Citizen in Spase. Stories / Гражданин в Космосе. Рассказы. Книга для чтения на английском языке

What if he failed to find a Mirash? What if the Mirash found him first?

But that couldn’t happen, he assured himself. In a pinch, he could always gestibulize. Who would ever know?

In another moment he picked up a faint trace of Mirash scent. And then he saw a slight movement about twenty yards away, near a curious T-shaped formation of rock.

Was it really going to be this easy? How nice! Quietly he adopted an appropriate camouflage and edged forward.

* * *

The mountain trail became steeper, and the sun beat harshly down.

Paxton was sweating, even in his air-conditioned coverall. And he was heartily sick of being a good sport.

“Just when are we leaving this place?” he asked.

Herrera slapped him genially on the shoulder. “Don’t you wanna get rich?”

“We’re rich already,” Paxton said.

“But not rich enough,” Herrera told him, his long brown face creasing into a brilliant grin.

Stellman came up, puffing under the weight of his testing equipment. He set it carefully on the path and sat down.

“You gentlemen interested in a short breather?” he asked.

“Why not?” Herrera said. “All the time in the world.” He sat down with his back against a T-shaped formation of rock.

Stellman lighted a pipe and Herrera found a cigar in the zippered pocket of his coverall. Paxton watched them for a while. Then he asked, “Well, when are we getting off this planet? Or do we set up permanent residence?”

Herrera just grinned and scratched a light for his cigar.

“Well, how about it?” Paxton shouted.

“Relax, you’re outvoted,” Stellman said. “We formed this company as three equal partners.”

“All using my money,” Paxton said.

“Of course. That’s why we took you in. Herrera had the practical mining experience. I had the theoretical knowledge and a pilot’s license. You had the money.”

“But we’ve got plenty of stuff on board now,” Paxton said. “The storage compartments are completely filled.

Why can’t we go to some civilized place now and start spending?”

“Herrera and I don’t have your aristocratic attitude toward wealth,” Stellman said with exaggerated patience. “Herrera and I have the childish desire to fill every nook and cranny[13 - every nook and cranny – все углы и закоулки] with treasure. Gold nuggets in the fuel tanks, emeralds in the flour cans, diamonds a foot deep on deck. And this is just the place for it.