"Charles L. Harness-Stalemate in Space" - читать интересную книгу автора (Harness Charles L)

 She thought quickly. This pompous little ass would have to be given some answer that would keep him
from checking with the inquisitor. It would have to be something personal. She looked at the false black
in his eyebrows and sideburns, and the artificial way in which he had combed hair over his bald spot. She
crossed her knees slowly, ignoring the narrowing eyes of S'ria Gerek, and smoothed the back of her
braided yellow hair. He was studying her covertly.
"The men in the fighting zones are uncouth, S'rin Gorph," she said simply. "I was told that you, that is, I
mean-- "
"Yes?" he was the soul of graciousness. S'ria Gerek began to dictate loudly into her mechanical
transcriber.
Evelyn cleared her throat, averted her eyes, and with some effort, managed a delicate flush. "I meant
to say, I thought I would be happier working for-- working here. So I asked for a transfer."
S'rin Gorph beamed. "Splendid. But the occupation isn't over, yet, you know. There'll be hard work
here for several weeks yet, before we cut loose from the enemy globe. But you do your work well"--
winking artfully-- "and I'll see that-- "
He stopped, and his face took on a hunted look of mingled fear and anxiety. He appeared to listen.
Evelyn tensed her mind to received and deceive a mental probe. She was certain now that the Zone
Commandant was high-born and telepathic. The chances were only fifty-fifty that she could delude him
for any length of time if he became interested in her. He must be avoided if at all possible. It should not
be too difficult. He undoubtedly had a dozen personal secretaries and/or concubines and would take
small interest in the lowly employees that amused Gorph.
Gorph looked at her uncertainly. "Perat, Viscount of the Tharn Suns, sends you his compliments and
wishes to see you on the balcony." He pointed to a hallway. All the way through there, across to the
other wing."
As she left, she heard all sound in the room stop. The transcribing and calculating machines trailed off
into a watchful silence, and she could feel the eyes of the men and women on her back. She noticed then
that the Faeg had ceased firing.
***


Her heart was beating faster as she walked down the hall. She felt a very strong probe flooding over
her brain casually, palping with mild interest the artificial memories she supplied: Escapades with officers
in the combat areas. Reprimands. Demotion and transfer. Her deception of Gorph. Her anticipation of
meeting a real Viscount and hoping he would let her dance for him.
The questing probe withdrew as idly as it had come, and she breathed a sigh of relief. She could not
hope to deceive a suspicious telepath for long. Perat was merely amused at her "lie" to his
under-supervisor. He had accepted her at her own face value, as supplied by her false memories.
She opened the door to the balcony and saw a man leaning moodily on the balustrade. He gave no
immediate notice of her presence.
The five hundred and sixth heir of Tharn was of uncertain age, as were most of the men of both globes.
Only the left side of his face could be seen. It was gaunt and leathery, and a deep thin scar lifted the
corner of his mouth into a satanic smile. A faint paunch was gathering at his abdomen, as befitted a
warrior turned to boring paper work. His closely cut black hair and the two sparkling red-gemmed
rings-- apparently identical-- on his right hand seemed to denote a certain fastidiousness and unconscious
superiority. To Evelyn the jeweled fingers bespoke an unnatural contrast to the past history of the man
and were symptomatic of a personality that could find stimulation only in strange and cruel pleasures.
In alarm she suddenly realized that she had inadvertently let her appraisal penetrate her uncovered
conscious mind, and that this probe was there awaiting it.
"You are right," he said coldly, still staring into the court below. "Now that the long battle is over, there
is little left to divert me."
He pushed the Faeg across the coping toward her. "Take this."