"Mack Reynolds - Planetary Agent X" - читать интересную книгу автора (Reynolds Mack)

 Luckily, the roof of his apartment building was a copter-cab
pickup point and he was able to hustle over to the shuttleport in a
matter of a few minutes.
He banged into the reservations office, hurried up to one of
the windows and said into the screen, “I’ve got to get to Neuve
Alburquerque immediately.”
The expressionless voice said, “The next rocket leaves at
sixteen hours.”
“Sixteen hours! I’ve got to be at the spaceport by that time!”
The voice said dispassionately, “We are sorry.”
The bottom fell out of everything. Ronny said, desperately,
“Look, if I miss my ship in Neuve Alburquerque, what is the next
spaceliner leaving from there for New Delos?”
“A moment, citizen.” There was an agonized wait, and then
the voice said, “There is a liner leaving for New Delos on the 14th
of next month. It arrives in New Delos on the 31st, Basic Earth
calendar.”
The 31st! Tommy Paine could be halfway across the galaxy by
that time.
A gentle voice next to him said, “Could I help, Ronny?”
He looked around at her. “Evidently, nobody can,” he said
disgustedly. “There’s no way of getting to Neuve Albuquerque in
time to get that cruiser to New Delos.”
Tog Lee Chang Chu fished in her bag and came up with a
wallet similar to the one in which Ronny carried his Section G
badge. She held it up to the screen. “Bureau of Investigation,
Section G,” she said calmly. “It will be necessary that Agent
Bronston and I be in Neuve Albuquerque within the hour.”
The metallic voice said, “Of course. Proceed to your right and
through Corridor K to Exit Four. Your rocket will be there.
Identify yourself to Lieutenant Economou, who will be at the desk
at Exit Four.”
Tog turned to Ronny Bronston. “Shall we go?” she said
demurely.
He cleared his throat, feeling foolish. “Thanks, Tog,” he said.
“Not at all, Ronny. Why, this is my job.”
Was there the faintest touch of sarcasm in her voice? It hadn’t
been more than a couple of hours ago that he had been hinting
rather heavily to Sid Jakes that he needed no assistance.
She even knew the layout of the West Greater Washington
shuttleport. Her small body swiveled through the hurrying
passengers, her small feet a-twinkle, as she led him to and down
Corridor K and then to the desk at Exit Four.
Ronny anticipated her here. He flashed his own badge at the
chairborne Space Forces lieutenant there.
“Lieutenant Economou?” he said. “Ronald Bronston, of the
Bureau of Investigation, Section G. We’ve got to get to Neuve
Alburquerque soonest.”
The lieutenant, only mildly impressed, said, “We can have you
in the air in ten minutes, citizen. Just a moment and I’ll guide you