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

file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/harry%20kruis...n%20Foster%20-%20Flinx%2016%20-%20Snakes%20Eyes.htm (18 of 31)19-2-2006 17:10:40
 Foster, Alan Dean - Commonwealth 16 - Flinx - Snakes Eyes (SS) (v1.0)


"Do they have to try?" Flinx scanned the relatively flat horizon outside the mine. As usual, when his
mental talents were most needed they chose not to function. He couldn't sense a thing. "They've got us
trapped in here."

"That's a matter of argument, boy. To you, we're trapped. To me, we're comfortably protected." He
gestured at the dry river. "If they've got any sense among them they'll come at us tonight." He paused, and
frowned as he eyed Flinx. "Say, boy, where's your pet?"

Flinx continued to watch the stream bed. "She flew off when we started our sprint for here. Once it
would have bothered me, not anymore. She's left me a couple of times previously—once to come after
you, remember? She always comes back."

"I'm glad you're not worried, but I've seen what your little fly-devil can do. I'd feel better if she were
here."

Flinx smiled gently. "So would I, but Pip goes and comes as she pleases. Still..." He looked puzzled.
"It's not like her to take off when I'm threatened like this. I expect she'll show up fast when they do attack."

"She'd better," said Yakus feelingly. "No telling how many there are out there..."

Night amplified the stillness of the High Desert. Even the insects were silent here, baked into
insensibility, Flinx thought.

Careful not to keep his head exposed for long, he periodically surveyed the riverbed. There was little to
see in the near-blackness. The perpetual cloud cover shut out the starlight and the faint glow of Moth's
single tiny moon, Flame. Even if their attackers possessed light-concentrating gunsights, they'd have to be
extraordinarily powerful to pick up enough illumination from the dark desert sky to see by.

"Think they'll wait until just before morning, when they'll have a little light?" Flinx asked.

"Can't tell." Yakus too was gazing out across the dry wash. "Depends on how impatient they get."

There was a tiny click of stone on pebble. Yakus whirled, bringing his rifle around to cover the left side
of the talus hill. Behind them the two muccax slept soundlessly, balanced on the tripod of feet and tail,
their heads bent over onto their chests. The dryzam lay motionless on its side, curled against the back of
the mine and several million credits of fiery orange crystal.

Flinx also jerked around, an instant ahead of Yakus. Sensitive as he was, the emotional feedback effects
of the raw hallowseye behind him was making him more nervous than normal. The proximity of so many
emotion-amplifying gems was having a dangerous un-steadying effect on his mind.

"You can hold it right there," the prospector ordered.

file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/harry%20kruis...n%20Foster%20-%20Flinx%2016%20-%20Snakes%20Eyes.htm (19 of 31)19-2-2006 17:10:40
 Foster, Alan Dean - Commonwealth 16 - Flinx - Snakes Eyes (SS) (v1.0)