"Harry Harrison - Deathworld 3" - читать интересную книгу автора (Harrison Harry)

appearing out of the darkness. There seemed no end to their teeming numbers.




2

"Pretty stupid to get hit by a sawbird," Brucco said, helping Jason
dinAlt to pull the ripped metalcloth jacket off over his head.

"Pretty stupid to try and eat a peaceful meal on this planet!" Jason
snapped back, his words muffled by the heavy cloth. He pulled the jacket free
and winced as sharp pain cut into his side. "I was just trying to enjoy some
soup, and the bowl got in the way when I had to fire."

"Only a superficial wound," Brucco said, looking at the red gash on
Jason's side. "The saw bounced off the ribs without breaking them. Very
lucky."

"You mean lucky I didn't get killed. Whoever heard of a sawbird in the
mess hall?"

"Always expect the unexpected on Pyrrus. Even the children know that."
Brucco sloshed on antiseptic and Jason ground his teeth together tightly. The
phone pinged and Meta's worried face appeared on the Screen.
 "Jason-I heard you were hurt," she said.

"Dying," he told her.

Brucco sniffed loudly. "Nonsense. Superficial wound, fourteen
centimeters in length, no toxins."

"Is that all?" Meta said, and the screen went dark.

"Yes, that's all," Jason said bitterly. "A liter of blood and a kilo of
flesh, nothing more bothersome than a hangnail. What do I have to do to get
some sympathy around here-lose a leg?"

"If you lost a leg in combat, there might be sympathy," Brucco said
coldly, pressing an adhesive bandage into place. "But if you lost a limb to a
sawbird in the mess hall, you would expect only contempt."

"Enough!" Jason said sharply, pulling his jacket back on. "Don't take me
so literally and, yes, I know all about the sweet consideration I can expect
from you friendly Pyrrans. I don't think I'll ever miss this planet, not for
five minutes."

"You're leaving?" Brucco asked, brightening up. "Is that what the
meeting is about?"