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

The click was the only indication that the faceless secretary was no longer behind the blank screen.

George threw the combosuiter on the bed and thumbed it open. He hung up the two suits, washed his
face, combed his hair, and wandered down to the coffee shop. He had a Coke and a yeastburger at the
counter. Thirteen other business types were slumped around, and the one waitress and the blank faced
busboy jerked from table to table to counter.

George picked up a copy of The3, Denver Post on the way back to his room.

The portascreen was still buzzing happily. George double locked the door and sandwiched the desk chair
under the knob. He tossed the dark gray suit into the laundry section of the combosuiter, then dumped it
onto the floor. He stretched out on the bed with the paper. After three pages he felt sleepy.

He woke at eight, the bedside light glaring into his face.

There was enough time to shower, shave, and dress.

He ambled down to the coffee shop for a Coke and a cinnayeast. George finished in time to call
Houseman's office at five past nine. Ten was fine with Mr. Houseman.

The junior staff economist to the Senior Member of The Council of Economic Advisers managed to
mangle the city map and his digestion in finding the builder's office. He arrived at ten ten.

George took three deep breaths before going in.

"May I help you?" Her voice was pleasant. George admired the modified Afro.

"Yes. George Graylin from the Council of Economic Advisers. I have a ten o'clock appointment."

"Go right on in. He'll be with you in a minute."
George sat down in a black leather and chrome chair. The office was spartan. There was an engineering
diploma to Theron Oliver Houseman on one side wall. George could see why Houseman used his initials.

"Dr. Graylin?" Houseman was short, wiry, and black. His hair was clipped. Other than the long side
burns, he was clean shaven.

"George, just George, Mr, Houseman."

"Call me Tod. I'm just a carpenter with a degree. What do you have in'mind?"

"I really don't know, exactly. Somehow, an economic phenomenon we're investigating seems to be
connected... oh, hell, there I go getting tied up in the language again."

"Briefly, your project seems to have something to do with an increased number of Housing Starts in the
Denver area as well as an increased unemployment rate." George felt that he shouldn't have to step
lightly, but... feeling wasn't always correct.

Tod Houseman surveyed George. Then he laughed, explosively.

"You take some straight talk, George?"