"Harry Harrison - SSR 04 - The Stainlees Steel Rat Wants You" - читать интересную книгу автора (Harrison Harry)

"Then put these items into your pockets. They are bits of equipment which are sure to come in
handy. Are you wearing your fingerprint gloves?" They raised their hands which glistened slightly
in the streetlamp light. "Good. You will be happy to hear that you will be leaving the prints of
the mayor of this city, as well as those of the chief of police. That should add a note of
interest to an otherwise confusing situation. Now, do you know where we are going? Of course not.
It's a large building around the comer which you cannot see from here. The area HQ of the IIER,
Interstellar Internal and External Revenue. In there are records of all their larcenous endeavors
..

"You mean yours, don't you, Dad?"

"Larceny is in the eye of the beholder, my sons. They take a dim view of my activities, while
I in tam look with loathing on their taking ways. Tonight we attempt to even the score. We do not
approach the IIER building directly because it has many defenses since they know they are unloved.
Instead we enter the building around this comer which, not by chance have I selected it, has a
rear that adjoins our target building."

We walked while I talked and both boys recoiled a bit at the lights and crowds ahead. Sirens
screamed as official black groundcars drew up, television cameras churned away, searchlights
fanned across the sky. I smiled at their hesitation and patted their back as we walked.

"Now isn't that a lovely diversion? Who would consider breaking and entering in a setting like
this? The opening night, the premier performance of the new opera Cohoneighs in the Fire."

"But we'll need tickets . . ."

"Bought from a scalper this afternoon at outrageous prices. Here we go."

We pushed through the crowd, surrendered our tickets, then made our way from here, not that I
had any intention of listening to the bucolic mooing and lowing in any case. There were other
advantages to the top of the building. We went to the bar first and I had a refreshing beer and
was cheered to see that the lads ordered only nonalcoholic drinks. I was not so elated at other of
their activities. Leaning close to Bolivar I took his arm lightly-then clamped down a tight index
finger on the nerve that paralyzed his hand.

"Exceedingly naughty," I said as the diamond bracelet fell to the carpet from his numb
fingers. I tapped an exceedingly porcine woman on the shoulder and pointed it out when she turned.
"I beg your pardon, madam. But did that bracelet slip from your wrist? It did? No, let me. No, my
pleasure indeed, thank you, and may he bless you as well for all eternity." I then turned about
and slipped a steely gaze into James's ribs. He raised his hands in the sign of peace.



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"I get the message, Dad. Sorry. Just keeping in practice. For extra practice I put the wallet
back in the gent's pocket as soon as I saw Bolivar rubbing his numb arm."

"That's fine. But no more. We are on a serious mission tonight and want no petty crime to