"Modesitt,.L.E.-.Ecolitian.Enigma.v1.1" - читать интересную книгу автора (Modesitt L E)

"We are well aware of the Institutes capabilities, as are the Avalonians."

"Minister Restinal . . . for whom did you agree to do this report, and why?"

"Officially, the report will be prepared for submission to the Commerce Ministries of both New Avalon and the Coordinate."

"I see. And what . . . emphasis . . . do you expect this report to highlight, Werlin?"

"I would like to see the report as factual and impartial as possible," Restinal answered earnestly. "You're aiming this toward Whaler like a point-tailed retriever. Why? The poor bastard deserves a rest. We do have other experts in the Institute."

"The Ministry has gained a great appreciation of Professor Whaler's skills, even in dealing with our own bureaucratic structures, and, alas, even we have those . . ."
"Oh?"

"You may not have heard, but he was successful in . . . encouraging a young . . . professional, from the External Affairs Committee staff of the Imperial Senate to return to Accord with him. In some fashion, he obtained clearance from both governments, or documents which represent such a clearance. Especially those endorsed, even indirectly, by the Prime Ecolitan." Restinal shrugged. "It's not exactly politic to question successful Legates, especially those who have outmaneuvered the Empire, on such a relatively minor matter."

"I'm well aware of Ms. Ferro-Maine, and you knew that before you headed out here. You wouldn't be bringing it up, Werlin, if you weren't angling for something. What mess have you got stewing with New Avalon? Is this some involuted scheme Torine designed?"

"You misunderstand me. Prime. It's just that I would scarcely want to have the Institute embarrassed by the arrival of an Imperial citizen who might be linked to the I.I.S."

"Restinal, you are behaving more and more like Torine every day. Or Quaestor and Verlingetti. I understand that Elder Torine has only a thin working majority, and that you Normists wish to retain power. That's politics. The Institute doesn't care for most of your games, but every society and government ends up with political intrigue. What we resent is your attempting to conceal that intrigue when you're asking the Institute for something. So, if you don't start thinking and leveling with the Institute, I'll be forced to suggest that you take your portfolio and place it somewhere very private and very dark." Restinal felt himself flushing. He rose. "Sit down. We, or Ecolitan Whaler, saved your precious posterior. For Torine to send you out here to insist on a dubious study with a clear second purpose and then to threaten either one of us shows little gratitude and less sense. That's particularly true given what Whaler's been through. Further, if I made public what you just implied, you and Torine would suffer more than the Institute, and you don't have that many seats on your side of the aisle to spare. You'll have even less if Elder Quaestor or Verlingetti or one of the Orthodoxist radicals hear this. Now, what do you really want and why?"

Restinal tried not to clamp his lips together too hard as he reseated himself.

The Prime waited, a half smile upon his lightly tanned and lined face.

"All I can say is that Artos is mentioned in some materials we are not supposed to have. There is also a strong possibility for some agricultural-technology transfer trade."
"Werlin..."

"Honestly, respected Prime. That is all I can say because its all we know."

"There has to be some context," pointed out Pittsway. "Artos appeared in some standard business communiquщs from a New Avalon factor with a less than savory reputation. We think the copies were sent to our woman in New Avalon by a Hand of the Mother. The context was merely a listing of cargos and agricultural techpaks destined there."

"Since these are of themselves no value, I presume you brought copies," said the Prime. Restinal nodded slowly.

"Bur you don't feel comfortable turning them over to me unless I agree to send Whaler on this fools errand?" The Prime Ecolitan glanced at the datacase in Restinal's lap. "You know better than that. After we see the communiques, and after Professor Whaler is recovered enough to review the materials . . . if he's interested, he can make that choice. He deserves that after saving your posterior. Agri-tech trade indeed. Do you think Artos is just a pretext? Have you any idea of where this insignifi can't system is?" Restinal sat silently. "Werlin?"

"It's a fringe system of New Avalon."
"And?"

"It's the closest system to the Three System Bulge."
"My . . ." Pittsway drew out the word. "What a coincidence. The Fuards hold the Three System Bulge, which they took from the Empire during our war of secession, and they're flanked by Artos, held by New Avalon, by the Federated Hegemony, and by the Frankan Union, and by, of course, the Empire. And you blithely suggest that there's nothing beyond some cargo manifests and an economic study?"

Restinal looked at the smoothly finished wood floor. "Didn't you learn anything from the last mess, Werlin? First, if you have those communiques, so does every intelligence service in the Galaxy. Second, whoever it was that leaked them to you knows you'll have to go to the Institute, and they'll be watching. That means someone wants us to do something they can't do, won't do, or want to blame us for. We still have to do this . . . study-and I presume it's something you have worked out as a tacit cover that the entire Galaxy will know is a cover. And we'll have to do it well, even while doing your dirty work. Our problem here at the Institute is that we live in the same system as you idiots do, that we have a fondness for Accord, and that, unlike some, we attempt to live up to all our codes-and that means we don't play politics. Not your way." Pittsway smiled. "So . . . do you trust us, or are you going to take your papers home and fold gliders out of them-which is about what they'll be worth if you leave without giving them to us?"

Restinal held in a sigh. Why was Elder Torine always putting him in such impossible positions?

"Torine puts you in those positions, Werlin, because you're basically honest, and no one else in the Delegate Ministries is both honest and intelligent. You're also expendable because you got the portfolio through expertise and not political capital." Restinal did sigh as he opened the datacase. "You're handing us a mess, Werlin, but it's not nearly that bad for you."

Restinal was sure it was worse, far worse, and that his troubles were just beginning. He handed the flimsies across the desk.