"Christopher Hinz - Paratwa 01 - Liege Killer" - читать интересную книгу автора (Hinz Christopher)

Gouged and dirty wings—arched slivers of white metal—swept upward from the squat body of the craft
like floppy ears from a fat rabbit. The underbelly quivered, radiating heat. Gray smoke drifted out from
beneath the craft, swirling into oblivion as it met the perpetualPhiladelphia gusts.
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“What's the level?” asked Bronavitch, younger of the two crew members. He stood beside the monster
engines, oblivious to the waves of heat pouring from the vertical landing jets. Their spacesuits were
designed to protect them from far worse perils.



Kelly grinned. Parched walnut skin crinkled across his cheeks, made him look older than his forty-six
years. “Nothing to worry about within five miles of here.” Kelly twisted his neck forward, peeked out
through the top of his helmet visor, and checked the readout counter mounted to his thick utility belt.
“The scan reads less than point-oh-seven—we're in a fairly safe area. We could probably even take our
suits off for a minute or so."



“Yeah,” Bronavitch grumbled, “and we could gulp some air and say good-bye to the Colonies.”
Bronavitch did not need Kelly or a poison counter to tell him that there was enough organic death in the
smog to keep a cleanup crew busy for years.



Kelly's grin expanded. “The air does seem a bit thick."



Bronavitch shook his head. He was not in the mood for Kelly's humor. “I'm telling you, I've had it. I'm
sick of the whole damn planet. My contract is up in two months and I'm not signing on for another tour.
I've had it."



His partner rumbled with laughter. “You told me that last year. Hell, admit it. You like it down here. You
told me that you thought it was very serene."



“It pays good."



Skyscrapers—metal and concrete shells—lined the boulevard. A few smaller structures were nestled in
their midst like scared children clutching at their mother's skirts. Chunks of unidentifiable debris lay
everywhere.