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

spy."

16 / WALTER JON WILLIAMS

"You are mistaken, sir." Coldly. Drawn up to his full
height, which was not quite that of the General's.


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"You are a military officer, traveling under commercial
cover, with two Khosali as military in appearance as your-
self. If that ain't a spy, 1 don't know what is."

"I do not believe, sir, we have anything further to say

to one another."

"You mistake me. I have plenty to say. But I'm willing

to defer it, if you like."

"Ah. The last measure. I trust the room is brimming

with new acquaintances."

Nichole looked at him with an amused smile. "You
seem pleased with yourself, Drake. Did you conduct some

piece of business?"

"I managed to hold off the awful Countess, and without
being any more offensive than she."

"Ah. True cause for rejoicing." The dance ended and
the set tapped their toes in a pattern of approval. (High
Custom again. At least they didn't have to rotate their
ears.) Nichole put her arm in Maijstral's and they began
strolling through a dispersing, particolored cloud of couples.
"Etienne looks out of sorts," she said. "I wonder why?"
"Perhaps he's promised Countess Anastasia the next
dance. May I offer you refreshment?"
"Thank you."

Media globes hovered nearer, their close-up lenses mak-
ing soft whirs as they focused on the two faces. Some-
where in their controllers' headquarters, expert lip-readers
leaned closer to their video screens. Their concentration on