"Kim Stanley Robinson - Venice Drowned (2)" - читать интересную книгу автора (Robinson Kim Stanley)

Hamada turned to him. "That here is the picture we desire," he said. "The Madonna with child."

"What?" Carlo cried.

Hamada raised his eyebrows. "We desire taking home that here picture to Japan."

"But it's impossible! The picture is made of little tiles stuck to the wall-there's no way to get
them off!"

"Italy government permits," Taku said, but Hamada silenced him with a gesture:

"Mosaic, yes. We use instruments we take here-water torch. Archaeology method, you understand. Cut
blocks out of wall, bricks, number them-construct on new place in Japan. Above water." He flashed
his pearly smile.

"You can't do that," Carlo stated, deeply affronted.

"I don't understand?" Hamada said. But he did: "Italian government permits us that."

"This isn't Italy," Carlo said savagely, and in his anger stood up. What good would a Madonna do
in Japan, anyway? They weren't even Christian. "Italy is over there," he said, in his excitement
mistakenly waving to the southeast, no doubt confusing his listeners even more. "This has never
been Italy! This is Venice! The Republic!"

"1 don't understand." He had that phrase down pat. "Italian government has giving permit us."

"Christ," Carlo said. After a disgusted pause: "Just how long will this take?"

"Time? We work that afternoon, tomorrow: place the


bricks here, go hire Venice barge to carry bricks to Venice--"
"Stay here overnight? I'm not going to stay here overnight, God damn it!"
"We bring sleeping bag for you-"


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"No!" Carlo was furious. "1'm not staying, you miserable heathen hyenas--" He pulled off
his scuba gear.
"I don't understand."
Carlo dried off, got dressed. "I'll let you keep your scuba tanks, and I'll be back for
you tomorrow afternoon, late. Understand.'"
"Yes," Hamada said. staring at him steadily, without expression. "Bring barge?"
"What?-yes, yes, I'll bring your barge, you miserable slime-eating catfish. Vultures . .
." He went on for a while. getting the boat out of the window.
"Storm coming!" Taku said brightly, pointing to the north.
"To hell with you!" Carlo said, pushing off and beginning to row. "Understand?"