"Ann Maxwell - Change" - читать интересную книгу автора (Maxwell Ann)

/* /*]]*/

Scanned by Highroller.

Proofed more or less by Highroller.

Made prettier by use of EBook Design Group Stylesheet.

Change by Ann Maxwell
Chapter One
"Selena Christian, stand and face the court." With neither haste nor reluctance, Selena rose from her chair
at the defense table and faced the court. It was the third week of her trial, and her lawyer was sweating
with eagerness to be rid of her. Contempt for him, and for the curious, seething mass of spectators
straightened her shoulders. Her golden eyes flashed in the sudden blaze of light as holo crews switched
on their machines to record every twitch for posterity -Treason, sedition, conspiracy, the list of charges
seemed as endless as a dark street on a lonely night. When she heard the word "witchcraft" she barely
suppressed a laugh. Were she a witch, she would have conjured herself the hell out of here, leaving a trail
of snakes and mice. Her so-called lawyer would be no trick; Molls was already two-thirds mouse. The
rest was pure rat.

And the prosecutor… An unpleasant smile distorted Selena's lips. For a searing instant she craved the
malevolent powers implied in the charges. Then Mark Curien would suffer as few men had.

As though sensing her hostility, the prosecutor turned his attention to her. His face and body gave away
nothing when he looked at her. His eyes did not linger on her lustrous dark hair or the finely turned curves
of her body, nor did they approve of her tautly restrained energy as they once had. Now, it was as
though a computer had scanned her and said, yes, this human is Selena Christian.

"Sit down, Selena," whispered her lawyer urgently. "And don't stare at anyone, especially Mr. Curien."

Selena leaned away from Molls, but sat down as directed. "Does it matter?" she said very softly. "I'm
dead whether I stare or shut my eyes."

"You ought to know. You helped Curien write the death warrant."

Anger tightened Selena's hands into claws. "Let go, little man. I've had enough shrill from you. We agree
that Curien is a snake and I'm a bird-mind; not let it be. I'm paying the charge."

"On the contrary," he whispered. "The Minority is paying. We would have had the Humanistos where it
grows close. They would have been powerless, humiliated, defeated. World Government would have
been rid of them. But no; you had to…"

Selena's look shut off Molls' invective just as the judge called for the first in the daily parade of witnesses.
Without interest, Selena recognized the government agent who had arrested her. He identified her for the
court.

His voice reminded her of that night—how many months ago?—when she took the payoff to Nado's
drop. Nado, long may he writhe, was an Ear. If any parans were around and using their talents, he'd find
them. And if the parans weren't registered, Nado blackmailed them. Not too much. He left you enough
to survive, if you didn't mind starving.