"Charles Stross - Ancient Of Days" - читать интересную книгу автора (Stross Charles)

The new arrivals didn't wait around. Both of them came through the door, then
stopped and stared at Kris and – whatever her name was – Helena. "Ivan Salazar and David
Jakes?" asked Helena.
"Yeah," said the shorter one, removing a yellow construction-site helmet and running
a pudgy hand through his thinning hair. "I'm Dave. That'n's Ivan." The taller one stood with his
hands thrust deep in the outer pockets of his trench coat. Kris stiffened, automatically
focusing on the bulge in Salazar's right pocket. "Sorry we're late."
"Any trouble?" asked Helena.
Ivan slowly pulled out his right hand. It was empty, and Kristoph relaxed slightly. "Not
much," Ivan said in heavily-accented English. "Not much now." He grinned sharkishly and
Kristoph looked back at his pocket. Must be a .22, he thought. Anything bigger would show.
Now where have I seen him before?
Kristoph looked back at the tubby American and unexpectedly realised that he was
being stared at. The man had exceedingly cold eyes. "No offense," he said, "but we ran into
some identity verification problems a while back. Ivan hasn't had time to change yet."
"Did you deal with the problem?" asked Kris.
Ivan nodded. "He terminated it," said Jakes. "He terminated it so efficiently that half
the police department are after him."
Kris looked round and caught Helena's eye.
She shook her head very slightly and shivered. "The person you've all come here to
meet should be arriving any time now. I hope you don't mind waiting; she's a bit slow on her
feet these days and likes to take time to look her visitors over in advance."
"Huh." Ivan stared at the plywood door, irritated by his treatment but trying not to let
his resentment show. "Now you've introduced us, how about telling us why we're here? I
mean, this four-star accomodation is all very flattering, but –"
Salazar chuckled to himself, a warm, throaty sound. "Guess, man," he said. "Just
guess."
"Are you corporate?" Kris asked, raising an eyebrow. "If so, from which entity?"
"Ah." Jakes shook his head. "We're not here to talk about peripheral business. It's
bad practice. Observe compartmentalisation at all times. We are all family, it's true, but we
might be on different sides – "
Kris spat on the floor. "Human sides. Always building walls between each other.
Huh." He turned to Helena. "How long until She arrives?"
"Not long now," she said. "In fact –"
The door opened. Ancient of Days stood waiting. Nobody moved: the sight of her
condition was too shocking.
"Holy shit," whispered the one called Dave. "I had no idea –" He took a step forward.
Ancient of Days raised a warning arm and spoke. "Wait. Come no closer. My
condition is of unknown aetiology and may prove to be infectious to your kind. Please make
yourselves comfortable –" one obsidian pupil swept the room; a scale-encrusted nostril flared
in remote amusement – "insofar as that may be possible. We have much to discuss."
Kris could hold his peace no longer. "What's going on?" he demanded angrily,
meeting her huge eyes full on. "Why weren't we told things had gone this far? The situation
may be irrecoverable!" Then he stopped, shuddering in his boots as he realised what he had
just done. Ancient of Days looked down upon him and for an endless instant of terror he
could hear his heart stand silent, the blood in his veins freezing as he waited for her response
to his presumption.
"That is not yet the case. But, be that as it may, you are now needed here urgently.
Please listen carefully; you will have your turn to reply. What I called you here to tell you
about is a matter long overdue, and one that should have been dealt with years ago, before