Читать книгу The Grand Dark онлайн | страница 77

“Who are you?” he said in a deep, rasping voice. “I haven’t seen you in the Palace before.” The big man wiped sweat from his face with a green bandanna that hung loosely around his neck. His shirt was soaked through and there were large patches of glistening red on the front. To Largo he looked like a thief preparing stolen meat to sell on the black market. But who would run a butcher shop this far out, even if it is a crooked one?

Largo stood up straighter and held out the parcel. “I have a delivery for this address,” he said. The room behind the jaundiced man looked empty except for the angular shadow of something distinctly machinelike on the back wall.

The man’s eyes narrowed. “I’m not expecting anything,” he said. Turning, he shouted into the room, “Is anyone expecting a package?”

To Largo’s surprise, several voices answered at once, men and women. A woman’s voice said, “Who’s it from?”

The big man gestured at him. “Who’s it from?”

Largo said, “I’m sorry, but there’s no return address.”

Footsteps echoed as someone else came to the door. A woman said, “Let me see,” and pushed the big man out of the way.

Largo leaned forward when he saw her, surprised.

“Margit?” he said.

She froze and stared at him. Her voice was angry. “What the hell are you doing here? I told you I’d see you at lunch.”

“I know, I know. I’m here because of the parcel.” He held it up, as if it were all the explanation needed.

“You know this whelp?” said the jaundiced man.

Margit patted him on the arm. “It’s all right, Pietr. Largo is a friend from work.”

“One of your customers, I suppose? An addict?”

“No—shut up. Look at him. He just uses for fun, like a lot of people. Isn’t that right, Largo?”

“Yes,” he said quickly. “Just for fun.” But he was already feeling a chill from the lack of morphia.

“What’s he doing here?” said Pietr, menace creeping into his voice.

Margit took the parcel from Largo’s hands and looked it over. “This is the right address. Someone must have sent for it.”

“That’s madness,” said a man Largo couldn’t see. “No one would do that.”