"Flint, Eric - Weber, David - Honorverse SS - From the Highlands" - читать интересную книгу автора (Flewelling Lynn)

told him so to his face. Twice. Once before the Revolution, and
once after." Usher shrugged. "He didn't much seem to care, one
way or the other. You can say that much for Saint-JustЧhe
doesn't kill people out of personal spite. And I'll grant you that he
isn't personally a sadistЧunlike most of the people working for
him."
Victor flushed at the implied insult. But he made no retort, for the
simple reason that he couldn't. In the short time since his
graduation from the SS Academy, Victor had learned that
Usher's sneer was all too close to the truth. Which, of course,
was why he was sitting in this tavern in the first place, as
dangerous as it was.
Usher lifted the glass and took a sip. From the color of the liquid
and what he had read in Usher's fileЧvery big file, even if Victor
suspected half of it was missingЧhe was sure it was Terran
whiskey. Sour mash, technically, from some small province
called Tennessee.
Usher rolled the glass in his hand, inspecting the amber contents.
"But I decided it would be best if I made myself scarce. So, after
a time, I took the commission they offered me in the Marines and
volunteered to head up the security detachment at the embassy
on Terra. Six months' travel, it is, from here to the People's
Republic. The arrangement suits me fine. Saint-Just too,
apparently."
Usher downed his drink in one gulp and set the shot glass on the
table. The motion was swift and sure. The shot glass didn't even
make so much as a clink when it hit the table top.
"Now get to the point, wonderboy. Why are you here? If you're
trying to set me up, don't bother. My attitude toward SS is just as
well known to Rob Pierre as it is to Saint-Just." For a moment, a
wicked little gleam came to Usher's eyes. "But Pierre's a bit fond
of me, don't you know? I did him a favor, once."
Usher's eyes came to Victor, and the gleam got a lot more
wicked. "So go look for a promotion somewhere else."
Victor started to speak, but cut his response short. The bartender
had finally arrived. "What'll you have?" he asked, as he refilled
Usher's shot glass without being prompted. The Marine citizen
colonel was a regular in the place.
Victor ordered a beer and waited until it was served before
speaking. "I'm not trying to set you up for anything, Usher. I need
your advice."
Usher was back to staring at his drink. The only sign he had
heard Victor was a slight cock in his eyebrow. Victor hesitated,
trying to think of the best way to say what he had to say. Then,
shrugging, went straight to it.
"Durkheim's been dealing with the Mesans. And their cult
sidekicks here on Terra. That stinking outfit called the Sacred
Band."
Silence. Usher stared at his drink for a few seconds. Then, in
another swift motion, drank half of it in one toss. "Why does that