JК
The Stars My Destination ( Tiger! Tiger! ) :: Bester Alfred
Страница: 49 из 164«What do you want, Dagenham?»
«There's been a change,» Dagenham said dryly. «Last time we talked your dialogue consisted entirely of 'Go to hell.'»
«Go to hell, Dagenham, if it'll make you feel any better.»
«Your repartee's improved; your speech, too. You've changed,» Dagenham said. «Changed a damned sight too much and a damned sight too fast. I don't like it. What's happened to you?»
«I've been going to night school.»
«You've had ten months in this night school.»
«Ten months!» Foyle echoed in amazement. «That long?»
«Ten months without sight and without sound. Ten months in solitary. You ought to be broke.»
«Oh, I'm broke, all right.»
«You ought to be whining. I was right. You're unusual. At this rate it's going to take too long. We can't wait. I'd like to make a new offer.»
«Make it.»
«Ten per cent of 'Nomad's' bullion. Two million.»
«Two million!» Foyle exclaimed. «Why didn't you offer that in the first I place?»
«Because I didn't know your caliber. Is it a deal?»
«Almost. Not yet.»
«What else?»
«I get out of Gouffre Martel.»
«Naturally.»
«And someone else, too.»
«It can be arranged.» Dagenham's voice sharpened. «Anything else?»
«I get access to Presteign's files.»
«Out of the question. Are you insane? Be reasonable.»
«His shipping files.»
«What for?»
«A list of personnel aboard one of his ships.»
«Oh.» Dagenham's eagerness revived. «That, I can arrange. Anything else?»
«Then it's a deal.» Dagenham was delighted. The ghostly blur of light arose from its chair. «We'll have you out in six hours. We'll start arrangements for your friend at once. It's a pity we wasted this time, but no one can figure you, Foyle.»
«Why didn't you send in a telepath to work me over?»
«A telepath? Be reasonable, Foyle. There aren't ten full telepaths in all the Inner Planets. Their time is earmarked for the next ten years. We couldn't persuade one to interrupt his schedule for love or money.»
«I apologize, Dagenham. I thought you didn't know your business.»
«You very nearly hurt my feelings.»
«Now I know you're just lying.»
«You're flattering me.»
«You could have hired a telepath. For a cut in twenty million you could:
have hired one easy.»
«The government would never…”
«They don't all work for the government. No.