"James P. Hogan - Leapfrog" - читать интересную книгу автора (Hogan James P)

the Chinese had been constructing something large in lunar orbit, the.
purpose of which had not been revealed. It had provoked some
speculation and a lot of unflattering satire and cartoons about their
late-inthe-day start at imitating everyone else. тАЬAfter all, what year
is it of theirs? IsnтАЩt it the Year of the Monkey, yes?тАЭ
Vusilov started to laugh, but Leon cut him off with a warning
shake of his head, and nodded to indicate an Oriental whom Halloran
hadnтАЩt noticed before, sitting alone in an alcove on the far side of
the room. He had a thin, droopy mustache and pointed beard, and was the
only person in the room who was dressed formally, in a dark suit with
necktie, which he wore with a black silk skullcap. He sat erect,
reading from a book held high in front of his face, and showed no sign
of having overheard.
Vusilov made a silent Oh with his mouth, in the manner of someone
guilty of a faux pas, but at the same time raised his eyebrows in a way
that said it didnтАЩt matter that much.
тАЬWhoтАЩs he?тАЭ Halloran murmured.
тАЬThe Chinese representative,тАЭ Leon replied quietly.
тАЬWhat are they doing here?тАЭ
тАЬWho knows what they do anywhere?тАЭ Vusilov said. тАЬWe have many
countries with persons at MARSMOS, whose reasons are a mystery. They do
it for getting the prestige.тАЭ
тАЬThatтАЩs why this is called the Diplomatic Lounge,тАЭ Leon added.
тАЬAnyway, we shall talk with you later, Leon,тАЭ Vusilov said.
тАЬI тАШope you enjoy your stay тАШere, Monsieur тАШalloran.тАЭ
Vusilov led the way over to the chairs that he had indicated from
the bar, set one of the glasses down on the small table between them,
and sat down with the other. Halloran took the other chair and picked
up his drink. тАЬSo, hereтАЩs to . . . ?тАЬ He looked at the Russian
invitingly.
тАЬOh, a prosperous business future for us, I suppose. . . .тАЬ
VusilovтАЩs mood became troubled again. He eyed Halloran uncertainly as
their glasses clinked.
But, just for the moment, Halloran was oblivious as he sipped his
drink and savored the feeling of a new future beginning and old
differences being forgotten. A portent of the new age dawning . .
Until Vusilov said, тАЬWhat else did Reuthen do for you?тАЭ
тАЬHell, why get into this?тАЭ
тАЬA matter of professional pride. You forget that the KGB was the
number-one, ace, properly run operationтАФnot sloppy-dash slipshoe outfit
like yours.тАЭ
тАЬOh, is that so? Then what about the general who defected in
2012, in Berlin? We snatched him from right under your noses. That was
a classic.тАЭ
тАЬYou mean Obarin?тАЭ
тАЬOf course, Obarin.тАЭ
Vusilov tried to muster a laugh, but it wasnтАЩt convincing. тАЬThat
old fart! We gave him to you. He knew nothing. He was more use to us on
your side than on ours.тАЭ
тАЬCome on, letтАЩs get real. HeтАЩd been a frontline man ever since he