"Mike Resnick - Ivory" - читать интересную книгу автора (Resnick Mike)

The woman, dressed in a glittering metallic blue gown, had long blonde hair piled high on her head, and
wore a necklace of gleaming bloodstones from the mines of Altair III.

“Gentlemen, please introduce your companion,” said Tembo Laibon, frowning.

“I am Helen,” volunteered the blonde woman.

“She's our wife,” explained Ajax the Second.

“Our wife?” repeated the Iron Duchess, arching an artificial eyebrow.

“His and mine.”

“She's married to both of you?”

“That's right.”
“She was not invited to participate,” said Tembo Laibon. “She must leave the room.”

“She's only an android,” explained Ajax the First. “She won't bother anybody.”

“Please deactivate her,” said Tembo Laibon.

“I'd like to watch,” said Helen.

Tembo Laibon look at her. “Because of the stakes involved in this game, there must be no hint of
impropriety,” he explained. “You must be deactivated.”

“How can there be any impropriety if she sits behind me and watches?” asked Ajax the First.

“I have no idea,” replied Tembo Laibon. “Perhaps she can see through the backs of the cards. Perhaps
she will compute the odds and find some way to relay them to you. It makes no difference. Tempers can
run high in a game like this, and for your own sake I would not want it said that you took unfair
advantage of your fellow participants.”

“What about the little animal onhis back?” demanded Ajax the First, pointing to Buko. “How do I know
thatit isn't helping him?”

“It is a symbiotic life form that oxygenates my blood when I am on low-gravity worlds,” replied Buko.

“This isn't a low gravity world.”

“It is tome .”

“If you are through arguing,” said Tembo Laibon patiently, “you may deactivate the android.”

Ajax the First shrugged, then looked directly at the android.

“Go to the corner, Helen,” he ordered, and she promptly walked to the farthest corner of the room. He
then uttered a brief command in a tongue that was unfamiliar to Tembo Laibon. Helen's eyes closed and