"Esther M. Friesner - Chicks 03 - Chicks 'N Chained Males" - читать интересную книгу автора (Friesner Esther M)

"Obviously," the fence agreed, screwing a jeweler's lens into one eye and peering at the emerald. "This
gem is flawed. How did you win? I would have sworn no one would buy that statue."

"Emeralds are always flawed," Kordel replied smoothly. "And I didn't sell the statue."

"You didn't?" Again the fence looked up in surprise, but the effect was rather ruined by the jeweler's
lens. "Then how did you make a profit?"

Kordel leaned against the table. "Do you have any idea," she drawled, "how much money you can make
holding a god for ransom?"

The fence thought about that, then laughed aloud.

"Nightbond tried to bargain with me, if you can believe it," Kordel continued. "But I told her if she didn't
give me a thousand silver, I'd send her a pile of slag and her profitable little rituals would come to an end.
I had her god by theтАФ"

"I see, I see," the fence interrupted. "Now about this emerald . . ."
***

A sultry voice wafted into the shop as the fence peered out the window. "Is she gone?"

"She's gone," he replied.

The curtains to the back room rustled aside and a dark-haired woman slipped unctuously into the shop.
A mail overlay clinked against her black leather corset, and a small cat o' nine tails rustled at her belt.
"The emerald, please," she said, unfolding her hand.

The fence took up his customary place behind the table. "First my fee."
 "Of course." Anya Nightbond reached into a black leather pouch and stacked several silver coins on the
table with fluid grace. "Two hundred for the emerald and two hundred for your trouble."

"I like doing business with the clergy," the fence remarked as he dropped the emerald into Anya's supple
hand. "Especially the wealthy clergy. Who's next?"

Anya toyed thoughtfully with the gem. "Gilroy the Smuggler takes dares if he smokes enough seer's
weed. I'll give a bundle to Bernard of Marthia when I return the betting emerald to him."

The fence nodded. "Just out of curiosity," he asked, "Kordel demanded a thousand silver from you for
the statue. How much did you tell your congregation she wanted?"

"How much wouldyou pay to rescue your sex life?" Anya purred. Then she sauntered out the door.



Elizabeth Moon is a beautiful, brilliant, and incredibly talented SF writer (In My Humble Opinion)
but she'd rather be rich. Her most recent book isRules of Engagement. She lives in Texas with her
husband, son, cat and horse. She'ssupposedto be hard at work on her next book, but I'm glad she
took the time to give us this story.