"GOLDEN, CHRISTIE - THE LAST ROUND-UP" - читать интересную книгу автора (Golden Christie)

sweating profusely and breathing heavily. Under the hot lights, she
could see the bare skin of her own arms gleaming with moisture.

Quick as a thought, she brought the bat'leth down and pressed it against
his throat. For a long moment, they stared into one another's eyes.

Slowly, she eased back and removed the deadly blade. He was faster, and
before she knew it she was caught up in his arms, his sharp-tooth mouth
pressed down on hers, and they were locked in an embrace as violent as
their battle had been.

A sudden silence and utter blackness descended.

"Hey, watch the teeth," Uhura grumbled, clambering off the most famous
opera singer ever to have graced the planet Qo'nos. She dabbed at her
lip gently, wincing. Her finger came away red.

Karglak leapt to his feet, gallantly extending a hand to help her up.
She took it. "I regret any pain I may have caused you," he said. "But
that was marvelous! Marvelous! I was so caught up in the drama I was ...
how do you put it ... carried away." She smiled at him. At least he'd
agreed to start using a mouthwash during their up-close-and-personal
duets. "It's all right, Karglak. I'll take it as a compliment."

"As you should," purred Lamork, the director of the specially written
operetta. "Karglak is notorious for discourtesy to his leading ladies."

"An exaggeration," Karglak scoffed. "They are--what is your word--prima
donnas. Anyone of an artistic temperament would have difficulty
performing with such arrogant females.

You, dear lady, are a professional." He put his hand on his heart, and
executed a bow.

The operetta would be performed in conjunction with a medley of songs
that represented the finest of Earth's musical traditions: ancient
Peruvian and Aboriginal melodies, "Greensleeves," some Gershwin tunes,
two arias from Madame Butterfly, "Ole Man River," "Bring Him Home,"
China's famous

"Moon and Sun Song," among others, and of course the famous

"First Contact, First Touch" from the opera Songs from Space and Time,
widely regarded as Earth's finest musical piece since humans first made
contact with other species.

Despite the bruises, scrapes, and occasional cuts Uhura was forced to
endure as part of this historic extravaganza, she had to confess she was
enjoying herself hugely. Music had always been a great love. When but a
young woman she had been forced to choose between two promising careers: