"Jerry Pournelle - He Fell into a Dark Hole" - читать интересную книгу автора (Pournelle Jerry)

tell you something painful, my friend. Your father-in-law is missing."

"MissingтАФwhere? I told Martin to be careful, that Millington's
Liberation Army peopleтАж"

"No. Not on Earth. Outsystem. Senator Grant went to Meiji to visit
relatives thereтАж"

"Yes." Ramsey felt the memory like a knife in his vitals. "His nephew,
Barbara Jean's cousin, an officer in the Diplomatic Corps on Meiji. Grew
up in the senator's home. Barbara Jean was visiting him whenтАж"

"Yes." Lermontov leaned closer to Ramsey so that he could touch his
shoulder for a moment. Then he took his hand away. "I do not remind you
of these things because I am cruel, my friend. I must knowтАФwould the
senator have tried to find his daughter? After all these years?"

Bart nodded. "She was his only child. As Harold was mine. If I thought
there was any chance I'd look myself. You think he tried it?"

"We do." Lermontov signaled Torrin to bring him another drink.
"Senator Grant went to Meiji with the visit to his relatives as cover. With
the Japanese representation question to come up soon, and the budget
after that, Meiji is important. The Navy provided a frigate for
transportation. It took the usual route through Colby and around, and was
supposed to return the same way. But we have confirmed reports that
Senator Grant's ship went instead to the jumpoff point for the direct
route."

"What captain in his right mind would let him get away with that?"

"His name was Commander John Grant, Jr. The senator's nephew."

"Oh." Bart nodded again, exaggerating the gesture as he realized the
full situation. "Yeah. Johnny would do it if the old man asked. So you
came all the way out here for my opinion, Sergei? I can give it quick.
Senator Grant was looking for Barbara Jean. So you can write him off and
whatever other plans you've got for the goddam Navy you can write off
too. Learn to live without him, Sergei. The goddam jinx has another good
ship and another good man. Now if you'll excuse me I want to get back to
my ship and get drunk."

Captain Ramsey strode angrily toward the door. Before he reached it
the vice admiral's voice crackled through the room. "Captain, you are not
excused."

"Sir." Ramsey whirled automatically. "Very well, sir. Your orders?"

"My orders are for you to sit down and finish your drink, Captain."
There was a long silence as they faced each other. Finally Ramsey sat at