"Mack Reynolds - Day After Tomorrow" - читать интересную книгу автора (Reynolds Mack)

"Ilya Simonov never forgets," the lieutenant said unhappily. "It's no
mistake that he's the minister's top hatchetman. He's killed more people
than malaria. He's certainly a bad one to have down on you."

"But what did I do? Why me?'

The other captain, who was just relaxing from the rigid attention to
which he had been standing during the quick interrogation, said, "Nicolai,
it wasn't you, in particular. There are fifty-five officers and men assigned
to the minister's security guard. This sort of discipline will insure, for at
least a couple of years, that no one will come on duty with the slightest of
hangovers, or anything else that might dull the edge of perception. You'd
better go pack, Nicolai. If I know the colonel, you'll be on your way to some
post above the Arctic Circle before the day is out."

The captain took a deep breath. "He'll have you reduced to private, but
you're a good man, Ilyichev, and you carry the Hero's award, as I well
know, since I am only here as a result of your conduct. Promotion is faster
in Siberia than it is in Moscow. You'll soon regain your rank."

His words were meaningless to the other. Captain Nicolai Ilyichev had
planned to be married the following week. He and his bride to be had been
consumating their marriage a bit prematurely the night before. The
colonel had been correct. He hadn't shaved.

Ilya Simonov continued down the corridor. He came to a halt at the
reception desk before the ornate door of the Minister's office. Another
captain sat before it. The Soviet agent didn't know him. The other took in
the swagger stick.

Simonov said, "I have no appointment but the Minister is probably
expecting me."

"Yes, Comrade Colonel Simonov," the other nodded respectfully. He
flicked a switch and spoke into an inter-office communicator screen.

He flicked another switch and the door behind him automatically
opened. Ilya Simonov marched on through.

Minister Kliment Blagonravov was at the huge desk at the far end of the
room. There was a smaller desk to one side which accommodated an aide.
The Minister snapped his fingers at the aide, who immediately came to
his feet and left the room.

"Sit down, Ilya," Blagonravov said. "I was expecting you. Don't you ever
take a day or two off after completing an assignment?"

"Sometimes," Simonov said, finding a chair and turning back to his
ultimate superior.