"Laumer, Keith - Retief of the COTUC" - читать интересную книгу автора (Laumer Keith)

Leashed Ire; but cooler counsels soon pre-
vailed."

"How about a 764, sir?" the Econ Officer
essayed: "Amused Contempt, with just a hint
of Unpleasant Surprises in the Offing?"

"Too subtle," Colonel Saddlesore grunted.
"What about the old standby, 26-A?"

"Oh, the old 'Threat to Break Off Talks'
ploy, eh, Wilbur? Embellished with a side is-
sue of Tableshape Dispute, I assume?"

"Gentlemen!" Clawhammer called the con-
ference to heel. "You forget that the date of
the elections is rushing toward us! We've no
time for traditional maneuvers. The problem
is simple: how best to arrive at a meeting of
the minds with the guru."

"Why not just call him in and offer to back
him in a take-over, provided he plays ball?"
the PR Chief proposed bluntly.

"I assume, Irving," Clawhammer said into
the shocked silence, "that what you actually
meant to suggest was that we give His Trucu-
lence assurances of Corps support in his ef-
forts to promote Oberonian welfare, in the
event of his securing the confidence of the
electorate, as evinced by victory at the polls,
of course."




26 Keith Laumer

"Yeah, something like that," Irving mut-
tered, sliding down in his chair.

"Now," Clawhammer said, "the question re-
mains, how best to tender my compliments to
His Truculence, isolated as he is in his remote

fastness ..."
"Why, simple enough, sir," Magnan said.

"We just send a messenger along with an in-