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

authorities asking awkward questions, and finally a long run into Fagin. The circuitous route should bring
us into Fagin along routes a fair ways from the usual inbound and outbound channels for that system.
"Looks good."

"As if I didn't know this job better'n you, Kilcannon!"

"Dingo, somebody has to double-check things like this. You know that, too."

"Oh, I know lots, Kilcannon. Did you tell them new ones yet where we're goin'?"

"No." Jungo, nearby, looked over with ill-conceal alarm.

Dingo grinned nastily. "Where d'they think we're goin'?"

I didn't answer, so Dingo looked at Jungo, who swallowed nervously. "Polder," he half-whispered.

"Polder! Hah! Try Fagin, lad."

"Fagin?" Jungo paled. "But ... the war."

"Yeah! Civil war! Brother against brother! The best kind. And the best rates for those willing to try to run
cargo in through the privateers roamin' the spaceways."

The crew would've heard sooner or later, but I still wasn't happy having it spilled now, days before we'd
get far enough out-system to enter jump to Wayfare. "Shut up."

Dingo just grinned at me. "'Shut up,' is it? And what'll you do if I don't, Kilcannon? Shanghai me on a
voyage to a war zone in an old tub that should've seen the wrecker's yard a handful of years ago?"

Jungo was shaking his head. "I signed on for Polder." His voice wavered. "My contract says Polder."

I shook my own head. "Your contract contains a necessity clause which allows the ship to change
destinations if required. You ought to be grateful for that. We won't meet any arrest warrants on any of
our crew that've been forwarded to Polder. Right?"

Dingo laughed again, Jungo looked stricken and relieved at the same time, and I ignored both of them.
****
So many ships. I keyed the transmitter again. "Wayfare System Control, this is Lady Be Good still
awaiting authorization to clear system."

I sat back to wait. Spacer Siri was at the auxiliary control panel on the bridge, shivering constantly, her
eyes going into and out of focus. Withdrawal from star dust wasn't pleasant to watch, but watching was
all anyone on the Lady could do. It'd either kill her or leave her clear. So far, Siri had been able to follow
orders when I snapped them at her.

A babble of messages from other ships to Wayfare System Control and each other flowed in after I
stopped transmitting. The authorities at Wayfare were obviously overwhelmed again. Why one of the
most often used relay stars couldn't upgrade its system control was beyond me.

Lady was skating along the fringes of Wayfare, just heading for the jump point to Carnavon. A slightly