"David Drake - RCN 04 - Glory" - читать интересную книгу автора (Drake David)

"Yes, I know that," Lira Kearnes said. "That's why I wanted to talk with you, one of the reasons.
I don't suppose you're a mother...?"

And despite the wording, Kearnes obviously hoped Adele would say, "Yes."

"No," Adele said primly. "I am not."

"Ah," Kearnes said. "Well, I was sure you weren't. I couldn't talk to Lieutenant Leary directly.

He, ah, his father was an associate of my husband's at one time, but they had a falling out. I thought you

might be able to tell me what life's life for a midshipman on shipboard. And, well...."

She reached out impulsively and touched her fingertips to the back of Adele's right hand. "It helps

that you're a woman," she blurted.

In biological terms you're no doubt correct, Adele thought. With some difficulty she controlled

the instinctive curl of her lip. But that wasn't fair, because Kearnes was really saying it was easier for her

to talk to a woman about her fears for her offspring. It didn't imply anything about the woman she

confided in.

"I might better introduce you to Midshipman Dorst, whom you've invited tonight," Adele said.

"But... midshipman is a responsible job. He'll be treated as an officer under most circumstances, but he's

still in training and he'll be expected to pay attention to whoever may be instructing him. And of course

RCN discipline is strict even for officers; perhaps especially for officers. Lives may depend on obedience

to orders."

"Yes, that's what worries me," Kearnes admitted to her interlaced fingers. "Oller isn't a bad boy,

please understand me, and he's very bright on so many subjects. But...."

Oller is a willful brat who's never stuck to anything long enough to learn if he has an

aptitude for it, Adele translated silently. Aloud she said, "It's possible that discipline imposed by his

superiors will teach your son the importance of self-discipline, mistress. That often happens."

Certainly being clouted across the deck by a bosun who took exception to your smart mouth

would be a learning experience beyond anything a well-born youth was likely to have gotten at home.