"Gordon R. Dickson - The Cloak and the Staff" - читать интересную книгу автора (Dickson Gordon R)

the girl. тАЬHe then examined the scratching, saw it was recently made, and turned to find this one. For a
moment he thought she had been lost among the herd in the square, then he caught sight of her from the
back, some distance off and hurrying away. He stunned her and brought her in.тАЭ

тАЬHis rank?тАЭ

тАЬThirty-second, untarnished sir.тАЭ
тАЬAnd this one has been questioned?тАЭ

тАЬNo sir, I waited to speak to you about procedure.тАЭ

Laa Ehon stood for a moment, unanswering, gazing at the girl.

тАЬThirty-second, you said? Did he know this particular beast previously to seeing her in the square?тАЭ

тАЬNo sir. But he remembered the color of her apparel. There was no other in that color nearby.тАЭ

Laa Ehon turned from the window.

тАЬIтАЩd like to talk to him, first. Send him to me.тАЭ

тАЬSir, heтАЩs presently on duty.тАЭ

тАЬAh.тАЭ

Shane understood Laa EhonтАЩs momentary thoughtfulness. As commanding officer, he could easily order
the officer in question to be relieved from duty long enough to report to him in person. But the Aalaag
nature and custom was such that only the gravest reason would allow him to justify such an order. An
Aalaag on duty, regardless of rank, was almost a sacred object.

тАЬWhere?тАЭ Laa Ehon.

тАЬThe local airport, untarnished sir.тАЭ

тАЬI will go and speak to him at his duty post. Captain Otah On, you are ordered to accompany me.тАЭ

тАЬYes, untarnished sir.тАЭ

тАЬThen let us move with minimal loss of time. It is unlikely that this matter has more importance than
presently seems, but we must make sure of that.тАЭ

He turned toward the door with Otah On behind him. Once more his eyes swept Shane. He stopped and
looked over at the Aalaag.

тАЬWhat is this one?тАЭ he asked.

тАЬSir,тАЭ the Aalaag at the desk was on his feet. тАЬA courier with messages for your hand from Lyt Ahn.тАЭ

Laa Ehon looked back at Shane.