"Andre Norton - Cat's Eye - uc" - читать интересную книгу автора (Norton Andre)

were an opponent ready for battle. Under his breath
he counted five quickly, and a tiny hope was born.
Since he had not been rejected at once, the assignor
did have some request that might be matched by his

meager qualifications.
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The five he had counted doubled into ten before the
assignor asked a question: "Knowledge of animals?"

"That of a Norden herd rider—" Troy stretched the
truth to a very thin band, but his small hope was
growing fast.

The assignor meditated. Troy, through his excite-
ment, felt the impatience of the men behind him. Yet
the length of time the machine was taking was so
promising—

"Employed." Troy gave a small gasp of relief. "Time
of employment—indefinite. Employer—Kossi Kyger,
first level, Sixth Square. Report there at once."

The plates in his boot soles beat a rataplan as he
hurried to the stamper, thrust his hand into the slot,
and felt that instant of heat that set the work mark
on his tanned wrist.

"First level, Sixth Square," he repeated aloud, not
because it was so necessary to impress his memory,
but for the pure pleasure of being able to claim a work
address.

Sixth Square lay on the outer fringe of the business
district, which meant that Kyger was engaged in one
of the upper-bracket luxury trades. Rather surprising
that such a merchant would have need for a C.L.C.
hireling. The maintenance force and highly trained
salesmen of those shops were usually of the full-
citizen class. And why animals? Horan swung on one of
the fast-moving roll walks, his temporarily tattooed
wrist held in plain sight across his wide belt to prevent
questions from any patroller.

Because it was early, the roll walks were not crowded,
and few private flitters held the air lanes overhead.
Most of the shutters were still in place across the
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