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The Stars My Destination ( Tiger! Tiger! ) :: Bester Alfred
Страница: 66 из 164Regis Sheffield rubbed his eyes and asked: «What was that lunacy supposed to be, Dagenham?»
«Disturbs your legal mind, eh? That was part ofthe cast of our FFCC operation. Fun, fantasy, confusion, and catastrophe.» Dagenham turned to Presteign and smiled his death's-head smile. «I'll return your fee if you like, Presteign.»
«You're not quitting?»
«No, I'm enjoying myself. I'll work for nothing. I've never tangled with a man of Foyle's caliber before. He's unique.»
«How?» Sheffield demanded.
«I arranged for him to escape from Goufire Martel. He escaped, all right, but not my way. I tried to keep him out of police hands with confusion and catastrophe. He ducked the police, but not my way . . . his own way. I tried to keep him out of Central Intelligence's hands with fun and fantasy. He stayed clear . . . again his own way. I tried to detour him into a ship so he could make his try for 'Nomad.' He wouldn't detour, but he got his ship. He's on his way out now.»
«You're following?»
«Naturally.» Dagenham hesitated. «But what was he doing in Baker's factory?»
«Plastic surgery?» Sheffield suggested. «A new face?»
«Not possible. Baker's good, but he can't do a plastic that quick. It was minor surgery. Foyle was on his feet with his head bandaged.»
«The tattoo,» Presteign said.
Dagenham nodded and the smile left his lips. «That's what's worrying me. You realize, Presteign, that if Baker removed the tattooing we'll never recognize Foyle?»
«My dear Dagenham, his face won't be changed.»
«We've never seen his face . . . only the mask.»
«I haven't met the man at all,» Sheffield said. «What's the mask like?»
«Like a tiger. I was with Foyle for two long sessions. I ought to know his face by heart, but I don't. All I know is the tattooing.»
«Ridiculous,» Sheffield said bluntly.
«No. Foyle has to be seen to be believed. However, it doesn't matter. He'll lead us out to 'Nomad.' He'll lead us to your bullion and PyrE~ Presteign. I'm almost sorry it's all over. Or nearly. As I said, I've been enjoying myself. He really is unique.»
CHAPTER SEVEN
THE SATURN WEEKENDER was built like a pleasure yacht; it was ample for four, spacious for two, but not spacious enough for Foyle and Jiz McQueei~ Foyle slept in the main cabin; Jiz kept to herself in the stateroom.
On the seventh day out, Jisbella spoke to Foyle for the second time: «Let’s get those bandages off, Ghoul.»
Foyle left the galley where he was sullenly heating coffee, and kicked back to the bathroom.
«Disturbs your legal mind, eh? That was part ofthe cast of our FFCC operation. Fun, fantasy, confusion, and catastrophe.» Dagenham turned to Presteign and smiled his death's-head smile. «I'll return your fee if you like, Presteign.»
«You're not quitting?»
«No, I'm enjoying myself. I'll work for nothing. I've never tangled with a man of Foyle's caliber before. He's unique.»
«How?» Sheffield demanded.
«I arranged for him to escape from Goufire Martel. He escaped, all right, but not my way. I tried to keep him out of police hands with confusion and catastrophe. He ducked the police, but not my way . . . his own way. I tried to keep him out of Central Intelligence's hands with fun and fantasy. He stayed clear . . . again his own way. I tried to detour him into a ship so he could make his try for 'Nomad.' He wouldn't detour, but he got his ship. He's on his way out now.»
«You're following?»
«Naturally.» Dagenham hesitated. «But what was he doing in Baker's factory?»
«Plastic surgery?» Sheffield suggested. «A new face?»
«Not possible. Baker's good, but he can't do a plastic that quick. It was minor surgery. Foyle was on his feet with his head bandaged.»
«The tattoo,» Presteign said.
Dagenham nodded and the smile left his lips. «That's what's worrying me. You realize, Presteign, that if Baker removed the tattooing we'll never recognize Foyle?»
«My dear Dagenham, his face won't be changed.»
«We've never seen his face . . . only the mask.»
«I haven't met the man at all,» Sheffield said. «What's the mask like?»
«Like a tiger. I was with Foyle for two long sessions. I ought to know his face by heart, but I don't. All I know is the tattooing.»
«Ridiculous,» Sheffield said bluntly.
«No. Foyle has to be seen to be believed. However, it doesn't matter. He'll lead us out to 'Nomad.' He'll lead us to your bullion and PyrE~ Presteign. I'm almost sorry it's all over. Or nearly. As I said, I've been enjoying myself. He really is unique.»
CHAPTER SEVEN
THE SATURN WEEKENDER was built like a pleasure yacht; it was ample for four, spacious for two, but not spacious enough for Foyle and Jiz McQueei~ Foyle slept in the main cabin; Jiz kept to herself in the stateroom.
On the seventh day out, Jisbella spoke to Foyle for the second time: «Let’s get those bandages off, Ghoul.»
Foyle left the galley where he was sullenly heating coffee, and kicked back to the bathroom.