"Mike Resnick - Velvet Comet 1 - Eros Ascending" - читать интересную книгу автора (Resnick Mike)

The plain, wheat-colored carpet was not as thick as some of the others he had seen, but it looked more
expensive, as did the objets d'art that were discreetly displayed around the room. An alien musical
instrument resembling a harp was in one corner of the room, and a pair of chairs framed an ancient and
priceless chess table in another.

Redwine walked over to the chess table and examined the carefully-crafted inlays, the beautiful unity
of design, the exquisitely-carved legs.

"What do you think of it?" asked a low voice.

"It's stunning," he replied. Then he suddenly realized that he was not speaking to Suma, and he turned
around and found himself facing a tall, auburn-haired woman.

She wore a low-cut jumpsuit made of some iridescent blue-green lizard skin. It fit like a second skin,
and the millions of tiny scales dazzlingly reflected the light of the room. Her only other items of
apparel were long leather gloves and a pair of calf-high boots that possessed spiked heels. She wore no
jewelry except for a pair of delicate wire earrings that sounded like tiny chimes when she moved her
head.

She used very little makeup, nor did she require much. Her green eyes appraised him frankly, and
finally she extended her hand. He took it, and was surprised by the strength of her grip.

"You're Harry Redwine?" she asked.

"Right. And you are . . . ?"

"You know perfectly well who I am, Mr. Redwine."

"True," he admitted. "But I'm not quite sure what to call you. The only name I could get from our
comptroller was the Leather Madonna."

"Well, then you do know what to call me after all, don't you?"

Redwine saw a grin of amusement spread across Suma s face, and decided to change the subject.
"Where did you find the table?" he asked.

"On a colony world near the Spica system," she replied, absently stroking the polished wood. I spent
seven years looking for something of that quality.

"Where are the pieces?

"There aren't any."

"A chess table with no pieces?" he said with a smile.

"When I find a set that's worthy of the table, I'll buy it."

"What do you use in the meantime?"