"RUSCH, DEAN WESLEY SMITH KRISTINE KATHRYN - TREATYS LAW 4TH IN THE DAY OF HONOR SERIES STARTREK B" - читать интересную книгу автора (Rusch Kristine Kathryn)

reported to be a race of thieves, although Spock claimed that for an
entire race to turn to theft was not logical. Logical or not, the Liv
stole on every planet, every starbase, every ship they appeared on. They
were fair creatures who appeared, at first glance, to be human children.
They had porcelain skin, bright blue eyes, and no body hair. The
tallest member of the race most likely wouldn't have reached Kirk's
chin, and this one was far from the tallest: he came up to Kirk's waist.
They were known as the "child-race, .... the kids from Liv,"

"troublemakers," as well as by a dozen other names. They traveled in
small ships of their own or stowed away on other ships. They had an
uncanny ability to hide in places where hiding didn't seem possible. And
they looked so sweet and childlike that

unsuspecting adults of all species usually took them in, soon to be
robbed blind. "It seems," Commander Bracker said nervously, "that our
situation is now resolved." Kirk glared at Bracker, a stocky red-haired
man who was clearly nervous as he sat between the two starship captains.
It was obviously the last place Bracker wanted to be. But he had caused
his own discomfort. He had sent a message to the Enterprise, which was
close by at the time, asking for some quick help with robberies at the
station. Kirk had felt it would be a good excuse to give his crew a few
days' shore leave and had agreed to help. But just minutes before the
Enterprise reached the starbase, the Farragut had arrived unexpectedly
for repairs. The contest to catch a thief had started the first night in
a bar, with a friendly wager between members of the two crews. Actually,
some of the Farragut crew had said that the Enterprise couldn't catch
anything if they tried and a few of Kirk's crew had objected. Loudly,
from what Kirk had come to understand. The argument had grown even
louder between Kirk and Bogle in the ofiScers' mess. Then the two
captains had laughed, made a friendly wager, and bought each other a
drink. When the drinks were over, both men had hurried back to their
crews. Shore leave was called off until the cause of the disappearances
was found. It had taken both crews a full day of searching the small
station to find the Liv, hiding in a locker in a main hallway. His loot
had been stashed in a dozen places around the station. Captain Bogle
smiled at his security detail. "Escort our prisoner to the station
brig." Then Bogle turned to Kirk. "Well, Captain, I'll collect that
drink in the bar anytime you are ready." Bogle did not quite manage to
keep the smirk off his

face, even though he was trying.

Sort of.

Kirk shook his head. The game had been all in fun, yet some pride and
ship's honor had been involved. It irked him that his crew had lost.

He still wasn't sure why they had lost. He knew Bogle too well to
suspect an underhanded move, but he still felt uncomfortable--and a bit