"Simon R. Green - Deathstalker - 3 - Deathstalker War" - читать интересную книгу автора (Green Simon R)

features a calm, aesthetic air, but her ice-blue eyes were killer's eyes. Just looking at her
made Owen want to back away slowly and very carefully, doing absolutely nothing that
might upset her. He knew about Investigator Topaz. Everyone did. She was a Siren, the
only esper ever to be made an Investigator. When she decided to leave the Empire and
head for Mistworld, the Empress sent a whole company of Guards after her. Five
hundred men. Topaz killed them all with a single song, her voice and esp combining
into a deadly force that could not be stopped or turned aside.
In Mistport, she was officially just a Sergeant of the city Watch, but she kept her
Investigator's title. Mostly because no one was stupid enough to argue the point with
her. In a city full of dangerous and desperate people, no one messed with Investigator
Topaz. Having met her, Owen could understand why. Without looking round, he could
feel Hazel stirring at his side, like a junkyard dog scenting a rival, and Owen decided to
get things started before they had a chance to get seriously out of hand.
"Director Steel and Investigator Topaz," he said smoothly. "So good of you to come
and meet us in person at such an early hour. May I present—"
"We know who you are," said Steel. "And if you weren't official representatives of the
Golgotha underground, you'd never have been allowed to land. You're troublemakers,
and the last thing Mistport needs right now is more trouble. And for your information
we haven't got up early; we haven't been to bed yet. Since Typhoid Mary and the esper
plague, those of us who survived have been working double shifts just trying to get
things back together again. And I haven't forgotten the mess you stirred up the last time
you honored us with a visit, Deathstalker. I should bill you for the damage."
"Given the size of the docking fees, I thought you already had," said Owen, completely
unruffled.
"And before you ask," said Hazel, "no, you don't get your usual unofficial ten percent
cut of the cargo we're carrying. Feel free to argue the point. And I'll feel free to cut you
off at the knees. Possibly quite literally."
"Don't mind her," said Owen. "She's just being herself. If I might inquire, since we're so
persona non grata, what brings you here at all? Politeness to the underground?"

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Simon R. Green - Deathstalker 03 - Deathstalker War



"No," said Topaz, her voice as cold as the grave. "We just wanted a look at the
legendary Jack Random."
Random flashed them his winning smile and bowed formally. "Delighted to make your
acquaintances, Investigator and Director. Rest assured, I shall do everything in my
power to see that our business is carried out quietly and quickly, with the minimum of
disturbance to all concerned. But I make no secret of my intention to bring Mistworld
into the underground, and the central path of the rebellion. You've been left alone in the
cold too long. It's time for us all to stand together, and take the fight to the Empire."
"Great," said Steel, entirely unmoved. "Another bloody hero. We get a lot through here.
They come and they go, and nothing ever changes."
"Ah," said Random, grinning broadly. "But they're not Jack Random."
To Owen's surprise, Steel grinned back. Jenny Psycho stepped forward suddenly. "In
case anyone's forgotten, I'm still here," she said loudly. "I represent the Mater Mundi,
Our Mother of All Souls."
"Congratulations," said Topaz. "You're the tenth this month. It's the most common