"Brian Lumley - Psychomech 01 - Psychomech" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lumley Brian)

to play in the rest of the thing.
He was soon to discover his own insignificance, though; for as the great silent silver Mercedes drove out of the
airport and into Hannover itself Koenig half-turned and said: ‘Excuse me, Herr Major, but at which hotel have you
arranged accommodation?’
‘Hotel?’ Marchant raised an eyebrow. ‘I’m afraid you’re mistaken, Herr, er, Koenig? We are to stay as the guests of
Thomas Schroeder, at his estate in the Harz.’
‘Ah, no, Herr Major. It is you who are mistaken. The Corporal is to stay there. No such arrangements have been
made for you. A message was sent, but obviously too late.’
‘But, I—’
‘The Colonel’ has instructed me that in this case I am to take you to the Hotel International in Hannover. You shall
stay there at no expense to yourself. Whatever you need, take it. If you wish for something, ask for it. If they haven’t
got it, demand it and it will be provided. Enjoy your stay. The Colonel owns the Hotel International, of course.’
‘But—’
It was the Major’s day for buts.
‘Your luggage will arrive at the hotel only a little while after you yourself. I hope all will be to your satisfaction.’
Koenig smiled pleasantly over his shoulder.
In the back of the car Marchant sputtered, finally burst out: ‘The Provost Marshal himself has ordered me to
accompany Corporal Garrison and attend to his best interests. I cannot see how—’
‘His best interests are being attended to, I assure you,’ Koenig answered.
‘You assure me? But you are your master’s chauffeur, and—’
‘And he has instructed me to speak for him,’ Koenig smiled again. ‘Anyway, the Colonel has already spoken to your
Provost Marshal. Less than an hour ago they talked on the telephone.’
They did? A Colonel, you say? But what has this Colonel to do with Mr Schroeder?’
‘Why, they are one and the same!’ said Koenig. ‘I thought you knew. Perhaps you weren’t briefed too well.’
‘Oh,’ said Marchant, and he sank back into the deep luxury of his seat. His voice was much calmer now. ‘Yes, you’re
quite right. I don’t appear to have been briefed too well. So Herr Schroeder was a Colonel, was he?’
 ‘Was?’ Koenig turned, unsmiling, to stare at him. His eyes had turned cold and beady. ‘Oh, but he still is, Herr
Major. To some of us, he always will be ...’

After dropping off the Major they stopped again on the autobahn near Hildesheim, where Koenig said: ‘I can see
you do not like that white stick. Very well, leave it in the car. Here, let me take your arm.’ He guided Garrison into a
restaurant and to the door marked ‘Herren’, and while the Corporal answered the call of nature he ordered drinks and
Zigeuner-schnitzel.
When Garrison left the toilet Koenig was at the door to meet him. ‘Was it difficult?’ he asked.
‘What, taking a leak?’
‘No,’ the German grinned. ‘Finding your way out of the toilet.’
Garrison shrugged. ‘Not really.’ He sensed the other’s nod of approval.
‘Gut!’ Koenig took his elbow. ‘The Colonel was right, you see? He said these so-called aids - these white sticks and
armbands - were merely embarrassments. How do you say it? - "encumbrances"!’
He led Garrison to a table and guided him into a chair. ‘What kind of a man is your Colonel?’ the Corporal asked
when he was comfortable.
‘But you met him.’
‘Too briefly, I’m afraid. And the circumstances were—’ Garrison pulled a wry face, ’—difficult.’
‘Ah, yes, of course,’ said Koenig.
Garrison nodded. ‘The events of that day are still a little blurred. Fuzzy in my mind. I suppose they always will be.’
‘I understand,’ said Koenig. ‘Well, the Colonel is a man to be respected. People who do not know him - complete
strangers - when they meet him, obey him. He has a power, a strength. He was a marvellous officer. And he is a
marvellous man. No, that is not quite true. According to the letter of the law, he is probably a very bad man. For one
thing, he pays not taxes. Or only as much as he wishes to pay. He does not take kindly, you see, to the laws and rules
of others.’