"L. E. Modesitt - Timedivers -Timegods - 03 - Timegods' World" - читать интересную книгу автора (Modesitt L E)

"Rather impressive," observed the stocky man, his red hair somehow bushy in spite of its
close-cropped nature.

"Isn't that the nature of royalty? To be impressive, I mean?" Her voice held an edge.

"That doesn't make young Hrtallen any less impressive. Besides, getting his formal
support for the Mithrada planet-forming can't hurt once the initial enthusiasm dies down."

"Assuming he isn't the politician his mother was."

"Lorinda."

"I know. It had to be done. The Eastron anarchy was a danger to everyone, but did they
have to be so damned thorough? All the time that white-haired and sweet-faced old harpy
was displaying motherly concern, her peacemakers were rooting out anyone who could
pronounce the word anarchy."

The Imperial coat of arms faded from the screen, to be replaced in turn by an official
Imperial newscaster in the traditional blue and gold. "That was the send-off speech of the
emperor, dedicating the unified Queryan mission designed to turn Mithrada into the
second habitable planet within our solar system."

The view switched to an ancient circular brownstone tower, flying two banners, one the
Westron flag, and the second bearing a sheaf of grain crossed with a single red flower--a
ryall.

"But there are those who doubt the practicality and wisdom of tampering with the
Mithradan ecosphere, such as it is. One of the doubters, here at the University of
Vrecallitt, is Academician Terril Josset . . ."

"Turn it off, Harlon," snapped Lorinda. "One thing worse than a sincere emperor is an
insincere and misguided academic."

The screen returned to a view of the stars before the Hope, as it edged inward toward the
orbit of the sun's second planet, toward its mission to reform and cool the blistering wastes
of Mithrada. To strip the heavy atmosphere and rebuild the planet in the image desired by
men and women. To mine the only concentrations of metals within even impractical
possibility, now that the thin outer asteroid belts had been stripped of what could be found.
 Ill
I WAS BORN in Bremarlyn, which no longer exists, like most of the cities and towns of
Westron, the great western continent. Then it stood about one hundred kays east of
Inequital.

Bremarlyn had little to distinguish it except that it contained the regional revenue office of
the Imperial Government. My father was a solicitor in the service of the Crown, and he
served as the local tax prosecutor of a government and a world that has passed into
history.

My thoughts, scattered as they are, will be included in the sealed section of the Archives,
while I still retain the power to ensure both their inclusion and the sealing of the records.