"E. C. Tubb - Dumarest 20 - Web of Sand" - читать интересную книгу автора (Tubb E. C)

"Some."

"Watch it. That advice I'll give you for free. I'll mind it for you
if you want."

"Thanks, but I'll manage."

"Yes," said the man. "Yes, I guess you can."

He turned to serve a girl with a torn skirt and cheap bracelets
adorning pimpled arms who was waiting on a group at one of
the tables. Dumarest halted beside them, chatted, moved on to
stand beside a pair studying a chart, left them to talk to a
waitress to whom he gave money.

As he rejoined the others Santis said, "Learn anything?"

"Nothing of use."

"What is there to learn?" Kemmer brooded over his wine.
"The need to survive? We know that. The need to cooperate? We
know that too but how seldom it is done. And can one man be
expected to aid another when that aid robs him of life?" He
added, "Thieves here receive drastic punishment."

Santis was curt, "So?"

"I mention it, nothing more."

"Do I look like a man who would steal? Fight, yes, kill too if
the pay is right, but steal?"

"If it meant your life, yes," said Dumarest. "I think you would.
I could be wrong but, if so, we are both fools." He waited a
moment then, as the mercenary made no comment, said, "One
small item which may be of interest. At times men are employed
to work on outside installations."

"Debtors," said Kemmer. "They have a list. I could have saved
you the bribe you gave to the waitress."
 "A few coins," protested Santis. "Less than the price of a
drink."

"But money!" Kemmer lowered his voice. "You mercenaries
are all the same—easy come easy go. Your pay is something to
get rid of before you get killed. The only ones who really gain
from a war are the merchants and vendors of delights. But a
trader knows the value of a coin. It can spell the difference
between profit and loss. Tell me, honestly now, how wealthy are
you?"