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

"We thought that advisable."

"More than advisable, as I'm sure you're beginning to understand, after the past few weeks." Nathaniel waited.

"You know that the needles used on you were military Empire-issue, spiked with a nerve toxin used only by the Empire, and nastier than anything anyone else uses. It was touch and go for a bit, for both of you, and for the trainee."
"Sylvia didn't tell me that."

"That increases my considerable respect for her-and for your choice other." The Prime steepled his fingers briefly. "What do you think about the attack on you being backed by the Imperial military?"

"It couldn't have been. They have to know that, if we revealed the details, that would put the Defense Ministry at direct odds with at least two Imperial Ministries and the Emperor." Nathaniel paused. "That would be an embarrassing situation. It could have theoretically been the work of a lower-level commander who was angry at Admiral Ku-Smythe . . . a set-up to embarrass her and get her removed so that in the future, the next Defense chief would be ready to attack the Coordinate. But I don't see anyone senior enough to order it being that stupid." The sandy-haired Ecolitan cleared his throat. "Or it could be designed to provoke us-or you. Or it could be an Halstani ploy . . ."

"Or an Orknarlian or Fuardian or Federated Hegemony effort-or one by New Avalon," pointed out the Prime. "Or even a subtle move by the Frankan Union. I'd discount that, but not dismiss it."
"New Avalon?"

Pittsway nodded. "While you were recovering, our friend Werlin Restinal paid a visit. You have been requested to visit Arros-in your academic capacity."
"The Delegate Minister of Interstellar Commerce?"
"The same. He requested that you do a study on Artos. It's a recently planoformed colony planet, and he provided some fanciful story about your expertise on infrastructure economics and the possibility of agricultural-technology trade. He also provided some odd shipping manifests, and he looked worried."

That had been where the Prime was leading. Nathaniel wanted to groan.

"You may recall that he's also the shadow minister for Coordinate intelligence, such as it is."

The Ecolitan professor managed not to groan or sigh-barely. "Do we know what the problem is?"

"Torine hasn't told him what the problem is. And Torine isn't about to tell us, if he even knows the details." The Prime shrugged. "Restinal doesn't have any way to get anyone onto Artos. Not anyone he can trust. Everyone knows the Institute can't be bought by the Coordinate government-anyone else from Accord would be automatically suspect, and Artos is three sectors away. Who from here would ever travel that far to a planet barely out of planoforming? Except an Institute economist or a Coordinate intelligence operative? "So why Artos?"

"We don't know, but it's on the edge of the Three System Bulge, and we do know that both the Federated Hegemony and the Fuards, and lately the Frankans, have all been increasing their arsenals, although not there. I find the absence of military activity around the Bulge more disturbing than its presence." The Prime smiled wryly. "We also have a very nervous politician on our hands, and he-or someone-has dummied up a study to get you to Artos. The study has to be real-and first class. And he's got a deal with Camelot, one he won't reveal." "But it's an obvious cover-even to the Avalonians." The Prime nodded.

"How obvious and how nervous was Restinal?"
"Obvious enough that more than a few will know everything about you before you leave. Restinal was nervous enough to mention that Ferro-Maine might be considered an Imperial agent by some, and an embarrassment to the Institute. I told him to take his portfolio and place it somewhere very private and very dark." The Prime smiled. "I'll have to tell her."

"I thought you would. I also thought she might like to accompany you to Artos, but that has to be her choice. She is welcome at the Institute in your absence, and would be accorded full staff privileges. "

"I'll have to ask her." Nathaniel paused. "How does the assassination effort tie into New Avalon?"

"I have this feeling that the Avalonian Commerce Ministry was pressured into requesting the study. Someone doesn't want it done, and Werlin was sent out here to make sure it was . . . and that you were assigned to do it. Someone knew that before Restinal did."

"An infrastructure study? They don't kill people over the allocation of energy and transportation resources." Nathaniel shook his head.

"Unless that allocation ties into something else rather nasty. Then again," said the Prime, "it may all be an elaborate scheme to get you isolated away from Accord."
"I find that hard to believe."
"So do I, but-" the Prime shrugged "-some people take defeats as very, very personal, and you made some very powerful people look very stupid. Right now, we don't know, and by the time we do . . ."
"It could be rather late."

"Exactly. But I feel, as you'll see in the briefing materials, that its much worse than that. Far worse. Possibly far worse than what you just concluded with the Empire."

Nathaniel pursed his lips. He'd hoped for a respite-and the chance to get to know Sylvia better-when he'd returned home. "You don't have to go to Artos."

"I don't know that I'd be any safer here-not if the assassin could penetrate Coordinate security."
"They won't penetrate the Institute."