"Jerry Pournelle & Roland Green - Janissaries 3 - Storms of Victory" - читать интересную книгу автора (Pournelle Jerry)

Cubans all around and the only way out a friggin' flying saucer."
"Damned straight."
CHAPTER 2
Rick's party entered the long corridor leading to the Council chamber. There
was a low whistle, then another group came down the stairs to his left. Rick's
guards advanced slightly. The leading guards of the other group fell in behind.
This group moved down the corridor.
Rick waited. After a moment Tylara came in. Silently she fell in beside him.
When she was exactly even with him, they followed the forward guards,
while the others merged behind them.
"You are well, my husband?" Tylara said formally. "I am well. And you?"
"Very well, thank you."
Are you well? Very well. What in God's name has happened to us? Rick
wondered. How long has it been? Weeks. Months.
He could remember when the sight of her was enough to make his heart leap.
God, she's beautiful, she's still beautiful, and I love her still, but we meet in
corridors with guards and witnesses, we speak in formalities, we haven't been
alone in weeks.
When? How did it happen?
After the last campaign. After Les came. After Caradoc was killed in a street
riot. Could that be it? Was she in love with Caradoc? Her bodyguard, her
captain, her rescuer? She knew him long before she knew me.
No! She had plenty of opportunities with Caradoc, before we met, after we
met. She never showed that kind of interest in him. Or anyone else. We were
in love, and now we are not in love, and 1 don't understand it.
"I understand the Wanax will not join us tonight," Tylara said.
"Eh? But the summons to CouncilтАФ"
"Was withdrawn," Tylara said. "We meet with the Eqeta of - -
the Riverland." She smiled at his puzzled look. "It is an ancient convention.
No decisions can be taken if the Wanax is not present. Thus Wanax Ganton
chooses to be represented by the Eqeta of the Riverland. Who is of course
Ganton."
"Oh. Something of that sort was done on Earth. Perhaps it's as well. I don't
know what to recommend anyway."
"Doubtless you will think of something," Tylara said.
And she says that as if she believes it. As if she still believes in me. But she
won't sleep with me, won't even see me alone. Now we go in there, and Gwen
will be there.
Gwen. Could that be it? Tylara always was afraid of Gwen Tremaine. Could
she know about that one timeтАФnonsense. No way. It happened long beforeтАФ
before she started acting funny. And no one knows, except Gwen, and she
sure won't tell.
Jamiy, Rick's orderly and chief of guards, rapped on the Council room door.
In response to the challenge from inside he answered, "The Lord Rick, Eqeta
of Chelm, Captain General of the Host of Drantos, Lord of Star Lords."
Rick glanced at Tylara. She winked.
So she still has a sense of humor. And knows I do. So what in God's Name is
wrong?
Gwen Tremaine finished her presentation and waited while the young man at
the head of the long table stared at the map on the whitewashed wall. Finally