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Page 66 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html but he had a breakdown. Supposedly he ended up Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html on the streets here in Frisco. Since you're in charge of the Street Life Division of the S-F Police, Vince, I'm hoping you can--" "Belarski, sure." Mok nodded. "Yeah, I know the professor. He likes to lecture people about the meaning of life and what morality is. Not surprisingly, most people don't want to hear about any of that and Belarski gets beaten up every now and then." He slowed, grew thoughtful, studied Jake. "What sort of case are you working on for Cosmos?" "Started as a simple investigation into the causes of Kurt Winter death, but--" "He was a putz." "True," agreed Jake. "The point is, Vince, this is starting to look as though it's tied in with your plague." "I just heard your wife has it. I'm sorry about--" "Exwife." "Really? I didn't know. When did that happen?" "While I was away. Any idea where I can find the professor?" Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html A sky ambulance went roaring by low overhead, siren howling. "Must be another plague victim." Mok pointed at the flying ambulance with his thumb. "Any idea what's behind the plague?" "It's manmade. But what the motive for turning it loose on us is, I don't know. And so far, nobody's popped up to take credit," said the policeman. "Before Belarski went totally honkers and became a sidewalk philosopher--he was working on biological weapons, wasn't he?" "Yep, as an associate of Dr. Gordon Chesterton." "Ah, the noted wife killer Well, at least we don't have to worry about Chesterton, since he's safely on ice up in the Freezer and won't be out again until we're all old and grey." Mok paused. "The professor wanders around a lot, but in the past few weeks he's been living over in the Ruins." "The Ruins?" "Happened while you weren't around, I guess. An aftereffect of the Big Quake of 2117. Most of the Tenderloin area just toppled over," Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html explained Mok. "What with one thing and another, having to do with budget and Page 67 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html insurance problems, the city fathers and mothers haven't gotten around to rebuilding. It's possible nobody will get around to it for years to come. Meantime large quantities , of homeless drifters, smalltime crooks, louts and loons have taken to: squatting there." "Do you police them?" "A little, though mostly we simply try to make sure they don't come charging out of there to annoy our decent citizens. At last count, by the way, we had something around twenty-six decent citizens left in our fair city. You figure Belarski is tangled up with this plague in some way?" "I sure want to talk to him about that possibility." "Let me know what the guy has to say--providing any of it comes out coherent." Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html "Come along with me if you want. I could use a guide." "No, when the denizens of the Ruins spot me, it usually inspires them to fling brickbats and assorted other samples of architecture. Despite my elegant appearance and winning ways, I'm not especially popular over there." "Hard to believe." Mok asked, "You have a kid, don't you?" "One, yes." "Boy or girl?" "Boy, fifteen." "Where is he?" "Right now he's at the Marina Hospital, too. In Observation. There's a possibility he may develop what Kate's got." "That's not good," he said, shaking his head. "How do you two get along?" After a few seconds Jake answered, "just great." 9 7 ,"-, 17 "', Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html he Ruins stretched across ten square blocks. Jake entered the tumbledown area just as the day was starting to fade, making his way along what had once been Mason Street. There was now only a narrow twisty path zigzagging through enormous mounds of rubble. Piles that mingled bricks, shattered timbers, twists of metal rods, jagged fragments of plastiglass rose up all around. Here and there portions of walls still stood, with a few windows and doors still in place. The twilight brought a chill wind with it, wisps and tatters of fog were Page 68 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html beginning to drift across the Ruins. Jake saw a scatter of lights, portable electro lamps mostly, and a few cook fires In the gaping doorway of what was left of a liquor shop two thin women in ragged dresses were struggling with each other, punching and cursing. Sprawled at their feet was a de adman in a tattered raincoat. "I saw him first," insisted one of the women as she jabbed the other, hard, in the ribs. "Bullshit, honey. I did." "He's mine. Whatever he's got on him is mine." [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ] |