"Zach Hughes - Mother Lode" - читать интересную книгу автора (Hughes Zach)

 His name was Murdoch Plough. He grinned. "Well, we'll see." He
reached out. "Cute little feller, ain't he?"

Mop growled deep in his chest.

"No, Mop, you can't eat the nice man," Erin said.

"Real killer, is he?"

"His father was a Tigian weretiger," she said.

He laughed deep in his chest. "Well, we'll know in a few hours, little
lady. I hope it is a million, but I sure can't figure out why a sweet little
thing like you wants to go traipsing around out there in the big dark all by
her sweet little self."

She stood up. "Oh, I find it rather restful," she said. "You can call me
aboard Mother Lode when you've completed the refining."

"Now you don't want to go running off," he said, coming around his
desk quickly to take her arm.

Mop growled.

"Easy, killer," Murdoch said. To Erin he said, "Look, you've been in
space a long time. It would be my pleasure to buy you a real steak and to
show you the sights of Havenport."

"Thank you," she said. "I have some housekeeping to do aboard ship,
and I want to restock some food items."

"I can handle that for you," Murdoch said, letting his hand travel up
her arm.

"I can handle it myself," she said. "And I'd appreciate it if you'd quit
handling my arm."

He laughed. "Now, little lady—"

Mop lunged from his position in Erin's right hand and sank his sharp
little teeth into Murdoch's index finger. Murduch yelped and leaped back.

"Isn't it odd, Mr. Plough, that nobody will listen when I tell them what a
mean little son-of-a-bitch my dog is?"

Mop growled deep in his chest.

"I'll be waiting for your call, Mr. Plough," Erin said.

Murdoch Plough called late the next day. He did not use her name. "We