"John G. Hemry - Lady Be Good" - читать интересную книгу автора (Hemry John G)

I shook his hand and smiled politely. "I'm glad we were able to help." Behind Chen, the junior company
spacers were gaping around in obvious dismay at the condition of the Lady. The other officer and the
woman showed better manners.

Chen gestured to his companion. "Third Officer Constantine." Constantine nodded her head, giving me a
grateful smile.

Then Chen pointed to the woman who wasn't dressed like crew, but before he could speak she came
forward. "Halley Keracides. Thank you, Captain."

I shook my head. "I'm First Officer Kilcannon. Captain Weskind couldn't be here. She sends her
apologies. What happened to you all?"

Chen grimaced. "When we came out of jump here in Carnavon there was a pirate right on top of us."
Dingo frowned in disbelief. I imagine I did, too. "I know the odds against that. But it turned out our
Fourth Officer had sold our jump calculations. Perfect place to betray us, a system where the odds of
anyone stumbling across the attack would be almost zero."

"I take it that's why the Fourth Officer's not with you."

Another grimace. "Him because he sold us out, and most of the others for ransom from Vestral. But the
pirates didn't have enough space for all of us, they said, so they left us six behind. Me and Constantine
with the sailors because they said we had bad attitudes."

I imagined the Captain of the Canopus had displayed plenty of bad attitude as well, but they would've
needed him or her for any ransom demand. I looked at Halley Keracides. Neither she nor her clothes
bore signs of anything beyond a middle-class income. "I guess they didn't think Vestral would cough up
any money for you."

She gave me a flat look back. "Why would they?"

Then again, maybe she'd had a bad attitude, too. I faced First Officer Chen. "Our crew's not at full
strength so we've got some spare accommodations. You can have our Second Officer's quarters."

Chen nodded politely, keeping to himself whatever thoughts he might have about a ship that was sailing
without a Second Officer onboard. "Thank you for the offer, but I feel Ms. Keracides should have those
quarters."

It didn't matter to me. "Fine. Dingo, show everyone to their quarters."

"I got a lifeboat to stow, darlin'." I counted to five slowly, letting Dingo see how I felt. He shrugged.
"Fine. I'll do it later. Come on, you."

Chen must have talked to his sailors, because the next time I saw them they were pretending not to notice
what bad shape the Lady was in. Chen offered on behalf of all the sailors to work for their room and
board until I could drop them off in port, which offer I cheerfully accepted. I could use skilled sailors,
especially ones I didn't have to pay. "What about Ms. Keracides? What's she do?"

Chen dropped his eyes and shrugged. "She's a manager of some sort, I understand."