"S. M. Stirling - Draka 03 - The Stone Dogs" - читать интересную книгу автора (Stirling S. M)

Plantations stretched widely elsewhere across the steep slopes,
green coffee and tea and sheets of flowers grown for
air-freighting elsewhere; the air was scented with them, cool and
sweet. The city of Arjunanda lay two thousand feet below by the
waters, turned to a model by distance: buildings white and blue
and violet with marble and tile, avenues bordered with
jacaranda and colonnades roofed in climbing rose and
frangipani. Even the factories and labor-compounds that ringed
it were comely, bordered by hedge and garden. Sails speckled the
waves, and they could see the pleasure boats beating back
toward the docks, and dirigibles lying silvery in the waterfront
haven.

"It's a famous beauty-spot," the woman said with elaborate
sarcasm, indicating the sun setting behind the mountains to
their right, amid clouds turned to the colors of brass and blood.
"No mo' games, man."

He flicked the butt of the cigarette over the railing. Like her,
to be cold even when she's angry. You can see why our enemies
nicknamed us " snakes," looking at her. The burning speck fell
like a tiny meteor, to lie winking for a second before one of the
Institute outdoor serfs arrived to sweep it up.

"It might work," he said quietly.

"It will work. This time yo' suspicions of biotech don't wash.
And this project was mah price fo' supportin' yo' pet schemes."

"Granted."

They gave each other a glance of cool mutual hatred and
turned again to the view beneath. Shadow was falling across the
city and the lake as the first stars appeared above. The
streetlights of Anunanda flicked on in a curving tracery, and the
lamps of the plantation manors scattered down the hills. An
airship had cast off from the haven, and the thousand-meter
teardrop rose from darkness into light as it circled, bound
northward with cut flowers and electrowafers, strawberries and
heavengrape wine.

"Have yo' ever wondered," the Senator said meditatively, "why
we Draka love flowers so?"

The woman blinked, her fox-sharp face shadowed in the dim
glow. "No, can't say as I have," she said neutrally. "Why?"

"They're safer to love than human bein's," he said
thoughtfully. "An' unlike humans, they deserve it." He turned.
"I'll be in contact aftah I speak to the Archon."