"William W Johnstone - Ashes 33 - Enemy in the Ashes (txt)" - читать интересную книгу автора (Johnstone William W)

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6 To Angus, a loyal friend and a gentle companion.

7
Claire Osterman drummed her fingers on her desk as her cold eyes roamed
over the men sitting in her office. She'd called a meeting of her
cabinet officers to discuss their current situation, and she wasn't
happy with the news they'd been giving her.

Herb Knoff, her bodyguard and sometime lover, sat on her left, as usual.
He was a large man with broad shoulders, coal-black hair, and a boyish
face that belied his violent and unforgiving nature. The other men
serving under Claire knew he was mean as a snake when riled, so they
tried their best never to make him angry.

Claire glanced at Herb, a scornful expression on her face. "Herb," she
asked in a low, dangerous voice, "can you believe this shit they're
giving me?"

Herb smirked, shaking his head. "No, ma'am," he answered, his eyes
narrow and flat.

Harley Millard, Claire's official second in command in the government,
even though he was a weak, mild-mannered man who was completely under
Claire's thumb, held up his hand. "Now, Claire," he protested in his
usual whining voice, "you asked us how things were. It's not our fault
the situation is so bad."

Wallace W. Cox, Claire's Minister of Finance, cleared his throat and
added, "That's right, Claire. Things could

8

be a lot worse. If Ben Raines and the troops from the SUSA hadn't
intervened and helped us defeat those Middle Eastern terrorists, we
could all be speaking Arabic now."