"Alan Dean Foster - Flinx 16 - Snakes Eyes" - читать интересную книгу автора (Foster Alan Dean)

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 Foster, Alan Dean - Commonwealth 16 - Flinx - Snakes Eyes (SS) (v1.0)



"Starting's finished," the unjolly little man reminded her. "But I'll go along partly, with what you say
about proceeding separately." His needier came up. The or-nithorpes twitched, but the muzzle wasn't
pointing in their direction. "So why don't you go start your own group, Savaya?"

"Look, you fat little—" She took a step toward Wuwit, froze when one finger tightened slightly on the
trigger. She looked around in outraged disbelief. "What is this?"

"You're so smart." Michelos was grinning as he stepped over to stand next to his short companion. "You
figure it out."

"All right. All right." She was backing away slowly and cautiously. "Have it this way then. Between
you you haven't got the brains to last two days against them." She jerked a thumb in the direction of the
mine.

"I know my limitations." Wuwit nodded toward the watching ornithorpes. "The bird folks' penchant for
games and strategies is well known. I happen to think we'll do better with them than with you. Besides, I'm
sick of taking orders from you, Savaya. You've flaunted your smarts a little too often over me. See how
much good they do you without anyone muscling for you."

"Ttruly the female seems exxccitted," observed Pimbab.

"You can take your muccax and head back to Edge-dune," Wuwit continued magnanimously, "or you
can form your own separate party, as you want." For the first time since they'd started the trip, he smiled.




Flinx and Yakus lay down in the cool shade of the excavation. Both rifles rested in front of them, on top
of the mine edge. Behind them, down and dug deep into the earth, was an open circular area large enough
to conceal both muccax and the dryzam. The dorsal-finned beast of burden was exhausted from the short
sprint across the riverbed. Flinx worried that they might have overloaded it with supplies.

Once when the sun pierced the cloud cover, there was a suggestion of orange fire near the back wall of
the excavation.

"Sounds like they made peace among themselves," observed Yakus, peering over the rim. "I'll bet both
groups were plenty surprised, all nice and set up to ambush us only to find out somebody else had the
same ideas." Flinx was staring at him reprovingly.

Yakus looked away, embarrassed. "I know, I know...I talk too much. Someone must have overheard me
some place. Well"—he fingered the trigger of his rifle—"they'll have an AAnn of a time trying to winkle
us out of here."