"Joe Haldeman - Blood Brothers" - читать интересную книгу автора (Haldeman Joe)

you missing, Amoli?"
"Heart. And a block of krrf."
"All right." He drank off the rest of his small glass and refilled it. "There is a man high in
the court of Ranke, old and soon to die. His son, who would inherit his title, is slothful,
incompetent, dishonest. The old man's counselors would rather the daughter succeed; she is
not only more able but easier for them to control."
"I think I know the family you speak of," Amoli said.
"When I was in Ranke on other business, one of the counselors got in touch with me and
commissioned me to dispose of this young pigeon, but to do it in Sanctuary. The twenty
grimales was my pay, and also the goad, the bait. The boy is no addict, but he is greedy, and
the price of krrf is three times higher in the court of Ranke than it is in the Maze. It was
arranged for me to befriend him and, eventually, offer to be his wholesaler.
"The counselor procured the krrf from Caronne and sent word to me. I sent back a
tempting offer to the boy. He contrived to make the journey to Sanctuary, supposedly to be
introduced to the emperor's brother. He'll miss the appointment."
"That's his blood on your sleeve?" the eunuch asked.
"Nothing so direct; that was another matter. When he's supposed to be at the palace
tomorrow, he'll be floating in the harbor, disguised as the shit of dogs."
"So you got the krrf and the boy's money as well," Amoli said. "Half the money. He tried
to croy me." He refilled the woman's glass. "But you see. There can be no connection."
"I believe there may be. Anenday was when mine disappeared."
"Did you keep it wrapped in a cheese?"
She ignored that. "Who delivered yours?"
"Marype, the youngest son of my sorcerer Mizraith. He does all of my caravan
deliveries."
The eunuch and Amoli exchanged glances. "That's it! It was from Marype I bought the
block. Not two hours after the caravan came in." Her face was growing red with fury.
One-Thumb drummed his fingers on the table. "I didn't get mine till evening," he
admitted.
"Sorcery?"
"Or some more worldly form of trickery," One-Thumb said slowly. "Marype is studying
his father's trade, but I don't think he's adept enough to transport material objects...could
your krrf have been an illusion?"
"It was no illusion. I tried a pinch."
"Do you recall from what part of the block you took it?" "The bottom edge, near one
corner."
"Well, we can settle one thing," he said, standing. "Let's check mine in that spot."
She bade the bodyguards stay and followed One-Thumb. At the door to his office, while
he was trying to make the key work, she took his arm and moved softly up against him.
"You never tarry at my place any more. Are you keeping your own woman, out at the
estate? Did we do somethingтАФ"
"You can't have all my secrets, woman." In fact, for more than a year he had not taken a
woman normally, but needed the starch of rape. This was the only part of his evil life that
shamed him, and certainly not because of the women he had hurt and twice killed. He
dreaded weakness more than death, and wondered which part would fail him next.
Amoli idly looked through the one-way mirror while One-Thumb attended to the
strongbox. She turned when she heard him gasp.
"Gods!" The leather wrapping lay limp and empty on the floor of the box.
They both stared for a moment. "Does Marype have his father's protection?" Amoli
asked.