World's End (Joan D. Vinge) читать бесплатно онлайн полную версию книги (ч. 142)

Page 185

His intercom bleeped loudly in the silence "Inspector?"

He turned back from the window, startled His sudden movement swept the antique watch from the windowsill onto the floor His heel came down before he could stop it, crushing the gold case, the jeweled animal faces, the fragile works within

Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html

He lifted his foot, crouched down, picking up the pieces as gently as though he were lifting an injured child He placed the watch on the sill again, and stood over it, looking down His mouth trembled

"Inspector Gundhalinu? Sir, we ought to be leaving for the ceremony--"

He began to laugh, and went on laughing, helplessly What miracles we are, he thought, and what fools

230

Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html