"Barrayar 15 - Miles Vorkosigan 13 - Diplomatic Immunity" - читать интересную книгу автора (Bujold Lois McMaster)

Miles nodded. The purposes of Barrayaran military escorts for Komarran ships ranged from overt to subtle to never-spoken. Overtly, escorts rode along to repel hijackers from the cargo vessels and supply the military part of the fleet with maneuvering experience scarcely less valuable than war games. More subtly, the ventures provided opportunity for all sorts of intelligence gatheringЧeconomic, political, and social, as well as military. And it provided cadres of young provincial Barrayaran men, future officers and future civilians, with seasoning contact with the wider galactic culture. On the never-spoken side were the lingering tensions between Barrayarans and Komarrans, legacy of the, in Miles's view, fully justified conquest of the latter by the former a generation ago. It was the Emperor's express policy to move from a stance of occupation to one of full political and social assimilation between the two planets. That process was proving slow and rocky.

Vorpatril continued, УThe Toscane Corporation's ship Idris put into dock for jump drive adjustments, and ran into unexpected complications when they pulled things apart. Repaired parts failed to pass calibration tests when reinstalled and were sent back to the Station shops for refabrication. Five days became ten, while that bickering was going back and forth. Then Lieutenant Solian turned up missing.Ф

УDo I understand correctly that the lieutenant was the Barrayaran security liaison officer aboard the Idris?Ф Miles said. Fleet beat cop, charged with maintaining peace and order among crew and passengers, keeping an eye out for any illegal or threatening activities or suspicious personsЧnot a few historic hijackings were inside jobsЧand being first line of defense in counterintelligence. More quietly, keeping an ear out for potential disaffection among the Emperor's Komarran subjects. Obliged to render all possible assistance to the ship in physical emergencies, coordinating evacuation or rescue with the military escort. Liaison officer was a job that could shift from yawningly boring to lethally demanding in an eyeblink.

Captain Brun spoke for the first time. УYes, my lord.Ф

Miles turned to him. УOne of your people, was he? How would you describe Lieutenant Solian?Ф

УHe was newly assigned,Ф Brun answered, then hesitated. УI did not have a close personal acquaintance with him, but all his prior personnel evaluations gave him high marks.Ф

Miles glanced at the cargomaster. УDid you know him, sir?Ф

УWe met a few times,Ф said Molino. УI mostly stayed aboard the Rudra, but my impression of him was that he was friendly and competent. He seemed to get along well with crew and passengers. Quite the walking advertisement for assimilation.Ф

УExcuse me?Ф

Vorpatril cleared his throat. УSolian was Komarran, my lord.Ф

УAh.Ф Argh. The reports hadn't mentioned this wrinkle. Komarrans were but lately permitted admittance into the Barrayaran Imperial Service; the first generation of such officers was handpicked, and on their marks to prove their loyalty and competence. The Emperor's pets, Miles had heard at least one Barrayaran fellow-officer describe them in covert disgruntlement. The success of this integration was a high personal priority of Gregor's. Admiral Vorpatril certainly knew it, too. Miles moved the mysterious fate of Solian up a few notches in his mental list of most-urgent priorities.

УWhat were the circumstances of his original disappearance?Ф

Brun answered, УVery quiet, my lord. He signed off-shift in the usual manner, and never showed up for his next watch. When his cabin was finally checked, it seemed that some of his personal effects and a valise were missing, although most of his uniforms were left. There was no record of his finally leaving the ship, but then...he'd know how to get out without being seen if anyone could. Which is why I posit desertion. The ship was very thoroughly searched after that. He has to have altered the records, or slipped out with the cargo, or something.Ф

УAny sense that he was unhappy in his work or place?Ф

УNotЧno, my lord. Nothing special.Ф

УAnything not special?Ф

УWell, there was the usual chronic chaff about being a Komarran in thisФЧBrun gestured at himselfЧФuniform. I suppose, where he was placed, he was in position to get it from both sides.Ф

We're trying to all be one side, now. lang=EN style='mso-ansi-language: Miles decided this was not the time or place to pursue the unconscious assumptions behind Brun's word-choice. УCargomaster MolinoЧdo you have any sidelights on this? Was Solian subject to, ah, reproof from his fellow Komarrans?Ф

Molino shook his head. УThe man seemed to be well liked by the crew of the Idris as far as I could tell. Stuck to business, didn't get into arguments.Ф

УNevertheless, I gather that your first...impression, was that he had deserted?Ф

УIt seemed possible,Ф Brun admitted. УI'm not casting aspersions, but he was Komarran. Maybe he'd found it tougher than he thought it would be. Admiral Vorpatril disagreed,Ф he added scrupulously.

Vorpatril waved a hand in a gesture of judicious balance. УThe more reason not to think desertion. High command's been pretty careful of what Komarrans they admit to the Service. They don't want public failures.Ф

УIn any case,Ф said Brun, Уwe put all our own security people on alert to search for him, and asked for help from the Graf Station authorities. Which they were not especially eager to offer. They just kept repeating they'd had no sign of him in either the gravity or null-gee sections, and no record of anyone of his description leaving the station on their local-space carriers.Ф

УAnd then what happened?Ф

Admiral Vorpatril answered, УTime ran on. Repairs on the Idris were completed and signed off. Pressure,Ф he eyed Molino without favor, Уgrew to leave Graf Station and continue on the planned route. MeЧI don't leave my men behind if I can help it.Ф