Читать книгу The Grand Dark онлайн | страница 78

“You can’t speak for everyone. They’re not all here,” Margit said.

“To hell with this,” Pietr said. He snatched the parcel from Margit, pulled out a stiletto, and cut open the wrappings. There were six large jars inside, each one a different color. The big man pulled one out and showed it to Margit. “Ink,” he said.

“Yes. I can see,” said Margit. “It has to be one of the others. We do need more ink.”

“I don’t like it,” growled the jaundiced man. “Maybe we should keep him here until everyone arrives.”

“I’m telling you, Pietr, Largo is no one to worry about,” said Margit. She turned to Largo. “You should go now. Please don’t tell Branca you saw me.”

“Of course not,” said Largo. “I take it you’re not here making a delivery, are you?”

Margit gave him a thin smile. “Hardly,” she said. She reached into a pocket of her coat and pressed a bottle into Largo’s hand. “Forget what you’ve seen here. All right?”

“But I have to tell Herr Branca something. And someone needs to sign for the package.”

Pietr and some of the other unseen people laughed. The big man took Largo’s receipt book, scrawled something in it, and shoved it back into Largo’s hands. Margit said, “That should be enough for the old bear.”

Largo looked at the signature. It was an indecipherable scrawl of loops and slashes. “It looks fine,” he said. “But what are you doing here?”

“None of your business,” a voice yelled from the back, while at the same time the jaundiced man said, “Trying to educate fools like you.”

“I don’t understand.”

Pietr disappeared for a moment and—after what seemed like a whispered argument with whoever else was inside—came back with a piece of paper. He thrust it into Largo’s hand. The ink was still tacky and some smeared on Largo’s fingers. There was a small target symbol in the bottom right corner. “Here,” said the big man. “Now the audience is over.” He started to close the door, but Margit caught it.

“I’ll talk to you later,” she said. “By the gate. After work.”

“I’ll see you there,” Largo said, still confused by the scene.