"Derek Paterson - The Kaiserine's Champion" - читать интересную книгу автора (Paterson Derek)

closely, as if making sure I hadn't escaped. I rattled my chains to set his mind at rest.
 "Sergeant, release this man,тАЭ my visitor said. тАЬI'm going to send someone up to collect him. Make sure
he's ready by the time they arrive."

The sergeant protested. тАЬWith respect, sir, he's the Duke's prisoner. He killed the Duke's Wardens."

The nobleman shook his head. тАЬYou're wrong, Sergeant, he is my prisoner. He was arrested and
brought here by my Constables, not the Duke's Wardens, who displayed remarkable incompetence by
failing to kill him, wouldn't you agree?"

Realization struck me like a lightning bolt.The Noseys were his men. I'd been talking to none other than
Otto Thenck, Head of the Ministry of State Security and the most feared man in the Empire.

The tired old joke about the Secret Police sprang to mind unbidden. A man limps into his local tavern
and collapses over the bar. His face is swollen and his teeth have been kicked out, but he buys drinks for
everyone and tells them he's celebrating. Why? they ask. тАЬThe Secret Police paid me a visit tonight,тАЭ he
explains, тАЬbut they got the wrong address. They wanted the fellow who lives next door.тАЭ And everyone
gets drunk, because they all know it's better to have your teeth kicked out by mistake than taken down
into the dark cellars beneath Ministry headquarters, never to be seen again.

Only it wasn't really a joke, it was a true story, and the man responsible for such casual, fear-inspiring
brutality stood before me.

"But what will I tell the Duke, sir?тАЭ the sergeant said, a pleading note in his voice. тАЬHe's bound to ask."

"You have prisoners in the other cells, haven't you?"

The sergeant scratched his head, plainly puzzled. тАЬYes, sir. Petty thieves for the most part. A pair of
smugglers, a husband who cut off his unfaithful wife's ears, a forgerтАФ"

"A forger!тАЭ Thenck's scowl made the sergeant flinch. тАЬWhen was he arrested?"

"Yesterday, sir. Caught passing wooden coins painted silver. Not too clever, sir. It's fifty lashes for him,
then a lengthy spell in prison."

"I disagree. Inept as he is, his is the worst crime of all, for he was attempting to undermine the economy
of the Empire. I'll respect assassins and even spies, but never forgers. Let me tell you what you will do,
Sergeant. You will go to the forger's cell. There, you will bind his arms and legs securely, then gag him
and put a hood over his head. When the Duke's men come looking for this prisoner"тАФhe pointed at
meтАФ"you will give them the forger instead. Do you understand?"

His tone carried a distinct element of threat, hinting that failure to comply would bring swift and
unwelcome retribution. The sergeant swallowed hard. So did I. тАЬYes, sir,тАЭ he said weakly.

Thenck nodded, satisfied, and without another word he left the cell and went back down the corridor.

The sergeant sighed with relief. тАЬIt seems you have friends in high places, lad,тАЭ he said quietly. тАЬYou
know who that was? Otto Thenck! The Magician! You know why they call him that? Because he makes
people disappear.тАЭ He laughed. тАЬMaybe you've escaped the noose, but there are worse deaths than
hanging, mark my words. That's something else for you to think about, eh?тАЭ He found the key on his ring