetically. Then he said, It seems to me you're not doing too badly. You, too,
can now recognize the Enemy."
The remark had a sobering effect.
I'm sorry, that did shake me and they do look like beasts."
Yes. The other nodded slowly then changed the subject. I'm afraid I played you along a little
suggesting this walk. I was deliberately working for delay, buying time. That's why we made you a
temporary prisoner, to gain time. Frankly, it is your duty to take me in but now I don't think you will."
I won't! Reed was suddenly aggressive. Why?"
Maynard smiled. You said yourself there was no time limit and there is so much to learn, isn't there? A
week or so and you won't care. Sandling won't care, no one will care because everyone will know..."
Brinker liked the world as soon as he stepped on it. There was a rich earthy smell and the breeze was
fresh, easing the heat of the sun.
He watched the men unload a mountain of stores with satisfaction. He was not going to lack for anything
for he had chosen his site carefully.
Behind, immense black cliffs rose sheer and in front long, bluish grass sloped downwards to a small
sparkling stream.
A few hundred paces beyond the stream, the first trees climbed upwards from the long forest which
stretched to the horizon. A beautiful forest, hazed with heat, but despite this, bluish leaves dancing and
swaying in the sunlight. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl akte20.pev.pl
so much to find out he thought, with sudden chagrin that he hadn't a clue what he wanted to find out. It
was just afeeling, there was no logical basis for it.
Outside in the street, intent machines moved busily about their tasks of removing the scars of the previous
night. They washed, swept and sucked up debris. Recovery units shuttled to and fro towing wrecked
ground cars behind them. Few police were in evidence but mecho-wardens were active, controlling the
thin flow of traffic and warning pedestrians of subsidences in the sidewalks and other minor hazards.
The two men walked slowly down the street but Reed's slowness was forced. It was no sinecure taking a
morning stroll with a man who, he knew, was now hotter figuratively speaking than the inside of the sun.
No doubt, by now, the Enemy had raised their dead or alive inducements to a fantastic sum. Five
million now would be a conservative estimate for the lucky killer.
Theremust be recognition computers still operating, sweeping the streets from high windows. There had
to be a few hard-core or cash-dazed killers who stayed behind in the faint hope of getting a shot at
Maynard. One lucky shot and they would have enough money to buy themselves a small city or a major
continent on one of the newly discovered planets.
Reed walked slowly from sheer will-power but, inside his jacket, his hand was closed tight round the butt
of his machine pistol.
They came to a large square, dominated by a tall and imposing building.
City medical centre. Maynard shook his head sadly. I'm afraid they had their hands full last night."
As he spoke, two men came down the steps. One limped painfully, the other had a permaplast pad
decorating his left temple.
Reed knew with sudden shock awareness that they were enemy agents. Worse, he knewhow he knew.
The men, despite their obvious injuries, were well groomed and perfectly tailored but about them was the
unmistakable stamp ofbeasts.
Reed couldn't define it, he couldn't really see it. Yet, had he been asked to put it into words, he could
have done so. They were like animalsdisguised as men and very thinly disguised at that. They were not
specific animals, they were not lions or tigers or jackals, it was an essence, a compositebeast-image.
There was an impression of talons, of fangs and of lashing tails so intense that one could almost smell
them.
Without perceptible movement he began to slide his gun out of the holster.
Don't. Maynard's hand was firm on his elbow.
But they're He struggled desperately to free himself without attracting too much attention.
I said don't. I know who they are just as well as you, perhaps better watch. Very deliberately he
turned and walked up the wide steps to meet them.
Reed swore obscenely. Maynard was blocking the target, if anything started One of the men looked up
and came to an abrupt stop.
It was clear that he recognized Maynard instantly but he made no attempt to reach for a weapon.
Instead, he raised his hands from his sides as if to assure the other that he had no malicious intent. The
other man's reaction was almost the same and the colour drained from both their faces.
Reed had a brief and rather frightening impression of slinking curs, bellies close to the ground, longing to
snap but too terrified to do so.
I am Maynard. The words reached Reed clearly.
You are fancy! How are you, Mr. Maynard glad to know you. The words had a shaky and
ingratiating pseudo-friendliness.
You are looking for me, I understand."
Oh,no no." The denials carried too much force. You are quite mistaken, quite. Both were now
backing away and running their fingers round the inside of their collars as if they found some difficulty in
breathing.
If you think we had anything to do with that business last night, you are quite mistaken. As a matter of
fact, we were all for you, we are all for you. They were now taking short but visible steps backwards
and occasionally stumbling.
It's the truth, Mr. Maynard, we mean you no harm at all. Here, as a mark of goodwill They laid their
guns carefully on the steps and retreated from them, protesting. Rest assured, we are your friends if
you need anything just call on us any time They turned suddenly and ran.
Maynard turned and walked unhurriedly back.
You see, a gun was not necessary."
All right, all right, you projected something. Reed was suddenly on edge again.
On the contrary, I merely approached them."
As you wish. No doubt I shall have some sort of revelation in due course if I can hang on to my sanity
that long."
Maynard grinned sympathetically. Then he said, It seems to me you're not doing too badly. You, too,
can now recognize the Enemy."
The remark had a sobering effect.
I'm sorry, that did shake me and they do look like beasts."
Yes. The other nodded slowly then changed the subject. I'm afraid I played you along a little
suggesting this walk. I was deliberately working for delay, buying time. That's why we made you a
temporary prisoner, to gain time. Frankly, it is your duty to take me in but now I don't think you will."
I won't! Reed was suddenly aggressive. Why?"
Maynard smiled. You said yourself there was no time limit and there is so much to learn, isn't there? A
week or so and you won't care. Sandling won't care, no one will care because everyone will know..."
Brinker liked the world as soon as he stepped on it. There was a rich earthy smell and the breeze was
fresh, easing the heat of the sun.
He watched the men unload a mountain of stores with satisfaction. He was not going to lack for anything
for he had chosen his site carefully.
Behind, immense black cliffs rose sheer and in front long, bluish grass sloped downwards to a small
sparkling stream.
A few hundred paces beyond the stream, the first trees climbed upwards from the long forest which
stretched to the horizon. A beautiful forest, hazed with heat, but despite this, bluish leaves dancing and
swaying in the sunlight. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]