"Mary Rosenblum - Home Movies" - читать интересную книгу автора (Rosenblum Mary)

Precisely two hours later, her desktop chimed with a link from Bradbury, the main city of Mars Colony.
Kayla accepted, curious. She had rented a couple of virtual tours of Mars Colony, had found the mostly
underground cities to be as claustrophobic as the platforms, even though the domed space aboveground
offered water and plants. The holo-field shimmered and a woman's torso appeared. Old. Euro-celtic
phenotype, not gene-selected. Kayla appraised the woman's weathered face, wrinkles, determined eyes.
Considering the current level of bio-science, very old to look like this. And very used to control. "Kayla
O'Connor, at your service," she said and put a polite, welcoming smile onto her face.

The woman peered at her for a moment without speaking, nodded finally. "I am Jeruna Nesmith, First
Administrator of Bradbury City. I would like to enjoy my nephew's son's wedding. It will take place on a
small, private island, and include a week long family reunion." She seemed to lean forward, as if to stare
into Kayla's eyes. "The broker I contacted assured me that you would know what I want to look at."

Ah, yes, she was indeed used to control. Kayla smiled. "Only after we have talked and I have gotten to
know you." Although she could guess right now what the old bitch would want to look at. "I am usually
quite accurate about what interests my clients."

"So the broker says. I hope she is correct." Nesmith straightened. "I have little time to waste, so let us
begin."

So much for that cute young executive from Shanghai she'd met at the club last night. "As you wish."
Kayla kept her smile in place, started to record. "I would like you to tell me about this wedding."

"Tell you what?"

"Everything." Kayla leaned back, her smart-chair stretching and conforming to cradle her. "Who is getting
married? Why? Are they a good match? What do their parents think about it? What do you think about
it? Who would you be happy to see and who would you avoid at the wedding? What do you think about
each of the relatives and guests that will be present?"

"What does all this have to do with recording images for me?" Nesmith's eyebrows rose. "This is not your
business."

"And the recording I make of our conversation is destroyed as soon as the contract is completed ... you
did sign the contract," Kayla reminded her gently. "If you just want videos, it's much cheaper to hire a
cameraman rather than a chameleon. But if you want me to look with your eyes, notice the details you
would notice.... "She smiled. "Then I have to think like you."

Again, Nesmith stared at her. "The wedding is of one of my nephew's sons." She waved a long-fingered
hand. "A worthless, spoiled boy, who will never make anything of himself, marrying an equally spoiled
and self-centered girl from one of the big aquaculture families. It is a spectacle to impress other inside
families."

Well, she already knew how to look at the bride and groom. Kayla settled into listening mode as the
woman continued. Notice the pointless extravagances, the follies, the proof of her pronouncements. Ah,
but that wasn't all.... She let her eyelids droop, listening, paying attention to the emotional nuances of
voice and expression as the woman droned on, inserting a leading question here and there. The old bitch
did have an agenda. Interesting. Kayla absorbed every word, putting on this woman the way you'd put
on a costume for a party.