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

money.

As Santis edged from the board a man bumped into him.

"Watch it, old timer! That was my foot you trod on!"

"An accident—"

"Like hell it was!" The man stayed close, his hands busy. He
sucked in his breath as Dumarest caught at one of his wrists.
"What—"

"Bad luck," said Dumarest softly. "And all yours. You were
outsmarted. We're going now. Try to stop us and I'll break your
arm. You want that?" His voice was low but hard. As hard as his
face, the grip of his fingers. "It's the luck of the game."

"You bastards! Did Syclax—"

"You'll be hearing from him." Dumarest released the man's
wrist. "Get back to your game."

"Syclax?" Kemmer frowned as they moved away. "Do you
know him?"

"No."

"But—"

"He must be a rival operator. A pitch is easy to ruin and
punters easily scared. He could be trying to move in or be
demanding protection. Forget it. We have other things to worry
about."

Twice more Santis hit the card game and then Dumarest took
a hand, betting on the whereabouts of a pea, resting a finger on
his selected shell and smiling as he turned over the others to
reveal their emptiness. Reluctantly the operator paid. As they left
he called a man, whispered, sent him running down a path
between the statues.

"That's it," said Santis. "Right, Earl?"

"That's what?" Kemmer frowned.

"The end of easy pickings." Dumarest glanced at the crowds,
the little clusters. "We've been marked and will be spotted. Try to
pull the same stunt again and we'll be blocked. Someone will
accuse us of picking a pocket or cheating in some way. A drunk
will pick a fight. Bets will be disallowed." He shrugged at the