The cloud maker by Patrick Woodhead
Author:Patrick Woodhead [Patrick Woodhead]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Policier
ISBN: 9781848091160
Published: 2009-09-22T09:09:40+00:00
Chapter 32
âAnother.â
A glass was slammed down on to the table top. With considerable effort René shifted his bulk forward on his chair, craning his neck so that his eyes were level with the diminutive Tibetan barmanâs.
âFill me up, Shamar.â
With laudable strength of character, the barman shook his head. Picking up the half-empty bottle of brandy, he placed it right at the back of the glass shelving over the bar.
âMr Falkus, I think you drink too much tonight.â
René shook his head wearily. He turned and focussed his bleary eyes on the Westerner sitting across the table from him.
âYou see that? Iâm not allowed into my own bar and now I canât even get a drink at this shit hole. Itâs worse than prison.â
Heâd started to raise himself to his feet, his bear-like chest expanding in the process, when his companion intervened.
âCome on, Shamar, the man needs a drink.â
From the top pocket of his khaki shirt, he pulled out a wad of grubby notes and peeled off three ten-yuan bills which he placed on the counter. The barman shrugged and turned away to reach for the brandy. âYou drink too much, Mr Falkus,â he repeated. âI sorry for you.â
René sat down heavily and his friend returned with the bottle.
âYeah, well, Iâm sorry. Youâre sorry. Weâre all sorry. Now I have to head off into the mountains to go and help the bastard Chinese find those boys. Iâve got to lead them right to them. And for what? Iâll tell you what. To save what I already fucking owned.â
Renéâs companion poured a shot of brandy into each glass and waited for the rant to continue.
âHave you any idea how much I hate the mountains? Those endless bloody paths and horrible leeches . . . size of your damnâ fingers. But whatâs really going to drive me crazy is having that son-of-a-bitch captain following me every step of the way. Heâll be like the worst leech of all, sitting on the underside of my balls.â
René shook his head, suddenly feeling very tired. He had spent two full days awake in the PSB headquarters and even a swift injection of alcohol wasnât doing much to lighten his mood. He had been released for a few hours to prepare his trekking equipment, with Anu being kept in the police cells to ensure he returned. But having made his way home, he had found his restaurant closed, official tape stretched across the front door and a policeman barring his way. Eventually he had phoned an old friend of his in the travel business whoâd agreed to lend him some equipment.
âYouâd think eight years here would count for something, wouldnât you?â he said, anger suddenly turning to melancholy. âYouâd think itâd give you some security, some foothold. But just like thatâ â René clicked his fingers â âthey can take it all away. Now Iâve got to betray the very people I wanted to help.â
âStop beating yourself up about it, René. It was their decision to go into the restricted area, and you shouldnât have to pay for their mistake.
Download
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.
Parents Assistant - Stories For Children by 4 (1817)(603)
Parents Assistant - Stories For Children by 6 (1800)(592)
Parents Assistant - Stories For Children by 2 (1817)(586)
Parents Assistant - Stories For Children by 1 (1800)(586)
Amityville 3-D by Gordon McGill(367)
An Italian Girl in Brooklyn by Santa Montefiore(359)
Flappy Investigates by Santa Montefiore(324)
Salomé: A Tragedy in One Act by Oscar Wilde(209)
All This Belongs to Me by Ad Hudler(202)
The Following Story by Cees Nooteboom(202)
Umney's Last Case by Sttephen King(195)
Trail Smoke by Ernest Haycox(190)
The Gioconda Smile by Aldous Huxley(188)
Singular Rebellion by Saiichi Maruya(188)
Evil Angels by Pascal Bruckner(180)
The Looney : an Irish fantasy by Milligan Spike 1918-2002(180)
The World of Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse(179)
Fabulous Harbours by Michael Moorcock(175)
Love in Another Town by Barbara Taylor Bradford(168)
