"Steve Perry - Matador 03 - The Machiavelli Interface" - читать интересную книгу автора (Perry Steven)

A small mirror extruded itself from the slot of the unit and a fine nozzle
laid a left-hand spiral of the pink powder onto the shiny surface. Wall picked
up the mirror and returned to where Cteel stood.
"Variant P?"
Wall smiled, showing a fine and artistic etching of smile lines radiating
from the corners of both eyes. "Yes. A new one from my custom lab. As
exquisite as any you've ever had."
"Thank you, Marcus." Cteel produced a noselining tube, and with the grace
of a tea ceremony master, inhaled the pink dust. When he raised his head, his
eyes were already gleaming. "Excellent! I must recommend this to my
friends."
"Do sit down," Wall said. He waved lazily at the second orthopedia as he
climbed back into his own form-chair. Gel-like, the chair accepted him and
fitted itself perfectly to his contours.
After Cteel sat, Wall said, "Now, what brings you here in person?"
Cteel's smile was perfect, without a trace of guile. "The matter of Khadaji."
"Ah. The Man Who Never Missed. What about him?"
"He is, as I am sure you already know, in the hands of Confederation
troopers on the backwash world of Renault. Very much alive, despite reports
to the contrary."
 Wall smiled. "I have just been reviewing that file. Has anyone determined
how he managed to convince a very savvy Over-Befalhavare Venture that he
was dead?"
"Not as yet. No doubt someone will soon."
"No doubt."
"In any event," Cteel continued, "I am sure you will wish to have him tried
and executed here on Earth, rather than in some provincial camp away from
the publicity we must milk from him."
"Such goes without saying," Wall said. "Unfortunately, Over-Befalhavare
Venture is now in charge of the Shin System, which includes Renault, and he
would very much like to flay Khadaji personally. He lost a great deal of face
originally, none of which has been restored since it was discovered that
Khadaji had been running the bodyguard school practically under the Over-
Befalhavare's nose."
"I can understand his desire."
"If we are to have Khadaji, there will have to be some... concessions made
to Venture."
Wall nodded. Of course. The Confederation was built on concessions. "What
do you think would be appropriate?"
"Perhaps command of Ground Forces. That way he'd be here on Earth,
where we could keep an eye on him. He's whatтАФpushing a hundred? It's
about time for him to bow out, anyway."
Wall stared at his ceiling silk. Lovely, truly it was. "I could have President
Kokl'u arrange that, I am sure."
Cteel nodded. "Good. I'll deliver the message personally."
"I think not, old friend."
"Pardon?"
"Delivering the message. I'll have my man Massey do it. After all, he was a
student at Khadaji's training school, he'll be able to recognize him better."
Cteel looked perturbed, but only for an instant. "I was given to understand