"C M Kornbluth - That Share Of Glory" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kornbluth C M)

"We are."



'Then I am ready to do what I can for my client."



He took the communicator's seat, stealing a glance in the still-blank screen. The reflection of his face was
reassuring, though he wished he had thought to comb his small beard.
Another light flashed on, and Hufner quit the operator to study the detector board. "Big, powerful and
getting closer," he said tersely. "Scanning for us with directionals now. Putting out plenty of energyтАФ"



The loud-speaker of the ship-to-ship audio came to life.



"What ship are you?" it demanded in Vegan. "We are a Customs cruiser of the Realm of Eyolf. What
ship are you?"



"Have the crew man the squirts," said the trader softly to the chief.



Elwon looked at Aleij, who shook his head. "Sorry, sir," said the engineer apologetically. "The
HeraldтАФ"



"We are the freighter Starsong, Vegan registry," said Alen into the audio mike as the trader choked. "We
are carrying Vegan gems to Lyra."



"They're on us," said the astrogator despairingly, reading his instruments. The ship-to-ship video flashed
on, showing an arrogant, square-jawed face topped by a battered naval cap.



"Lyra indeed! We have plans of our own for Lyra. You will heave toтАФ" began the officer in the screen,
before he noted Alen. "My pardon, Herald," he said sardonically. "Herald, will you please request the
ship's master to heave to for boarding and search? We wish to assess and collect Customs duties. You
are aware, of course, that your vessel is passing through the Realm."