"Michael McCollum - Thunderstrike" - читать интересную книгу автора (McCollum Michael)

“They said they would. Still, with them that doesn’t always mean much.”

“If they’ve messed up this time, I’m going to ask permission to go to Luna City and rearrange some
skulls.”

“You’ll have to stand in line. Doing anything tonight?”

There was something in Grayson’s tone that caused Amber to regard her supervisor with suspicion. The
question had been almost too casual. “Not a thing. Why?”

“I thought you might want to come over to the apartment for dinner. Margaret was saying just the other
day that she hasn’t seen you in weeks.”

“We saw each other in the gym not two days ago.”

“That must have been after she made the comment.”

“Come on, Niels, I know you. You have an ulterior motive. Who else is going to be there?”
“We do have a VIP coming in on the rolligon,” he said, gesturing at the screen. “I thought I’d have him
over as well.”

“Who is he? University brass?”

“Worse.”

“Government!”

He nodded. “Auditor from the Office of Scientific Appropriations. He’s here to see that we aren’t
wasting the Republic’s money.”

“Surely they aren’t talking about cutting our budget again!”

“Could be.”

“But they can’t! We are operating shorthanded as it is. Next thing you know, we’ll have to go on double
shifts.”

“I don’t think it will gothat far,” Grayson replied. “Still, the director has asked me to entertain our guest.
Maybe it will soften his report if we treat him nice. How about being a fourth for a few games of
bridge?”

“I don’t know, Niels. The last time I played hostess for you, that astronomer from Australasia kept trying
to paw me all evening.”

“This won’t be like that. It is just a quiet dinner party with a few hands of bridge afterward. Director
Meinz has it straight from the chancellor that our visitor is a fanatic for the game. You’re the best player
on the staff, and we can’t very well play three handed.”

“Right. What time do you want me there?”