"Anthology - Hotel Andromeda (Short Stories)" - читать интересную книгу автора (ANTHOLOGIES)

The con board lay before him, its glittering display of lights
winking lazily, red and blue and yellow and green. He would
fax his mother tonight and tell her that he had been selected
for extra responsibilities and for once she would boast about
him to his brothers instead of the other way around.

Bzzzzzt!

A call! Someone was ringing fromЧhe checked the screen
carefullyЧroom 1522. And Ranee had not returned. Which
meant that he, Lekvich Tor, must take the call. Hands trem-
bling, he filled his lungs with air and punched the appropriate
flashing button-

"Hotel Andromeda, concierge," he said. His voice sounded
a little high, he thought. He'd have to watch that. He took a

4 Karen Haber

deep breath, pressed his hand against his diaphragm, and tried
to modulate his tone downward. "Good evening."

"There's a Voltorran bat in my room!"

"Sir?"

"I said, there's a Voltorran bat in my room! Hanging from
the chandelier."

"I'm afraid you want HousekeepingЧ"

"I distinctly ordered a Mykonian bat, in fact, four of them.
With hot mustard."

"One moment, please," Lekvich Tor said. "I'm cross-
scanning the net. Ah, yes. I see. It was room 527 that re-
quested the live Voltorran bat with implant and sonar control.
I'll send someone up to collect it and deliver your order at
once. Our apologies for the inconvenience."

"Make it fast. I'm starving."

"Yes, sir. And to compensate you for the inconvenience,
the bats will be on the house." Ranee had often told him:

"Smooth frayed tempers with freebies."

"Good. Appreciate it."