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

Roman's ears flicked back at the sound of another flier
humming to a stop on the front lawn. He turned, looked
through the polarized windows, and announced, "Gregor."
He stiffened slightly as he spoke. Roman disapproved of
Maijstral's irregularities, and considered Gregor one of
them-

"Good." Maijstral wiggled his toes again, thoughtfully,
"I can tell him about our commission."

Gregor Norman entered, pulling a dark blue cap off a
mass of bright red hair. He was twenty, lanky, and in-
tense. He was dressed entirely in dark colors and his coat
had a lot of pockets, most of them filled with electronic
gadgets- He smiled. His words came rapidly, and he spoke
with a cheeky accent. Definitely Non-U.

"Mission accomplished, boss. Only too."

"Only too" was a form of slang of which Gregor was
fond. It was shorthand for "only too easy" or "only too
likely" or "only too happy" or any other handy phrase
beginning with that versatile pair of words.

"Good. The media globes broadcast me with Nichole
tonight, and the panic should start first thing tomorrow."

Gregor laughed. He was feeling pleased with himself.
He had committed four acts of breaking-and-entering in
the last four hours, and he'd done each seamlessly and
without a hitch, leaving scores of little electronic gadgets
behind in each case.


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Roman looked from one to the other- His nostrils flick-
ered. "You mentioned, sir, a commission."

THE CROWN JEWELS I 27

"Yes." Maijstral rose, put his feet on the floor, and
leaned toward the others- "Sit down, Gregor. I'll tell you
about it." He knew better than to offer a seat to Roman—it
was not a servant's place to sit in the presence of his
employer. He waited for Gregor to seat himself and then
went on.