"Walter Jon Williams - The Crown Jewels" - читать интересную книгу автора (Williams Walter John)

file:///G|/Program%20Files/eMule/Incoming/Walter%20Jon%20Williams%20-%20The%20Crown%20Jewels.txt

Drake Maijstral walked on soft leather buskins down the
center of the Peleng City ballroom and never made a
noise. He was light-footed by trade.

Above him, ideographs for "long life" and "welcome,
travelers" floated below the high ceiling- The glowing
holos lit the room more brightly than usual, mainly to
provide sufficient light for the large number of media
globes that also floated over the assembly. Individuals,
human and not, found themselves reacting to the unex-
pected brightness in accordance with their character and
purpose. Some did not wish their business to be known,
and these shrank into the shadows and mumbled with their
faces turned to the wall. Those wanting to be seen prome-
naded beneath the hovering globes or floated on a-grav
fields toward the ceiling in hopes a globe might conde-
scend to interview them. Some promenaded in the light,
but being self-conscious, blushed. Others tried their best to
behave normally and ended up asking themselves what
normal was, particularly under these conditions.

Maijstral did none of these things. He had been schooled
in ways of maintaining assurance under unusual condi-
tions, was used to a certain amount of media attention, and

2 / WALTER JON WILLIAMS

though his business was not entirely legitimate, he felt no
urge to hide in comers and mumble.

The formal stance adopted by most of the guests fea-
tured the shoulders pulled back and hips tucked under a
slightly curved but nevertheless rigid spine. The pose was
natural to a Khosalikh but required training in a human.
That Maijstral managed to add a supple grace to this
posture was to his credit. He was only a few inches above
the human average, but he looked taller. Also to his credit
was his dress, which managed to make the most of the
monochrome scheme demanded by High Custom—black
being the mourning color of most of humanity, and white
of the Khosali. He wore little jewelry save the silver pins
used to hold back his long brown hair, and the large
diamond on one finger. His eyes were a pleasant and
unassuming green, and half-closed lids gave the impres-
sion of laziness. He appeared to be in his midtwenties.

Maijstrat approached a tall, elegant, somewhat older
man, who walked the ballroom unaccompanied. The man