"Norton, Andre - Redline the stars" - читать интересную книгу автора (Norton Andre)

prospects."

"Spill it, then," Jellico snapped. Far be it from him to

begrudge his friend the pleasure of dazzling them all with
yet another of his miracles, but when the welfare of his
ship was concerned, he preferred to be kept informed . . .
Van Rycke's eyes sparkled. "In due time. Captain." He
sobered immediately. "We have a potential buyer for the

Wrack."

"What! -- Why in space . . ."

"She only contacted me a few minutes ago. I was on my
way to tell you when you called assembly."

"What's the offer?" Miceal demanded. "And who's the
buyer?" He could not recall any likely immediate pros-
pects. Trewsworld's government was the most logical can-
didate, but the colony planet lacked the trained personnel
to crew a starship, and hiring the needed people would be
an expensive proposition. They were figuring on long and
careful negotiations to convince the on-woriders of the

eventual wisdom of such a move.

"None other than Rael Cofort, acting on behalf of her

illustrious brother, of course."

If the Cargo-Master had been looking to provoke a reac-
tion from his comrades, he succeeded admirably. Teague
Cofort had made so many incredible strikes in what was
not a terribly long career that he was a legend throughout
Trade. When he moved on anything, it was inevitably with

purpose.

Cofort enjoyed the luxury of choice in the charters he

took on or even considered, and his interest in this was
confirmation of the strong base the Queen had laid down

Redllne the Stars 13

here, coming in as she had at the very opening of regular
commerce between the two planets of Trewsworld and
Riginni, and, indeed, in initiating it. Whatever his reasons