"L. E. Modesitt - A House By Any Other Name" - читать интересную книгу автора (Modesitt L E)

"Our major customers would frown, unofficially, of course, upon our backing him directly. This way, we
got him set up on his own and get back a good and continuing return. Getting charters for minority
controlled banks is not that difficult. After the first bank, there was little or no risk to us." He smiled.

George did not. "Thank you, sir, very much."
He made it to the hotel in record time, despite the one way streets, grabbed his gear, disassembled the
portascreen, and checked out.

He left the Motor Pool car double parked at Stapleton International.

Greater Washington was as uncivil as ever. George had to wait an hour for a cab. His apartment defense
screen had shorted out. The electro burglars had taken the television, the stereophone, and two cartons
of Cokes. The books in his study had been dumped off the shelves.

George replaced the fused section of wiring, reset the screen, and put the books back on the shelf. He
reported the incident to the insurance agency, then to the police. The police scheduled their investigation
for 10:45 on the thirtieth.

George marched into the lobby, purchased an overpriced Vendaserve Coke, stomped back inside and
went to bed.

He opened the office door just as Mary was putting the Coke on his desk. He pulled the folder on
insurance premiums out of his overstuffed file drawer, then checked his Memoranda from James Boulin
Chartwell, III. There were only two. Both said, "Let Me Know." and were embellished with the normal
inanities about the Great American Economy.

Mary brought in a file. George shoved it into his overflowing In basket, and continued checking the
insurance premium schedules. He decided, once again, not to change his thousand dollar deductible to
five hundred dollar deductible. He wondered, then stuffed the file back in the drawer and tapped out a
number.

"Houseman Enterprises."

"This is George Graylin calling from Washington. Is Mr. Houseman in?"

She didn't say anything. The screen went blank momentarily.

George realized he hadn't played out the charade with the Federal operators to be denied a WAIT line.
He shrugged.

"Houseman."

"George Graylin here. From Washington. I wanted to congratulate you on Point Ultimate. I took a look
at it yesterday. Are all the other developments that beautiful?"

"I appreciate your interest, Dr. Graylin."

Houseman didn't like small talk. George approved.