"Miller,.Steve.And.Lee,.Sharon.-.Liaden.Universe.01.-.Conflict.Of.Honors.v1.1" - читать интересную книгу автора (Miller Steve)

She withdrew her hand carefully. "You're very generous," she
murmured, "but I'm not—"

The second recaptured her hand. "Think it over. Got plenty of
time." She squeezed the hand until she heard knuckles crack and
then released it. "Nice, long fingers. You ought to wear rings." She
smiled again, tipping her own hand so that light glittered sullenly
across the dirty gems worn three deep on each fat finger. "I'll buy
you a ring," she finished softly, "after our Hundred Hours."

Priscilla drew a deep breath, trying to drown a sudden, flaring urge
to mayhem. She stood.

"Going so soon?"

The cargo master nodded. "Those calculations are going to take
awhile." She fled the mess hall.

A ring! Holy Mother! Priscilla became aware that she was breathing
hard, nearly running down the lowering corridor. She slowed, willed
her hands to unclench at her side, and continued with outward
serenity toward her quarters.

Inwardly she still raged. Day after day of the second's pursuit was
bad enough, though at least she could be put off with excuses, but
only this past shift had First Mate Pimm tel'Jadis come to her in the
master's cubicle, and the less thought of that encounter the better.

Caught between the two of them, powerful as they were, with
neither the Trader nor the captain willing to take the part of a Terran
against a Liaden, or of one Terran against another… Priscilla
slapped the palmplate and thumbed the light switch to HIGH
before entering her tiny cabin.

The room was empty.

Of course, she jeered at herself, stepping in and locking the door.
She leaned her head against the door frame and closed her eyes
briefly. Stress, poor food, little sleep—she was getting nervous,
fanciful. Surely the first mate would not secret himself in her cabin
and wait to surprise her.

Not yet.

"Damn!" she said violently. She moved to the cramped 'fresher
cubicle. Stripping off her clothes, she shoved them into the
cleanbot and twisted the dial to

SUPERCLEAN. More carefully, she removed the silver and opal
drops from her ears and put them on the shelf under the short