"David Drake - RCN 01 - With the Lightnings" - читать интересную книгу автора (Drake David)

BraceyтАЩs face clouded. The friend who still stood had been watching Adele and had seen more than a short, slim
female in nondescript clothing. As Bracey opened his mouth to snarl a curse, the friend tugged his arm and muttered.
Bracey shook himself free, then dragged the sick man up by the collar. тАЬCome on, Kirkwall,тАЭ he said. тАЬIf youтАЩve
ruined these boots, IтАЩll flay another pair from your backside, damned if I wonтАЩt!тАЭ
Two men supporting the third, the Kostromans shuffled out of the library. Adele remained by the data console,
following them with her eyes. When she looked around the room again, the other assistants and the two carpenters
were staring at her. All of them turned their heads instantly.
тАЬIтАЩll take care of this, mistress,тАЭ Vanness said as he trotted toward the mess of vomit. He waved the bag which
had held the logbooks, to use as a wiping rag.
The bag itself might identify where the contents had come fromтАФ
But Adele caught her objection unvoiced. There was nothing sheтАЩd gain from speaking that would justify the
seeming rebuke of a man who was trying to do his job.
тАЬYes, very well,тАЭ she said instead. She turned her hawk glance onto the carpenters. TheyтАЩd resumed measuring
their plank against the brackets theyтАЩd yesterday fastened to the paneling and the frames mortised into the brick fabric
of the wall.
тАЬYou two!тАЭ Adele Mundy ordered. тАЬCome along with me to see your mistress, and bring that silly piece of
veneer stock with you. I need proper shelving now, and I donтАЩt mean enough for a medicine chest!тАЭ
She was a Mundy of Chatsworth. She might very well fail, but she wasnтАЩt going to quit. With her face hard, she
set off for the cabinet shop in the arches supporting the causeway to the palace gardens.

тАЬI believe thereтАЩs only one more matter to be considered at this time, sirs and madame,тАЭ said the Secretary to the
Navy Board. She was a woman at the latter end of middle age, utterly colorless in tone and appearance. Her name was
Klemsch, but two of the five board members couldnтАЩt have called her anything beyond тАЬMistress SecretaryтАЭ without
thinking longer than they were -accustomed to do.
With absolute rectitude and self-effacement Klemsch had served Admiral Anston for over thirty years. -Because
of that she was herself one of the most powerful individuals in the Republic of -Cinnabar.
тАЬOh, for GodтАЩs sake, Anston,тАЭ Guiliani grumbled. тАЬDoes it have to be today? I have an engagement.тАЭ
тАЬIt shouldnтАЩt take long,тАЭ Admiral Anston said, -politely but without any hint that his mind might be changed. He
nodded to Klemsch. тАЬInvite Mistress Sand to join us, please.тАЭ
 тАЬI knew I should have stayed in bed today,тАЭ the Third Member muttered, scowling at the tableтАЩs onyx surface.
Three of the junior board members were senators; Guiliani was not, but the present Speaker was her first cousin.
She and La Foche had naval rank themselves, but Admiral Anston was the only serving officer. He had earned both
his rank and his considerable private fortune waging war successfully against CinnabarтАЩs -enemies.
No Chairman of the Navy Board could be described as apoli-tical, but it was accepted by all who knew Anston
that his whole loyalty was to the RCN itself. At this time of present crisis, even the most rabid party politician preferred
the office to be in AnstonтАЩs hands rather than those of someone more malleable but less competent.
Mistress Sand entered the conference room without an obvious summons. She was a bulky woman, well if
unobtrusively dressed. тАЬHarry,тАЭ she said, nodding. тАЬGene, Tom, itтАЩs good to see you. Bate, my husband was just
asking after you. Will we see you next week at the Music Society meeting?тАЭ
тАЬWeтАЩre planning to attend,тАЭ the Third Member -replied. тАЬAt least if my granddaughterтАЩs marriage nego-tiations
wrap up in time.тАЭ
All the political members of the board knew Mistress Sand socially; none of them wanted to have professional
contact with the genial, cultured woman.
тАЬI told my fellows that this wouldnтАЩt take long, Bernis,тАЭ -Admiral Anston said. тАЬWhy donтАЩt you lay out just the
heads of the business rather than going into detail as you did with me?тАЭ
Sand nodded pleasantly and opened her ivory snuffbox. She placed a pinch in the hollow formed by her thumb
and the back of her hand, then snorted it into her left nostril.
There was a chair open for her at AnstonтАЩs right. She remained standing.
тАЬThe Alliance is planning some devilment on Kostroma,тАЭ Sand said. Admiral Anston wore a slight smile; the four
junior board members were frowningly silent. тАЬIтАЩm afraid that the risks are such that we need to take action ourselves.тАЭ