"Robert A. Heinlein - The Cat who Walks Through Walls" - читать интересную книгу автора (Heinlein Robert A)

Morris, 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 not call me 'Colonel'; I am Dr. Ames." I had to raise my voice
not to be drowned out by a roll of drums; the late evening show was
starting. The lights lowered and a spotlight picked out the master of
ceremonies.

"All right, all right!" My uninvited guest reached into a pocket,
pulled out a wallet. "But Tolliver must die by noon Sunday or we'll all be
dead!"

He flipped open the wallet to show me an ID. A small dark spot appeared
on his white shirt front. He looked startled, then said softly, "I'm very
sorry," and leaned forward. He seemed to be trying to add something but
blood gushed from his mouth. His head settled down onto the tablecloth.
 I was up out of my chair at once and around to his right side. Almost
as swiftly Morris was at his left side. Perhaps Morris was trying to help
him; I was not -- it was too late. A four-millimeter dart makes a small
entry hole and no exit wound; it explodes inside the body. When the wound
is in the torso, death follows abruptly. What I was doing was searching
the crowd -- that and one minor chore.

While I was trying to spot the killer, Morris was joined by the
headwaiter and a busman. The three moved with such speed and efficiency
that one would have thought that having a guest killed at a table was
something they coped with nightly. They removed the corpse with the