"Kit Reed - Judas Bomb" - читать интересную книгу автора (Reed Kit)

Johnny tried it several more places, but all he got was the same nervous,
girlish scratching that left him puzzled and disgusted. He and Netta left
Wilmington and set down in Hyattsville for something to eat. A square
served them at the cheap lunch counter, and when they finished their
hamburgers and started to leave he said, "Don't I get paid?"
"Get paid? You crazy?" Johnny kicked in the front of the juke box. "Be
glad that's not you."
The square watched him, but there was no fear in his eyes. Baffled by
the man's calm, assured look, Johnny gave the juke box a final kick,
grabbed a piece of cake from under a plastic cover and left.
"Guy was pretty cool for a square," Netta said.
"Enh. It's these Judas guys. They ain't got the guts to do things right.
No wonder they think they need a bomb."
"They won't have it much longer."
"Boy, from what I've seen, without that bomb this place'll be wide
open."
"Ready for the Hypos to take over." Netta paused. "Or somebody."
Johnny shifted uneasily. Then his eyes brightened. "That'd be a rumble
for sure. Wait'll Franko hears what chicken these guys have turned out to
be."
 It was nearing dark so they headed into Washington. Before long they
spotted the monument and zeroed in to land on the Mall. The stone needle
loomed, tall and pockmarked, in the soft half-darkness.
Johnny sank on the grass. "We'd better wait till it's dark."
Netta settled beside him. "Yeah."
"Well leave the 'cicles here, so we can get to "em in a hurry and get the
bomb back to Franko. If anything happens to me, you take it and get
back."
"Not as long as I can help you." She looked fierce in the twilight.
"You heard me. Get that thing to Franko. He wants it."
"He must want it real bad."
Musing, Johnny looked up at the monument. "Wonder what's inside."
"Few guys, probably. It oughta be some fight."
"You stay out of it unless I call you, huh?" He made his voice stern. "No
use you cashing in-you got three good years left."
The hell you say." Netta drove her fist into her hand several times.
"Does it bug you bein' nineteen?"
"Ill cash in when it's time. Maybe tonight, if I have to, to get the bomb.
Only one thing does bug me. Before I go, I'd like to have a girl. Maybe
leave a kid."
"You don't have one now?" In the dark, Netta's heavy face glowed.
"Nope." Johnny sprawled, resting on his elbows. "But I know her, and
I've watched her, and someday I'll get her." He threw his head back.
"Franko's girl, all golden, like a tiger…"
"Oh." Her voice was small.
"Couple of guys comin' out over there. C'mon, Netta. It's time."
The two heavy forms, almost identical in the darkness, moved toward
the opening to the monument. A bored Judas stood outside, idly flipping
his knife into a plank. Johnny got him before he could pull the knife out
for another throw.