"Vance, Jack - Gaean Reach - Demon Princes 02 - The Killing Machine" - читать интересную книгу автора (Vance Jack)

want more money."

Zaum made a peevish complaint or two. "Now as to definite
arrangements: when can you leave?"

"Tomorrow."

"You still keep your spacecraft?"

"If you call the Model 9B Locater a spacecraft."

"It gets you there and back, and it's suitably inconspicuous.
Where is it docked?"

"At Avente Spaceport, Area C, Bay 10."

Zaum made a note. "Tomorrow go to your spaceship, make
departure. The ship will be provisioned and fueled- The monitor
will be coded to Bad World. You will find a folder with information
regarding Mr. Hoskins in your Star Directory. You need only per-
sonal effects-weapons and the like."

"How long am I to search Bad World?"

Zaum heaved a deep sigh. "I wish I could tell you. I wish I
knew what was going on. ... If you don't find him within a month
after arrival, it's probably too late. If we only knew for sure where
he was going, what were his motivations. .. ."

"I gather he's not a known criminal then."

"No. He's lived a long, useful life. Then he was approached by
a man named Seuman Otwal, who we suspect to be an agent of
Kokor Hekkus. Mr. Hoskins, according to his wife, thereupon
seemed to go to pieces."

"Extortion? Blackmail?"

"In these circumstances-impossible."

Gersen was able to elicit no more information.

Arriving at Avente Spaceport somewhat before noon of the fol-
lowing day, Gersen found matters as Zaum had stated. Boarding
the spartan little spacecraft, he went first to the Star Directory,
where he found a manila envelope containing photographs, plus a
printed description. Mr. Hoskins was shown in various costumes,
headgear, and skin-toning. He appeared a man in his late maturity,

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