"Lee Edgar - Princess 04 - Checkmate for a Princess" - читать интересную книгу автора (Edgar Lee)

But woe betide any man who tries to jump the gun.'
'When you first arrived on board, I got the distinct impression that Monsieur
Dubois was the centre of your attention.'
'Impressions can be misleading. I like him very much but there are some
important questions that need to be answered first.'
'Such as..?'
The conversation was interrupted by the arrival of an ensign who took the
Admiral aside and whispered in his ear for several minutes. Glancing at
Suzette the Admiral nodded and the ensign left to speak with Commander Jakes.
'It seems, Miss Blackman, that our visitors have arrived. I think you deserve
to be in on the meeting as you seem to know so much about it.' He turned and
spoke to the Captain. 'Mr Whittaker, prepare for action. We don't know what
they are up to.'
'No,' interrupted Suzette, her hand on the Admiral's arm. 'Don't do anything
that might provoke them. There has been enough trouble already. Let's not add
to it.'
Her eyes seemed to plead with him as he stood, undecided, though realising the
logic of what she was saying.
'Trust me,' she said.
It was a long time before any of them spoke. It was the Admiral who broke the
silence. 'Stand down, Captain. Let's play it cool.'
'With respect, Admiral,' said the Captain quietly. 'I hope you know what you
are doing.'
'So do I, Henry. So do I.'
The Admiral spoke again to the Captain who then escorted Suzette towards the
boardroom whilst the senior officer took a Lieutenant aside.
'Benson, meet me in the boardroom in five minutes and bring your handgun.'
'My handgun? Do you think our visitors are about to attack us?'
'Not at all, Lieutenant. If they were, they would have already done so and we
would no longer be here to talk about it. Sonar have just reported a sounding
off the port beam. It appears we are about to have the pleasure of the company
of the Russian Navy.'
The Lieutenant looked taken-aback. 'The Russian fleet?'
'No. Just one submarine. Sonar say the signature is a little blurred but,
nevertheless, clearly that of a Malinov class nuclear submarine.'
'That's their new one, isn't it?'
'Precisely. Capable of silent running, never resurfacing and enough plutonium
to wipe out half of the United States. Its Captain must have a very good
reason for making himself known to us now.'
'Then they come in peace.'
'It would seem so.'
'Then why the gun?'
'For the girl.'
'Miss Blackman?'
'Precisely. She knew of this in advance and I suspect she knows one hell of a
lot more than she is letting on.'
'But she is not armed.'
'Of course not. Anything inside that dress would stick out a mile.'
Benson sneered. 'They do, sir.'
'Don't be vulgar, Lieutenant,' snapped the Admiral. 'She is not the flighty