"Norton, Andre - Solar Queen 02 - Plague Ship" - читать интересную книгу автора (Norton Andre)

Jellico, with Van Rycke at his shoulder, halted before he stepped from the ramp so that the three Inter-
Solar men, Captain, Cargo-master and escort, whether they wished or no, were put in the disadvantageous
position of having to look up to a Captain whom they, as members of one of the powerful Companies,
affected to despise. The lean, well muscled, trim figure of the Queen's commander gave the impression of
hard bitten force held in check by will control, just as his face under its thick layer of space burn was that
of an adventurer accustomed to make split second decisions--an estimate underlined by that seam of
blaster burn across one flat cheek.

Van Rycke, with a slight change of dress, could have been a Company man in the higher ranks--or so the
casual observer would have placed him, until such an observer marked the eyes behind those sleepy
drooping lids, or caught a certain note in the calm, unhurried drawl of his voice. To look at the two senior
officers of the Free Trading spacer were the antithesis of each other--in action they were each half of a
powerful, steamroller whole--as a good many men in the Service--scattered over a half dozen or so
planets--had discovered to their cost in the past.

Now Jellico brought the heels of his space boots together with an extravagant click and his hand flourished
at the fore of his helmet in a gesture which was better suited to the Patrol hero of a slightly out-of-date
Video serial.

"Jellico, Solar Queen, Free Trader," he identified himself brusquely, and added, "This is Van Rycke, our
Cargo-master."

Not all the flush had faded from the face of the I-S Captain.

"Grange of the Dart," he did not even sketch a salute. "Inter-Solar. Kallee, Cargo-master--" And he did
not name the hovering third member of his party.

Jellico stood waiting and after a long moment of silence Grange was forced to state his business.
"We have until noon--"

Jellico, his fingers hooked in his belt, simply waited. And under his level gaze the Eysie Captain began to
find the going hard.

"They have given us until noon," he started once more, "to get together--"

Jellico's voice came, coldly remote. "There is no reason for any `getting together,' Grange. By rights I can
have you up before the Trade Board for poaching. The Solar Queen has sole trading rights here. If you up-
ship within a reasonable amount of time, I'll be inclined to let it pass. After all I've no desire to run all the
way to the nearest Patrol post to report you--"

"You can't expect to buck Inter-Solar. We'll make you an offer--" That was Kallee's contribution, made
probably because his commanding officer couldn't find words explosive enough.

Jellico, whose forte was more direct action, took an excursion into heavy-handed sarcasm. "You Eysies
have certainly been given excellent briefing. I would advise a little closer study of the Code--and not the
sections in small symbols at the end of the tape, either! We're not bucking anyone. You'll find our
registration for Sargol down on tapes at the Center. And I suggest that the sooner you withdraw the
better--before we cite you for illegal planeting."

Grange had gained control of his emotions. "We're pretty far from Center here," he remarked. It was a