"Frank Herbert - The Green Brain" - читать интересную книгу автора (Herbert Brian & Frank)

Martinho.
The bandeirante studied Rhin with a brief flicker, shifted to meet Chen-Lhu's eyes. Chen-
Lhu nodded.
 Several women like gauze butterflies had joined Martinho's group. Eye makeup made
them appear to be staring from faceted pits. Martinho disengaged himself, headed for the
table of amber smoke. He stopped across from Rhin, bowed to Chen-Lhu. 'Dr Chen-Lhu, I
presume,' he said. 'What a delight. How can the I.E.O. spare its district director for such
dalliance?' The wave of an arm encompassed A'Chigua's frenetic tensions.
And Martinho thought: There - I've spoken my thoughts in a way this devious man will
understand.
'I indulge myself,' Chen-Lhu said. 'A small bit of relaxation to welcome a newcomer to
our staff.' He arose from the divan, looked down at Rhin. 'Rhin, I'd like you to meet Senhor
Joao Martinho. Johnny, this is Dr Rhin Kelly, late of Dublin, a new entomologist in our office.'
And Chen-Lhu thought: This is the enemy. Make no mistake. This is the enemy. This is
the enemy. This is the enemy. Martinho bowed from the hips. 'Charmed.'
'It's an honor to meet you, Senhor Martinho,' she said. 'I've heard of your exploits ...
even in Dublin.'
'Even in Dublin,' he murmured. 'I was favored, but never so much favored as in this
instant.' He stared at her with disconcerting intensity, wondering what special duties this
woman might have. Was she Chen-Lhu's mistress?
Into the sudden silence came the voice of a woman at the table behind Rhin: 'Snakes and
rodents are increasing their pressures on civilisation. It says so in the ... ' Someone shushed
her.
Martinho said, 'Travis, I do not understand it. How can one call such a beautiful woman
Doctor?'
Chen-Lhu forced a chuckle. 'Careful, Johnny. Dr Kelly is my new field director.'
'A roving director, I hope,' Martinho said. Rhin stared at him coolly, but it was an
assumed coolness. She found his directness exciting and frightening. 'I've been warned
about Latin blandishments,' she said. 'You've all hidden a piece of the blarney stone in your
family trees, so I've been told.'
Her voice had taken on a rich throatiness which made Chen-Lhu smile to himself.
Remember - this is the enemy, he thought. 'Will you join us, Johnny?' he asked.
'You save me from forcing myself upon you,' Martinho said. 'But you know I've some of
my Irmandades with me?'
'They appear to be occupied,' Chen-Lhu said. He nodded toward the entrance, where a
cluster of the gauzy women had enfolded all but one of Martinho's companions. Women and
bandeirantes were finding seats at a large blue-vent table in a corner.
The lone holdout shifted his attention from Martinho to his companions at the table, back
to Martinho.
Rhin studied the man: ash-gray hair, a long young-old face marred by an acid scar on the
left cheek. He reminded her of the sexton in her Wexford church.
'Ah, that is Vierho,' Martinho said. 'We call him the Padre. At the moment, he is
undecided who to protect - our brothers of the Irmandades over there or myself. Me, I think
I need him most.' He beckoned to Vierho, turned, sat down beside Rhin.
A waiter appeared, slipped a translucent bulb containing a golden drink on to the table in
front of him. A glass tube protruded from the bulb. He ignored it, stared at Rhin.
'Are the Irish ready to join us?' he asked.
 'Join you?'
'In realignment of the world's insects.'
She glanced at Chen-Lhu, whose face betrayed no reaction to the question, returned her