"Daniel Keys Moran - The Ring" - читать интересную книгу автора (Moran Daniel Keys)

happening at Parliament, and there's something happening in orbit. The Rulers are
getting ready for another campaign, I think. In any event," he said, with cold
amusement glinting in the hard dark eyes, "even if they are not preparing to break the
Treaty, we are." Cain turned away from the old General, looked again at the star
chart. He touched the green dot, and the map flickered; the next instant it held the
image of a planetary system with eight planets and a pair of asteroid rings. The
fourth planet out was a super-Jovian; in orbit about the gas giant was a single satellite
of approximately Earth's size: the planet Cassandra. Cain's comment was utterly
unrelated to the image on the screen. "The Rulers still hold nearly half this Valley, my
friend, from Singer to Parliament itself, the entire length of Almandar; and Maston
holds nearly one fifth of what is left. That is not acceptable."
General Mersai nodded. "I am not arguing, my lord. I merely wish we might send
someone other than yourself."
Cain was silent for a moment. They were on a level with the shipyard; through the
observation bay windows they could see the final work being done on the starship:
the fusion cells being loaded and the lifeplant being lowered into position near the
rear of the cockpit. The soundproofing was not perfect; the clang and rumble of
heavy equipment in operation was, in the silence, just audible. Cain's reply, when it
came, surprised Mersai somewhat. He was used to the bravado of the Warriors and
did not doubt for an instant Cain's courage; he had followed Cain into battle too
many times, had on one occasion seen Cain defeat five skilled Warriors at once in
unarmed combat. "I wish that also, my friend. The day following the day of my
death, the Rulers will bring Eastmarch to its knees. And I am frightened, in some
measure, for myself. When the Rulers were at the height of their power, when
Donner Almandar led his fleet of ships from Earth, he was warned away by the
Sisterhood of the Ring from their home and did obey the warning. This is a
desperate measure, for a desperate time." Cain's gaze came back from a great
distance, and he smiled at the expression on his senior Commander's face. "Death
does not frighten me, my friend. But I dare not fail."
Over the intercom came the call, the voice of the engineer Dailen. "My lord Cain."
There was a pause so brief it was nearly imperceptible. "Your ship is ready."
Cain took a deep, slow breath. "Well."
Mersai stood stock-still for a second and then stretched forth his arm to Cain.
Without hesitation Cain reached over and grasped his forearm.
 It was in Mersai's mind to wish Cain good fortune.
The dark eyes touched his for just a second, and Cain said simply, "I will take
your wishes with me." He released his grasp, turned, and without looking back
strode to the gates leading out onto the floor of the shipyard. The gates slid slowly
aside at his approach and closed just as ponderously behind him.
The words fell, soft. "CainтАж only Cain would try something so foolish. Yet if he
succeeds, he could rule as the Rulers have, foreverтАж" Commander General Orrin
Mersai was not even aware that he had spoken aloud until he heard a sharply indrawn
breath behind him. He turned to look at the junior Commanders; one of them, newly
promoted to his rank, held a visibly shocked look upon his features. Getting old, he
thought wryly, talking to myself. "Is something wrong, Commander Third?"
"Sir? No, sir!"
Mersai cocked his head to one side. "Was it the description of our Lord as
foolish that shocked youтАж or the idea that he might rule this world forever?"
It was a horrible question to pose a junior CommanderтАФa Third, just as low as
one could be in rank above WarriorтАФwho was still unsure of himself. "Sir, no sir. I