"HEINLEIN, Robert A. - The Cat Who Walked Through Walls" - читать интересную книгу автора (Heinlein Robert A)

The Cat Who Walked Through Walls
by Robert Heinlein
BOOK one-Indifferent Honest

I
"Whatever you do, you'll regret it."
ALLAN McLEOD GRAY 1905-1975
"We need you to kill a man."
This stranger glanced nervously around us. I feel that a crowded restaurant
is no place for such talk, as a high noise level gives only limited privacy.
I shook my head. "I'm not an assassin. Killing is more of a hobby with me.
Have you had dinner?"
"I'm not here to eat. Just let me-"
"Oh, come now. I insist." He had annoyed me by interrupting an evening with
a delightful lady; I was paying him back in kind. It does not do to encourage
bad manners; one should retaliate, urbanely but firmly.
That lady, Gwen Novak, had expressed a wish to spend a penny and had left
the table, whereupon Herr Nameless had materialized and sat down uninvited. I
had been about to tell him to leave when he mentioned a name. Walker Evans.
There is no "Walker Evans."
Instead, that name is or should be a message from one of six people, five
men, one woman, a code to remind me of a debt. It is conceivable that an
installment payment on that ancient debt could require me to kill
someone-possible but unlikely.
But it was not conceivable that I would kill at the behest of a stranger
merely because he invoked that name.
While I felt obliged to listen, I did not intend to let him ruin my
evening. Since he was sitting at my table, he could bloody well behave like an
invited guest. "Sir, if you don't want a full dinner, try the after-theater
suggestions. The lapin ragout on toast may be rat rather than rabbit but this
chef makes it taste like ambrosia."
"But I don't want-"
"Please." I looked up, caught my waiter's eye. "Morris."
Morris was at my elbow at once. "Three orders of lapin ragout, please.
Moms, and ask Hans to select a dry white wine for me."
"Yes, Dr. Ames."
"Don't serve until the lady returns, if you please."
"Certainly, sir."
I waited until the waiter had moved away. "My guest will be returning soon.
You have a brief time to explain yourself in private. Please start by telling me
your name."
"My name isn't important. I-"
"Come, sir! Your name. Please."
"I was told simply to say 'Walker Evans.'"
"Good as far as it goes. But your name is not Walker Evans and I do not
traffic with a man who won't give his name. Tell me who you are, and it would be
well to have an ID that matches your words."
"But- Colonel, it's far more urgent to explain who must die and why you are
the man who must kill him! You must admit that!"
"I don't have to admit anything. Your name, sir! And your ID. And please do