"Stephen Goldin - The Sword Unswayed" - читать интересную книгу автора (Goldin Stephen)

The Sword Unswayed
by Stephen Goldin
The attack by the mad alien robot surprised everyone at the cookbook writers' award banquet.

The official banquet had just broken up; the speeches had all been delivered, the awards had all been
presented. People milled about in small groups as the crowd slowly filtered out of the dining hall. Bian
Dinh stood beside her chair, her petite figure outlined by the gold silk dress embroidered with red
dragons. "Did you hope to make the party rounds tonight, Debs?"

Rabinowitz winced at the college nickname. She'd already told Dinh three times she preferred
"De-BOR-ah" these days, but the other woman steadfastly refused to listen. "Actually, I hoped to avoid
them. I like writers individually, but in groups . . .." She gave a mock shudder. "As soon as they learn I'm
a broker, they swarm on me to sell their books offworld. I hate saying no."

"So I remember."

"Well, I've learned _how_ to say it, now, but I get tired of the way they look when I tell them it's easier
to snag the lottery."

"I wasn't looking forward, either, to the parties. These people are all _dreskas,_ they talk of nothing but
business. Recipes and book contracts, as though the people who ate the food were less important than
the ingredients that go in it. The oppressed people of the world can't even afford most of the spices they
write about." She paused. "I hoped we could have a more private reunion. We haven't seen each other in
seven years --"

"I'll have to ditch that too, I'm afraid," Rabinowitz said. Then, as she saw Dinh's expression fall, she
added, "I have to be sharp for a rehearsal tomorrow."

"Rehearsal?"

"Yes, I direct an amateur theater group these days. We open the Scottish play in two weeks, and
tomorrow's our first full run-through."

There was a sudden commotion in the back of the hall. People were pushing and jostling and there were
a couple of surprised shouts. Suddenly an alien's rented robot body broke through the crowd and started
toward the center of the room.

It was a cheap older model, with a short, thin unisex body and indeterminate facial features. Its clothes
were painted on and peeling, while its face was covered with small scratches and dents from users who
tried to do unaccustomed things with it.

The current user was also not very adept. The body leaned forward, having a hard time balancing
upright, while the arms swung about in front as though the user were unsure whether to use them as legs.
The head turned from side to side as though used to scanning its surroundings much more quickly. If it
weren't for the path of bruised and fallen people it had pushed aside in its crude rush into the hall, the
creature would have been laughable.

"Malfunctioning?" Dinh wondered.

"No, it's turned off the autos," Rabinowitz said. "It couldn't be shoving people if they were on."