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

"And could gain more." Santis scowled at his card lying face
down on the table. "A settlement, perhaps. Even marriage. On a
journey like this a girl could make a man her own. Mettalus is
young and impressionable despite his cultivated air of
sophisticated indifference, and the girl has charm."

"But no brains." Marta thinned her lips as, again, she lost.
"And you're mistaken about Mettalus. He's older than he seems.
Right, Earl?"

"I wouldn't know."

"Don't lie to me. You'd know and so would you, Carl, if you
took the trouble to look. I can spot it—the way he stands, moves,
walks. The way he acts. Young? He's old enough to be her
father!"

"And so would make a better prize." Kemmer smiled as he
dealt a new round. "There is no fool like an old fool and I speak
from experience. But what are a few years between lovers? Age
brings experience and a certain degree of tolerance. Matched to
youth it can have a beneficial effect. Some cultures realize that.
On Richemann, for example, no girl is permitted to marry a man
less than twenty years older than herself and no man a woman
less than twenty years younger. That way all gain the benefit of
both worlds; when young you match with age, when old you
enjoy youth. Sometimes I think I will settle there."

"Why don't you?"

"The journey is long and I not too fond of unripe fruit."

"You degenerate swine!" Her words were hard but she smiled
as she spoke them and Dumarest knew she was joking. Knew too
that she and the trader had both found comfort in each other's
arms.

He said, "Have any of you made this journey before?"

"From Elgish to Fendris?" Kemmer shook his head. "Marta?
How about you, Carl?"

"Once—some time ago now." The mercenary frowned,
thinking, remembering. "It seemed shorter than this."

"Shorter? You think something is wrong?" Marta Caine was
genuinely afraid. They were in the Rift and in the Rift danger
was always close. "Maurice! Earl! Carl—are you sure?"

"No, how can I be?" He bridled beneath her urgency. "It was