"Murphy, Warren - [Destroyer 060] - The End of the Game" - читать интересную книгу автора (Destroyer)

"Just reach under the chair," the voice said.

"With my hand?"

"With your hand."

He couldn't get his hand underneath the wooden chair fast enough. He picked up a splinter under his thumbnail, he reached so hard. There was a picture taped under the chair and he tore it out so quickly he ripped a small corner of it.

The picture was of a pretty young woman with a blond perky face, perhaps in her early twenties.

"That is Pamela Thrushwell. She is twenty-four, over here from England. She works at the International Computer Advancement Center of New York. You can call it the computer center."

"I've never killed anybody," Waldo said.

"Please don't jump to conclusions."

"Don't worry. Whatever it is, I'll do it," Waldo said.

"Good, because you'll like it. Do you think she's beautiful?"

"Yes."

"Listen carefully then. You will go to the computer center in downtown Manhattan and find Pamela Thrushwell and walk up to her and cop a feel."

"Excuse me. I thought you said I should cop a feel."

"I did," the voice said.

"Hey, c'mon," Waldo said. "What is this? What kind of game is this?" Waldo felt he could be outraged now that the voice had asked for such a thing.

"You don't have to do it, Waldo. No one is forcing you."

"I want to cooperate."

"I would hope so; $1.47 million is an awful lot of money."

"Do you have something reasonable?" Waldo said.

"I would say that a million and a half smackers for a feel is more than reasonable, Waldo. I don't have time. Do what you're told or the police get called in."

"Which breast?" asked Waldo.

"Either."

Waldo put the photo in his pocket. He wasn't sure if he should go into the computer center, reach out and do the job, or if he should take her out to dinner, soft lights, perhaps a necklace, maybe some kissing first, and then let his hand slide down ever so gently until he had breast in hand, duty done, back home to the Park Avenue penthouse and the good life.

Pamela Thrushwell decided the method for him. If he wished assistance on the complexities of the new mega-frame, mini-byte work analyzer and reach-space mode, Pamela Thrushwell would be happy to oblige. But she was not, thank you, there for dates, pleasantries, or to be picked up by perfect strangers.

Thank you again, Mr. Hammersmith. No, and no, thank you very much.