"Janet Morris - Kerrion Empire 03 - Earth Dreams" - читать интересную книгу автора (Morris Janet E)

a hopeless battle to retain their Earthly empire: seces-
sionistsтАФforedoomedтАФno honorable men could suffer
themselves to become. Suicide was unacceptable to con-
sular mores.

Hooker calmed his cohorts it seemed, but when he dis-
patched two to check the horses, a thirdтАФthe redhead
whom Shebat had singled outтАФapproached the cave.

"Knock, knock," he boomed into the cave's mouth.

The intelligencer Tempest, lank and tall, dour of nose
and brow, stepped instantly into view so that the man
gave back a pace. "Yes, Officer . . Rizk, isn't it?" Tem-
pest said, while the redhead squeezed shut his eyes
against a flashlight's sudden glare. "Can I help you?"
Never looking away from the enchanter. Tempest bent,
leaned the light against the cave's arch, and stood up
straight.

"Trick or treat. I quit." Rizk's face was splotched red
as his hair with rage.

"Excuse me?" Tempest's long lineaments went Ker-
rion: noncommittal.

"I said,' 'I quit.' That was treachery not prophecyтАФ
revealing my covert status so that what's-his-name's wife

12

JANET MORRIS

could come off like the Good Witch of the East! You
think I'm going back into costume and risk my butt for
themтАФ" his chin, jutting toward the cave's depths,
quivered, "тАФyou're space-eyed. None of those weekend
rebels failed to recognize Rizk the ironmonger, once that
Kerrion bitch pointed me out! Half those lads are my
clients. 'Enchanter' or no, my life's worth nothing once
this uniform comes off. . . ." Still protesting, plucking at
his quilted black-and-reds, he backed from the bright
light, sensingтАФnow that his fury was abating and he
could think at allтАФsomething in Tempest's demeanor
that urged caution. . . .

The dark intelligencer followed him into the night,
murmuring, "You are sure that you can be of no further
use to us? Perhaps a transfer, up to the platform?"