"Huff, Tanya - What Ho, Magic!" - читать интересную книгу автора (Huff Tanya)

"Smugglers," Erik declared with evident satisfaction.
"Erik, how many times do I have to tell you.
"You're not a smuggler." The boy winked broadly. "I know, I know." He snuggled back into his couch, grinning like an idiot. "Hadn't you better check out that ship?"
As Val approached, the ship grew from a speck to a small vessel hanging motionless in vacuum. "That's just a private yacht," Val said, moving closer still. "Made over for deep space."
"And that's the Atabeg's crest on her bow," Kelly added, lips in a grim line. "Bring us alongside, Val. Let's take a closer look."
"Do you think it's a trap?" Erik asked, sounding as though he rather hoped it was.
Kelly snorted. "If it is, it isn't much of one. Yachts that size carry weapons or Susumu drive Ц they haven't room for both."
"Sensors read one life form, and all systems but drive and communications operative, Boss."
"You know, it looks likeЕ" Erik stopped and shook his head. "Nah, it couldn't be. Not out here."
"Couldn't be what?"
"Well, my cousin Darvish used to visit Grandmother a couple of times a year, and that looks like his yacht."
"Darvish? The Atabeg's son? The reason people keep shooting at us?"
Erik nodded.
"I think," said Kelly, rising and heading out of the control room, "I'd better go investigate this one life form."
"No need."
Val's voice stopped her.
"It seems the life form is coming to investigate us."
The air lock in the yacht opened and a suited figure jetted across the narrow void between the two ships.
Kelly glanced at Erik, who shook his head.
"How can I tell in that suit?" he asked.
She studied the screen for a moment. "Let him in when he gets here, Val," she instructed finally. "But don't open the inner door until you've checked him for weapons. His Magnificence here can ID him when he comes through."
By the time they reached the Valkyrie's air lock, the outer door had shut and the pressure was cycling up. A few moments later, the light went green.
"No weapons, Boss. I'm opening the door."
"Why does Val have extensionals in the air lock?" Erik wanted to know.
"It helps us get the jump on creditors and insurance salesmen," Kelly explained as the door slid open. She pushed the boy out of the direct line of fire.
The suited figure stepped out of the lock and removed his helmet. Kelly sucked in air. She hadn't seen a man that attractive sinceЕwell, not for a long time.
Darvish smiled a dazzling and vacant smile. "Hello, Ahrikhartoum." He tossed blue-black hair out of violet eyes. "What are you doing on my father's rescue ship?"
Erik sighed.
"I keep telling him I don't want to be Shahinshah," Darvish protested, "but he never listens."
Kelly rubbed at her forehead. She was getting a headache. "Let's try this another way," she sighed. "If you don't want to be Shahinshah, what do you want to be?"
"A dilettante," Darvish replied promptly.
"A what?"
"A dilettante. You know, aЕ"
The headache arrived. "I know what a dilettante is. It's not usually considered a career move. Why do you want to be a dilettante?"
Once again, Darvish bestowed on them the light of his smile. "Because it's what I'm good at."
Kelly indulged in a brief moment of sympathy for the Atabeg. "I can understand why your father has trouble with this."
"When you take me back to him, you can help me explain."
"I'm not taking you anywhere."
Violet eyes looked puzzled. "But you have to. I'm Exalted."
"Forget it, Darvish," Erik broke in. "I'm more Exalted than you and she's taking me home."
"I may space both of you and let you walk," Kelly snarled and stomped out of the lounge. "Val, get us out of here and then get me a drink. Preferably something illegal."
Darvish turned to his young cousin. "Where are we going?"
Erik looked smug. "Beats me; but I've got a contract with her and you don't."
"Maybe notЕ." Darvish stood, made a minute adjustment in the tight tunic that covered his broad shoulders and started toward the control room.
"Where are you going?" Erik asked suspiciously.
"To talk to the captain. I want to go home and women are putty in my hands."
"Forget it, Least Exalted," the boy scoffed. "You're more likely to be broken bones in hers."
Darvish merely grinned and continued on his way.
Erik shrugged at his departing back. "So finish telling me about how you and Kelly single-handedly wiped out Hamish O'Shawnessy and his pirates," he prompted Val.
Val didn't need much prompting. "Well, old Hamish had four full sectors terrified of him. Kelly and I felt that wasn't right. The murdering hijacker had tied up trade, making it impossible for an honest businessman to turn a profit. You paid his prices or you paid with your life. Now Kelly refusedЕ" Val slid into the story, Erik squirmed into a more comfortable position, and neither paid any attention to the sound of a large body slamming into a bulkhead with some force.