"David Drake - Hammer's Slammers 02 - Cross The Stars (2)" - читать интересную книгу автора (Drake David)

тАЬCouncilor Dyson,тАЭ retorted Marilee Slade. тАЬLook, if you want me to treat you as a human being, then youтАЩve got
to stop this nonsense about appointing yourself guardian for Edward. HeтАЩs not a child, heтАЩs almost twentyтАФand if he
needs a guardian, it can be me!тАЭ
The tall woman pivoted back to the window. Beverly Dyson permitted his face to lose the mobility he maintained
when others were watching him. тАЬI donтАЩt appoint anyone guardian, Marilee,тАЭ he said. тАЬThatтАЩs what the Council
meeting is being held to discuss. Though of course I wonтАЩt deny that many of the Council do believe there should
beтАФaтАФIтАЩm sorry, but facts are factsтАФa strong male hand at the helm of the Slade Estate during these troubled
times.тАЭ
When the woman did not respond, Dyson stepped carefully closer to her. He had been beautiful as a child and as a
youth. When he reached adulthood, Dyson had been wise enough to eschew the cosmetic treatments that would have
frozen that youthful beauty. Twenty-odd years of natural ageing had left Councilor Beverly Dyson ruggedly hand-
some. He was as attractive to men as to women, and he had none of the smooth cuteness that destroyed respect when
power was being discussed.
There was a mark on DysonтАЩs left forehead where age had begun to undo some expensive plastic surgery. The
skin there was a trifle shinier than the rest, and there was a path that could be traced back in whorls along DysonтАЩs
short-cut hair. тАЬYou know, my dear,тАЭ he went on in a carefully modulated voice, тАЬthereтАЩs a simple solution. We were
friends when we were younger. I still want to be your friend, and more than friend.тАЭ His hand reached out toward the
woman in a gesture that deliberately stopped short of her arm.
The curving crystal surface of the window had been treated during extrusion to permit no reflection on the inner
side. There was obvious awareness of the outstretched hand in MarileeтАЩs voice, however, as she said, тАЬIf you want a
strong male hand running the Slade Estate, then wait for Don to return. It canтАЩt be long, now that Friesland says
theyтАЩve traced him.тАЭ
тАЬMarilee,тАЭ said Dyson sadly. тАЬEven if I believed that werenтАЩt one of your little games to delay the Council, my
dear, I scarcely think that Mad Dog Slade is what is required on a world already having difficulties with violence
among the lower orders.тАЭ He had difficulty keeping his tone light, and his arm lowered slowly.
тАЬMad Dog,тАЭ the woman repeated with seeming amusement. She continued to face the activity in the courtyard
below. тАЬYou know, I knew Don Slade pretty well, Bev . . . and I never knew him to lose his temper.тАЭ
тАЬIтАЩm the wrong one to tell that silly lie, lady!тАЭ shouted Councilor Dyson. His fresh, bubbling anger drew
MarileeтАЩs gaze as his attempted tenderness had not. Dyson touched the scar on his forehead. тАЬIтАЩm not going to forget,
you see, what he did to me for a childhood prank!тАЭ
Marilee smiled. His rage was her victory. тАЬI havenтАЩt forgotten that either Bev,тАЭ she said. тАЬIt must have been quite
a surprise when Don popped to the surface after you thought youтАЩd bolted the escape hatch over him. But I really
donтАЩt think he lost his temper when he came for you with the wrench. I think he had just decided the world would be
a better place with you dead. Don was never the one to leave dirty jobs for other people when he could handle them
himself.тАЭ
Laughter pursued Councilor Dyson as he strode from the room.
 CHAPTER SIX
тАЬWe had a bad one,тАЭ Don said without preamble as he opened the door of the TerziaтАЩs chamber. тАЬI left all the
harvest so we could get back quicker with the wounded. Brought the dead; I know it didnтАЩt matter, but I did and I
donтАЩt care cop what you think about it.тАЭ
The big man paused for the first time since he entered the room. He swallowed and said, тАЬThere were two
missing. We searched, but thereтАЩs two missing.тАЭ
тАЬThat doesnтАЩt matter, Don,тАЭ said the Terzia from the bed itself. тАЬComeтАФcome sit by me while I talk.тАЭ
The poison burns on SladeтАЩs upper body were white with the SpraySeal which now covered them. Besides the
sweat-streaked dust on his skin and trousers, SladeтАЩs hands had a black patina. He had changed the barrel of his
powergun as soon as he entered the Citadel. The one he had used on the giant carnivore was by no means shot out;
but there was no reason to skimp on equipment, and a millimeterтАЩs tighter focus on a bolt might mean a life.
тАЬLady,тАЭ Slade said, тАЬthe harvestтАЩs all over the trail and beside it. IтАЩm going out with another gang. IтАЩll be back as
soon as weтАЩve gathered up the copper-podsтАФтАЭ
тАЬThey donтАЩt matter, Don. Sit down.тАЭ