"Baldwin, Bill - The Helmsman 01 - The Helmsman" - читать интересную книгу автора (Baldwin Bill)

"Voof."
!!!!"I'm sorry," Brim said lamely.
!!!!"So am I," Ursis said with a faraway look in his close-set predator's eyes. "But then
Hagsdoffs always gore the hairiest oxen first, don't they?"
!!!!"Pardon?"
!!!!"An old saying from the Mother Planets," Ursis explained. "And it is I who ought to be
sorry for unloading troubles on you." He put a hand on Brim's arm. "Your people suffered
with mine in the first raids."
!!!!Brim bit his lip.
!!!!"Despots like Nergol Triannic strike sears and men alike," Ursis said. "Our work is to finish
him-and his thrice-damned League-eh?" He puffed thoughtfully on his Zempa pipe.
!!!!"Some news of your coming preceded you, Carescrian. Many of us have looked forward to
your arrival with great interest."
!!!!Brim raised an eyebrow.
!!!!"Soon, my new friend, we will talk of many things," the Bear said. "But for now, the Drive
demands my presence. And I am certain you will be delighted to see your cabin, which at last
seems to be ready." He nodded toward the door.
!!!!Brim turned. A starman waited outside in the companionway.
!!!!"This way, please, Lieutenant," the young woman said.
!!!!"Later...." Ursis declared, leading the way through the door.
!!!!Within a few cycles, Brim stood proudly in a tiny stateroom, the first in his memory he
would not share with someone else. Luxury like this was a far cry indeed from Carescria and
her ore trade, and he had paid dearly to win it. For the moment at least, all seemed worth the
price.
!!!!He had only just stowed his traveling case beneath the narrow bunk when he noticed a
message frame that had materialized on the inside of his door.
!!!!"Yes?"
!!!!"Captain's compliments," the frame said. "And interviews will begin in her office at standard
0975."
!!!!Glancing at his timepiece, Brim saw he had more than three metacycles to wait. "Very well,"
he answered,' then settled back on his bunk as the indicator faded. Clearly, he was one of very
few early risers aboard Truculent, at least when she was in port.
!!!!Well before standard 0975, Brim climbed two levels to the aft end of the bridge tower. Near
the ladder, a door was engraved simply "CAPTAIN," below which removable adhesive
stickers spelled out "R.G. Collingswood, Lt. Commander, I.F." While he waited, he was joined
by a second sublieutenant with Helmsman's blazes on his collar. The newcomer was pink and
chubby and had an uneasy look about himself. His belt divided an expensive-looking tunic into
two rolls which flubbered up and down as he hurried. "I thought I'd never find the Captain in
this awful warren," he grumped in a high-pitched voice. "What time is it anyhow?"
!!!!"If you're scheduled at standard 0975, you've made it," Brim assured him, checking his own
timepiece. "We have nearly a cycle to go."
!!!!"No little wonder," the man said, panting, then suddenly looked at Brim with something like
recognition. "You're not that Carescrian sublieutenant, are you?" he asked.
!!!!"I am," Brim asserted, immediately on the defensive.
!!!!The other grunted. "Well, you certainly don't look odd," he observed.
!!!!From bitter experience, Brim knew Imperials often had no idea they were giving offense-and
now was not the time to teach this one. "Ready?" he asked evenly.
!!!!"As I'll ever be, I suppose."
!!!!Brim knocked firmly.
!!!!"It's open," a voice called from inside.