Таинственная история Билли Миллигана

           ItwasalargeVictorianmansion,thicklycarpetedanddecoratedinasimplemodemstylewithpaintingsandobjectsdart.FoleyshowedRagenaroundthehouse,obviouslyproudofhispossessions.Thenheledhimtothebarinthedenandpouredhimavodka.

           "Now,Mr.Milligan—"

           "PeoplecallmeBilly,"Ragensaid."IdonotlikenameMilligan."

           "Iunderstand.Iimagineitsnotyourrealname.Allright,Billy,Icanuseamanlikeyou—fast,intelligent,stronganddamnedgoodwithagun.Ineedsomeonewhocanrideshotgunforme."

           "Vatis‘rideshotgun?"

           "I’mintheshippingbusiness,andmydriversneedprotection."

           Ragennodded,feelingthewarmingeffectofthevodkainhischest."Iamprotector,"hesaid.

           ‘‘Good.I’llneedanumberwhereIcanreachyou.Adayortwobeforeeachdelivery,you’llsleephere.Wehavelotsofrooms.Youwon’tknowwhat’sbeingshippedorwhereuntilyou’reontheroadwiththedriver.Thatwaytherewillbelesschanceofaleak."

           "Issoundverygood,"Ragensaid,yawning.OnthewaybacktoLancaster,RagensleptwhileAllendrovehome,wonderingwherehehadbeenandwhathe’dbeendoing.

           Intheweeksthatfollowed,RagenrodeshotgunfordeliveriesofnarcoticstovariousdealersandcustomersinandaroundColumbus.