"David Feintuch - Seafort 03 - Prisoner's Hope" - читать интересную книгу автора (Feintuch David)

PRISONERтАЩS HOPE
DAVID FEINTUCH

PART 1
April, in the Year
Of our Lord 2200

CHAPTER 1

Admiral Tremaine drew himself up, jowls pursed in indignation. "Who would you
believeтАФthis young scoundrel or me?" Ignored for the moment, I held the at-ease
position.

That's not the issue." Fleet Admiral De Marnay gestured at the holovid chip I'd
brought on U.N.S. Hibernta across sixty-nine light-years of void. "Captain
Seafort is but a messenger. Your recall was ordered by Admiralty at home."

Through the Admiral's unshuttered window, the late afternoon sun of Hope Nation
illuminated his Centraltown office with dazzling brightness. A muted roar
signaled yet another shuttle lifting off to Orbit Station from the spaceport
behind Admiralty House,

I sighed; I'd docked Htberma at the Station just hours before, and my trip
groundside was proving no respite from the tensions of the bridge. Pd had no
idea Geoffrey Tremaine would be in the office when Admiral DC Marnay received my
report.

"Messenger, my arse,** Tremaine swung toward me, glowering. "You arranged it!"

I decided it was a question, so I could respond without fear of contradicting my
superior. "No, sir, Admiral Brentley made the decision jmd I wasn't consulted,rt

"A patent lie." Tremaine dismissed me with an airy wave and turned back to the
Admiral Commanding. "Georges, be reasonableтАФ"

"It is no lie!** The savagery of my snarl startled even me. The two Admirals
glared, astounded at such an interruption from a mere Captain, the youngest in
the U.N. Navy. I rushed on, abandoning the shreds of my discipline, "Mr.
Tremaine, Lord God knows that if anyone should be removed from command, it is
you. But I'say again, I had no part in it. Admiral De Marnay, as my verity has
been questioned, I demand truth testing!" Drags and polygraph would quickly
confirm my statement or expose my lie.

Georges De Marnay got slowly to his feet. "You demand, Captain?" His tone was
glacial.

"Sir, I have never lied to a superior officer!" It was the one remnant of honor
I'd retained in my slide to damnation. "Three times he's accusedтАФ"

"Seafort, get hold of yourself. Be silentf"