"Michael Z. Williamson - Freehold" - читать интересную книгу автора (Williamson Michael Z)

Sitting down, Maartens chewed on a pen. "Tell me the rest of it," she demanded while gesturing at
another chair.

Sitting also, Kendra breathed deep and said, "I was assigned to the Forty-Third Logistics Support
Function's detachment during the Mtali Mission. The general and Colonel Bruder were very concerned
with our operation. Stuff was missing by the truckload on a daily basis and they made us keep track of it.
No one knows where the stuff was going, so there had to be inside help. They were probably selling it to
the rebels is my guess. This is all deduction in the last four hours. Then, I assumed the problem was being
investigated. Eight a.m. today, the MPs were going to drag me off for questioning. I saw where things
were going, thanks to a friend of mine. I left the base and drove around until I figured out that of all
colony worlds, you could probably help me."

"We are not a colony anymore, Sergeant," Maartens said coldly, then thought hard. Colonel Richard, the
Freehold unit commander from the Mtali mission, had made similar deductions regarding the UN forces
logistics system. Pacelli's story was probably true. Perhaps the military would be interested in her
information. Citizen Maartens would have to decide that on her own. Unlike a national ambassador on
Earth, she could not call for advice; advice was thirty-four light years away and any question would take
at least two days for a response, to allow a message to be relayed through the jump point on the next
ship. If it had to be sent physically to reduce the risk of interception, it would take at least twenty days
each way.

The best approach was a firm one, see how the situation developed, Maartens decided. "I'll have to
check all angles of your story. You may stay in the meantime." Her voice was grudging but not hostile.

Heaving a huge sigh and slumping from released tension, Kendra replied, "Thank you, ma'am."

"You're welcome. There are conditions. Number one, if you are a spy, you'll disappear. Two, whether
or not you are guilty, if the evidence points that way, you'll be handed over to UNPF. I can't risk an
incident without solid substance to back it up. Relationships are critical and delicate right now; they
always are. If you check out as legitimate, I'll help you arrange travel to the Freehold. It won't be cheap
and you'll have to pay for it. We don't have budgets for such things."

"I have some cash. Not a lot."

"We can acquire any assets that haven't been seized, and make it untraceable. Our technicians will
expect a share, however."

"Ma'am?" Kendra asked.
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Sighing, Maartens explained, "The Freehold is a completely neutral nation with a tiny government. We
don't budget for refugees, publicity, tourism or any of a hundred other things you take for granted. We
can't do anything officially, so this will have to be done clandestinely. If our staff are to convert your
assets to cash or pull funds from your accounts, they'll be doing it on their own time and with their
personal gear at some small but real risk. For that, they expect to be paid."