"Zach Hughes - Mother Lode" - читать интересную книгу автора (Hughes Zach)

have your check ready for you, Captain," he said.

"Good," Erin said. "How much?"

"Well, I have some bad news for you," he said. "When we put the ore
through the refining process, we discovered that most of the gold content
was of very low purity. Lots of contaminants, you know. It lowered the
yield and increased refining costs. If you'll check your contract, you'll see
that the standard ten percent charge is increased to twenty percent if
there are certain impurities. However, the good news is that you have just
over four-hundred-thousand credits worth, even if it wasn't pure stuff."

"Bullshit," Erin said. She switched off.

She dressed to go out. Mop was dancing, thinking that he was going to
get to go. When she told him that he had to stay and guard the ship, he
went into Erin's cabin and sulked, refusing to come out to say good-bye.
She checked a town directory, hailed an aircab, gave the driver an
address.

It took a half hour for the assay office, licensed by the Haven
government and the United Planets Department of Mining and Heavy
Metals, to tell her that her gold samples were of very high purity, just a
few points less than refinery pure. She had saved back the pretty little
lightning bolt in gold that she had removed from its matrix rock and one
nugget that she had selected at random. She went next to the Haven office
of X&A and, after showing her discharge card, was immediately escorted
into the office of an overweight X&A planetside commando wearing the
leaves of a colonel.

"Ah, Lieutenant Kenner," he said, offering his hand, "you're a bit late,
but I think we can waive the six month limit on separation from the
service and get you your old rank and position back within one year."

"Thanks," Erin said. "That's not why I'm here."
 The colonel's face fell. "Well, have a seat," he said. "What can I do for
you?"

"Colonel," she said, "for years, ever since I entered the Academy, I've
been told that the Service always looks after its own."

"That is very true," he said.

"I'm not sure, but I think I'm getting a royal screwing here on this
wonderful little planet."

He raised his eyebrows, but not because of her language. Spacers were,
he knew, an elitist bunch and they liked to show their toughness with
shock talk.