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

juxtapositions, hesitated at certain points. "A traveler," she
murmured. "One who has seen many worlds. One too who has
had many loves. One who has known much danger. A fighter
trained in the use of a blade. A gambler. A searcher after truth
who—" She broke off, inhaling sharply. "Red," she whispered.
"Scarlet—beware the color of blood!"

Dumarest watched, restraining his impatience. His clothing
alone would have told her he was a traveler; garb designed for
wear and protection. The knife in his boot coupled with the
callouses on his palm would have told he used a blade and all
men who fought were, in essence, gamblers.

"Scarlet," she said again. "It is behind you, around you, all is
scarlet."

Another guess? Dumarest said, "Are there any here who wear
scarlet robes?" The shake of her head meant little; cybers could
reside in the upper levels and she need never know it. "Has
anyone asked after me? By description, naturally."

"No."

"Would you know?"

"If they asked in the Stril I would know. I get to hear most
things." Again she studied his palm. "There's something odd
here. A danger but more than that. You've killed," she accused.
"There are men who have cause to hate you. Vengeful men."

"So?"

"They will give you no rest And they are close, close. I see—no,
some things are best not told."

"We had a deal," said Dumarest, flatly. "If that's the best you
can do then I'm going to feel cheated. You wouldn't want me to
feel that, would you? No, I thought not. Now why not just answer
a few questions?"

The others joined him as he left the booth. Kemmer made no
secret of hiding his irritation at what he considered rank
stupidity; Santis was more sympathetic.

"Sometimes it helps, Earl, I know that. Once on Pico I visited
a palmist. We were set to attack at dawn and I was troubled.
Something sent me to her and her warnings caused me to
change the plans. I attacked from a different direction three
hours early and found they were set and ready for me. If I'd
followed the original plan we'd have been blasted to atoms. As it