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

think she is?" and Chaeron's snappish "Do you think I'm
prescient?" before Danae went offline.

Wishing that he understood outboards' innuendo bet-
ter, he began convincing Shebat that she could trek to
New Chaeronea with her Earthish friends another time,
that now he had things to discuss with her more won-
drous than anything the Earth had to offer.

Shebat Kerrion rode to the touchdown site of the
Marada's powerboat accompanied not only by her intel-
ligencer Tempest,-but by enchanters and militiamen
alike. When the dust had cleared and the horses calmed
and the mantis-shape of a little black multidrive emerged
from the clouds thrown up by its landing, two men in
consular black-and-reds and enchanter's capes and shiny
black wizard's boots escorted Shebat the Twice Risen

22

JANET MORRIS

into the flame-spouting chariot's very mouth. Then a
flowing-haired rider in worn, patched vest and trousers
kneed a cakewalking enchanter's steed sideways up to
the shuttle's very hull.

"You are sure about the horses?" called the hoarse-
voiced rider boldly, struggling with the black, blue-eyed
stallion, who stood upon his hind legs and pawed the sky.

"A gift from the house of Kerrion, Jesse Thome,"
Shebat called back. "Do what I have recommended, and
you will live to taste old age."

"Many thanks, little mother," he grinned through grit-
ted teeth, sawing on his reins to get the black's four feet
on solid turf, while his men looked on in awe at what
their commander dared before enchanters.

Behind Shebat, the blond attache grumbled, plucking
at. her woolen robe. Angrily she shook him off, palming
the hatch's "close" mode.

"What harm can it do?" she demanded as the port
closed up. "Well, Hooker? What harm, giving him two
extra horses?" They ducked through the lock into the
body of the little multidrive. "You act as though I gave
him beam-pistols or heat-seekers'"