"E. E. Doc Smith - D' Alembert 4 - Getaway world" - читать интересную книгу автора (Smith E. E. Doc)

applicant's being aware of it. In the meantime, the clerk would carry on with her work.
"What did you ever do to need sanctuary?"

"Again., it's on the card," said the woman who called herself Hazel Whiting. "Jewel
robberies, mostly, with a few swindles along the way." She paused, then added as a
sarcastic afterthought, "It helps to look sophisticated; it gets you into the swanker circles
where the real loot is."

The clerk shrugged and continued typing silently for several seconds. Then she produced
a retinascope, and Hazel Whiting leaned forward to have her identity checked. When the
clerk was satisfied, she handed Gospozha Whiting a plastic key card, a pamphlet and a
bookreel. "You'll live solely on your past earnings as long as you're on Sanctuary," she
said routinely. It was clearly a speech she'd made many times before. "We don't steal
from each other here. Report to Room J-5 down the hall for temporary quarters until you
decide where in the city you want to live."


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Hazel Whiting took the proffered materials from the clerk and started away. As she
moved past the line, one. of the men grabbed her arm. "Hey, Hazel Whiting," he said in a
raspy voice. "How'd you like to move in with me when you get the chance?"

The girl looked him up and down skeptically. The man was a burly sort with more muscle
than brains; he smelled as though he'd missed his bath three months in a row, and his
beard looked to have been trimmed with pinking shears. "I think," she replied coolly, "I'd
prefer to drink vacuum through a short straw."

The man gave a coarse laugh and pulled her closer to him. "I'll teach you not to be so
damned snooty."

Hazel Whiting let herself be pulled until she stood right next to the man. Then, in a series
of rapid movements, she acted. Her left foot came down hard on her assailant's right
instep, causing him to howl with pain and let go of her right arm. Her right hand lashed
out, fingers stiff and extended, and jabbed the man just under his ribs. It could have been
a killing blow if she had chosen, but that was not her intention. The man doubled over far
enough for her to lift her right knee and hit him on the chin with it. He went out like a
candle in a gale.

To an accompaniment of whistles and cheers from other men in the line, Hazel Whiting
walked off to Room J-5 to obtain her temporary billeting assignment.

Garst was understandably nervous. Seated across from him was the woman he knew
only as Lady A, the person most responsible for his being in this position right now. She
was easily the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen; the lines of her face had the classic
arrangement of eternal beauty. Her creamy complexion was flawless and her calm green
eyes took in everything worth seeing in the room. Her body was sensuality incarnate, and
her delicate perfume exuded femininity. There was an eternal quality about her. She