"Debra Doyle & James MacDonald - Mageworlds 03 - By Honor Betray'd" - читать интересную книгу автора (Doyle Debra)

even certain whether the Republic had used such things during the Old War-so getting Warhammer
fitted out as a flagship looked like it would take some time.
Several minutes later, the buzz of the тАЩHammerтАЩs entry alarm broke into their work. LeSoit
glanced up from his clipboard.
тАЬSounds like weтАЩve got a visitor,тАЭ he said. тАЬIтАЩd better go check it out.тАЭ
Still holding the clipboard in one hand, he hurried to the main door. A man was standing at the
top of the ramp. The force field was up, but even through the blurring effect LeSoit could make out the
newcomerтАЩs ConSec uniform.
He frowned. If somebody had hired the law on Beka and her crew, things might get expensive.
You could buy anything on Suivi Point, including justice, but some varieties would cost you a great deal
more than others-under the circumstances, LeSoit decided, he wasnтАЩt going to let down the field.
тАЬWhat can we do for you, officer?тАЭ
The ConSec cleared his throat. тАЬI have a message for the master of this vessel.тАЭ
 тАЬShe isnтАЩt here. IтАЩm afraid IтАЩll have to do. Now, whatтАЩs the problem?тАЭ
тАЬIтАЩm here to escort you.тАЭ
LeSoit took an automatic step backward in spite of the protective force field. тАЬEscort me
where?тАЭ
The ConSec man opened his mouth to say something, but LeSoitтАЩs clipboard gave him an
answer first. Its tiny onboard speaker emitted the sharp beep that meant an override-priority message on
the тАЩHammerтАЩs main communications system, followed by an unfamiliar voice: тАЬAll personnel aboard
RSF Warhammer, please report to the portmasterтАЩs office immediately. All personnel aboard
Warhammer . . . тАЭ
тАЬI donтАЩt like the sound of that,тАЭ LeSoit said to the ConSec. тАЬCan you tell me what itтАЩs all about?тАЭ
The ConSec shrugged. тАЬPortmaster needs to verify your registry, is all I know.тАЭ
тАЬSounds like a paperwork drill. CanтАЩt it wait?тАЭ
Over the clipboard speaker the voice was still droning on: тАЬAll personnel aboard RSF
Warhammer, please report to the portmasterтАЩs office immediately. All personnel . . . тАЭ
The ConSec officer shook his head. тАЬIтАЩm afraid not. YouтАЩll lose your berthing assignment unless
you verify your registry.тАЭ
тАЬPort officials,тАЭ said LeSoit in disgust. тАЬNobodyтАЩs ever going to convince them that something
might be more important than filling in line seven on page two of form one-twenty-eight-A. IтАЩve got some
urgent business here on board, officer-why not tell the portmaster you couldnтАЩt find me when you buzzed
at the door? IтАЩll be along as soon as IтАЩm done.тАЭ
тАЬPlease accompany me now,тАЭ the ConSec said.
Then the clipboard beeped again-louder this time, in the nerve-quickening double rhythm that
heralded one of the DominaтАЩs own direct-to-ship universal-override transmissions-and disembodied
voices began to speak.
A Suivan voice first, with the coarse accent of the outer belt: тАЬAre you the woman identified as
Beka Rosselin-Metadi, who styles herself Domina of Entibor?тАЭ
Then BekaтАЩs voice, a precise, carefully educated light tenor that, heard in isolation, could have
belonged to either a man or a woman-but, at the same time, could never have belonged to anyone else
but her: тАЬI am. What is-тАЭ
тАЬYouтАЩre under arrest. Submit yourself quietly.тАЭ
LeSoit looked at the ConSec officer. тАЬRegistry check,тАЭ he said. тАЬSure. Try another one.тАЭ
The voices over the clipboard speaker continued: тАЬNeedler. Oh, naughty, naughty lady.тАЭ
Then Beka again, distinct and forceful: тАЬ YouтАЩre quite mistaken. Everything here is perfectly
fine.тАЭ A pause, and then the last phrase again, very clearly. тАЬEverything here is perfectly fine.тАЭ
тАЬRight,тАЭ said LeSoit, and turned his back on the ConSec officer. He hit first the Close Door
button and then the Raise Ramp lever, and was headed for the тАЩHammerтАЩs cockpit before the ConSec
finished scrambling away to safety.