Тридцять дев’ять ступенів
Chapter 1
Ifyou’regoingtobekilledyouinventsomekindofflagandcountrytofightfor,andifyousurviveyougettolovethething.Thosefoolishdevilsofsoldiershavefoundsomethingtheycarefor,andthathasupsettheprettyplanlaidinBerlinandVienna.Butmyfriendshaven’tplayedtheirlastcardbyalongsight.They’vegottentheaceuptheirsleeves,andunlessIcankeepaliveforamonththeyaregoingtoplayitandwin.”
“ButIthoughtyouweredead,”Iputin.
“Morsjanuavitæ,”hesmiled.(Irecognizedthequotation:itwasaboutalltheLatinIknew.)“I’mcomingtothat,butI’vegottoputyouwiseaboutalotofthingsfirst.Ifyoureadyournewspaper,IguessyouknowthenameofConstantineKarolides?”
Isatupatthat,forIhadbeenreadingabouthimthatveryafternoon.
“Heisthemanthathaswreckedalltheirgames.Heistheonebigbraininthewholeshow,andhehappensalsotobeanhonestman.Thereforehehasbeenmarkeddownthesetwelvemonthspast.Ifoundthatout—notthatitwasdifficult,foranyfoolcouldguessasmuch.ButIfoundoutthewaytheyweregoingtogethim,andthatknowledgewasdeadly.That’swhyIhavehadtodecease.”
Hehadanotherdrink,andImixeditforhimmyself,forIwasgettinginterestedinthebeggar.
“Theycan’tgethiminhisownland,forhehasabodyguardofEpirotesthatwouldskintheirgrandmothers.Butonthe15thdayofJuneheiscomingtothiscity.
