"David Drake - RCN 02 - Lt. Leary Commanding" - читать интересную книгу автора (Drake David)

"That's Mundy of Chatsworth, of course," Daniel added. "Death masks in the front hall from ancestors
back to before the Hiatus, isn't that right, Adele?"

He was surprised at the anger which he hoped he covered with his bantering tone. Ireland had never
harmed him at the Academy, and if he wanted to scrape acquaintance now with the Hero of Kostroma,
well, that wasn't a terrible crime. Though flatteryhad begun to pall on Daniel from its constant repetition.

It was the comment about luck that had tripped a switch in Daniel's mind. Luck there'd been in plenty,
and Daniel Leary would be the first to say that; but when the words came from a stranger who hadn't
seen men die to make that luck a reality . . .

"ThoseMundys?" Ireland said. The name would be familiar, though unless he were more politically
attuned than the RCN encouraged its junior officers to be, he wouldn't remember the names and details
of the Three Circles Conspiracy. "Ah, I see!"

Which of course he didn't; he just saw that he'd misjudged the status of Lt. Leary's companion.

Ireland started to extend his hand to Adele. Before the gesture was more than a hint, she crossed her
arms behind her back and gave him an icily polite nod of greeting. "Pleased to meet you, Mr. Ireland,"
she said. "You're a tour guide for the Harbor Administrator, I gather?"

"I, ah . . . " Ireland said. He looked over his shoulder. The mixture of dress uniforms and
still-more-splendid civilian garb had almost reached him. "Yes, I'm in charge of the escort for some
officials from the Foreign Ministry and their liaison with the Navy Office. I, ah . . . they, that is, are
showing the son of the President of Strymon around."

The dignitaries were on them. Ireland opened his mouth again, perhaps to introduce Daniel to the rank of
dress uniforms, but the squat, jowly captain in front said, "Well, by my hope of a flag! Commander
Bergen, isn't it? Mr. Vaughn, let me introduce you to the man who mapped a route to Strymon that cut
three weeks sailing off the previous time!"

Uncle Stacey squeezed the arms of his chair. DanielтАФand Adele to the other side, as smoothly as if
they'd rehearsed the maneuverтАФeach slid a forearm under the old man's hands and lifted him to his feet
as soon as he'd transferred his grip.

"Young Wenslow, isn't it?" Stacey said with close to the old fullness in his voice. "You served under me
on theQueensland ."

"Senior midshipman and fourth lieutenant after Broker got his own command on Tuttel's World," agreed
WenslowтАФno longer young, and as Daniel knew, secretary of the RCN's planning council. He drew
forward the slim young man at his side. "Delos Vaughn, allow me to introduce you to Commander Stacey
Bergen. Commander Bergen has forgotten more about astrogation than anyone else in the RCN ever
knew!"

Vaughn extended his right hand and shook Uncle Stacey's, showing a care for the old man's frailty that
Daniel approved with a minuscule nod. Vaughn wore a severely tailored suit, but the cloth from which it
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