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

operating for a ship like the Lady. We don't have company contacts and company contracts. We get by
on what the big companies don't want to bother with. That means we end up taking chances."

"There's nothing dishonorable about working a smaller ship," she stated, answering the thing I hadn't said.

"No, Ms. Keracides, there isn't. I'm sorry we're taking you into Fagin. But once we drop off our cargo
we'll be able to get you to a peacekeeper station. Vestral ships help supply those, right? So you'll be
okay. It'd only take a few more weeks to pass through Carnavon, then a little while in jump."

"We appreciate the service, First Officer Kilcannon," she stated dryly.

After Halley Keracides had left, I wondered for a moment why she'd lumped herself in with the Vestral
employees with that ├втВм╦Ьwe.'
****
A week later to the day, Halley Keracides was leaning against the entry to my quarters, her arms crossed
over her chest. "I just learned a funny thing."

I sighed and leaned back to look at her. "What's that?"

"First Officer Chen saw a part in your engine room that looked a lot like something Vestral uses.
Proprietary design. It'd been modified to fit your system."

I pretended to think about that. "So?"

"Vestral doesn't sell those parts. Where'd you get it?"

"A bulk salvage supplier. He gave us a clean bill on it."

"Uh-huh. What'd he charge?"

I let annoyance show. "I'd have to look that up."

"Don't bother. I bet it was fairly cheap, right?"

I stared down at my desk. "We could afford it. The supplier gave us a clean bill."

"Kilcannon, I'm not an idiot and neither are you. That part was obviously stolen property."

I looked back at her, keeping my expression controlled. "The supplier gave us a clean bill," I repeated.

"And you expect me to believe that you never suspected the part was stolen."

"I'm not a cop and I don't have the time or money to do the cops' jobs for them."

"An ethical sailor wouldn't do that kind of business," she shot back.

"Some kinds of ethics are luxuries, Ms. Keracides. We can't afford a lot of luxuries on the Lady."
Her face closed down and she started to spin away, then stopped herself and eyed me. "'Some kinds of
ethics are luxuries,' you said. Just some kinds?"