"William C. Dietz - By Force of Arms" - читать интересную книгу автора (Dietz William)

BY FORCE OF ARMS 3

sense of smell. The invaders knew that and had gone to
considerable lengths to counter it. Each assassin had
bathed repeatedly prior to the mission, used scentless soap,
donned specially prepared clothing, and been sprayed with
an essence derived from the house itself, A not altogether
unpleasant combination of furniture polish, fresh flowers,
and a touch of mold.

Protected by their clothing and carefully honed skills,
the assassins continued to advance.

Maylo turned onto her side, felt Booly stir in response,
and examined his face. She couldn't really see it—the
moonlight wasn't bright enough for that—but didn't need
to. The short hair. steady gray eyes, and determined chin
were etched in her memory.

He was intelligent, romantic, and very, very brave.
When a member of me cabal had imprisoned her in Jo-
hannesburg it had been Booly who led the mission to res-
cue her. She would never forget the moment when light
spilled into her cell, when he spoke her name, when he
swept her into his arms. Just like in her childhood story
books except for one very important thing: He might be
me one, and they might live happily ever after, but she
wasn't sure.

Hardswim looked down on the lights of Sintra, imagined
the interior of his favorite bar, and cursed his luck. The
general got laid, his buddies got drunk, and what did he
get? The stinkin* shaft that's what...

Hardswim paused in midthought as his nose tried to tell
him something. A scent that shouldn't be mere? No, too
much of the scent that should be there!

The Naa was already drawing his sidearm and turning
toward me light switch when the assassins took him down.
One hit the back of his knees, a second pulled his head
back, and the third slit his throat. The blood looked black

4 William C. Dietz

i

in the moonlight. It took less than three seconds. The body
made a soft thump as it hit the floor.