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

In more recent times, the US has taken over the former British role in Haiti. I suspect the roaches

are still there; certainly nothing else has changed.

I'll note again that I don't invent systems of weights and measures for the background of the RCN

series: the practice would neither advance my plot nor make the world a better place. I don't assume that

people thousands of years in the future will still be using the systems in use today. Those who would

quarrel with my choice here might usefully ask themselves, however, how long feet and inches have been

in use thus far.

Dave Drake

david-drake.com



EPIGRAPH

Not once or twice in our rough island-story

The path of duty was the way to glory.

Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Ode on the Death of the Duke of Wellington



CHAPTER 1: Xenos on Cinnabar

The pair of footmen at the head of the stairs bowed to Daniel, the older one said, "Senator

Kearnes will be most pleased that you're able to attend, Lieutenant Leary."

"Pleased to be here," Daniel said. He smiled as he passed into the ballroom which took up most
of the second floor of the Kearnes townhouse. Indeed, he was pleased.

The invitation to Lira Kearnes' fortieth birthday gala specified that officers were to wear full

medals rather than ribbons. The request might well have been intended to display Lt. Daniel Leary at his

most splendid; certainly it had that effect.

The Republic of Cinnabar Navy was the sword of the republic, not a weapon of party politics.