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

She raised her head and met his gaze. "I don't play chess, Mr. Redwine."

"Strictly a collector, eh?"

"No," she responded. "I just don't play games that I can't win."

"Pity," he said.

"You disapprove?"
"Not at all," said Redwine. "I just liked it better when I thought I was the only one who felt that way."

"Well," she said, turning to him, "I don't imagine you're here to talk about chess tables." She gestured
toward a couch. "Won't you sit down?"

He did so, and she walked around the chrome table and seated herself on the opposite couch.

"Can Suma get you a drink before she leaves, Mr. Redwine?"

He turned to Suma. "I'll have a whiskey, no ice, no water."

"And the usual for me," added the Leather Madonna.

Suma quickly poured his drink and then set about mixing some concoction for the Madonna in a long-
stemmed crystal glass." As he waited for her to finish, Redwine turned his attention back to the Leather
Madonna and tried to estimate her age. It was more difficult than he anticipated, and he finally
concluded that she was in her late thirties, give or take a decade.

"Thank you," said the Leather Madonna when Suma finally handed her an iced, bluish drink. "Come
back in about two hours."

Suma nodded, gave Redwine his glass, and left the room.

"I don't think we'll have two hours' worth of things to discuss today," offered Redwine.

"I quite agree," she replied. She took a small sip of her drink, and placed the glass down on the
tabletop. "I trust everyone has treated you courteously since your arrival?"

"Absolutely," said Redwine, leaning back and extending his arms along the top of the couch. "It's been
the most courteous runaround I've ever experienced."

She smiled, unperturbed. "Well, you must admit that your particular needs are not those we're used to
serving."

"Lady, I'm just an accountant trying to do my job."

Her green eyes scrutinized him for a long moment. "You're too modest, Mr. Redwine," she said at last.
"Somehow I feel you have many other talents."

He shrugged noncommittally. "Well, maybe one or two," he replied, wondering exactly how much she
knew about him. "But one of the talents I seem to lack is the ability to gain access to the material I