"Mike Resnick - Birthright" - читать интересную книгу автора (Resnick Mike)

forfeited seven, one being processed in the courts.тАЭ He looked up. тАЬNot a bad record, given some of
those planets. You any relation to the Nelson who helped open up Bowman 29?тАЭ

тАЬHe was my grandfather, sir,тАЭ said Nelson.
тАЬGood man. Never met him, but I've heard him spoken of very highly. Did a beautiful job on Delphini
VII and VIII after Bowman died. However, I didn't bring you here to talk about your progenitors.тАЭ

тАЬI assumed as much, sir,тАЭ said Nelson.

тАЬRight,тАЭ said Landon. тАЬI've got a job for you, if you want it.тАЭ

тАЬExcuse me, sir,тАЭ said Nelson, тАЬbut isn't it highly irregular for the Director of Cartography to make
assignments of this nature? I mean, I've always dealt with the Navy, or with some member of the
Department of Geology.тАЭ

тАЬAbsolutely right,тАЭ agreed Landon. тАЬIt's highly irregular. Never been done before.тАЭ

тАЬMight I ask why the change?тАЭ

тАЬYou might indeed. Don't let the answer throw you.тАЭ

тАЬI won't.тАЭ

тАЬAll right, as long as we're being frank: I have a job for you that the Navy knows nothing about, and
would doubtless never approve if they did know.тАЭ

тАЬDoesn't that amount to treason sir?тАЭ asked Nelson, more puzzled than shocked.

тАЬDepends on your point of view,тАЭ said Landon. тАЬIf it'll make you feel any more secure, you'll be working
for the most powerful single organization in the galaxy.тАЭ

тАЬBut you're just a bunch of mapmakers!тАЭ Nelson blurted out.

Landon stared at him coldly for a moment, then continued as if there had been no interruption. тАЬAnd, in
all modesty, you'll be working for the most powerful man in all of human history: me.тАЭ

тАЬI'm not sure I know quite what to say, sir,тАЭ said Nelson. тАЬI have a feeling that I'm being made the butt
of some practical joke.тАЭ

тАЬFeel anything you like,тАЭ said Landon. тАЬHowever, if you complete the job to my specifications, I'm
prepared to offer you half a billion dollars, or one hundred million credits, if you prefer this new-fangled
currency.тАЭ He dug into his desk and withdrew a check. He slid it over to Nelson, who studied it and let
out a low whistle. тАЬStill think I'm joking?тАЭ

тАЬLet's say my reservations are weakening,тАЭ said Nelson. тАЬThere's nothing wrong with being a rich traitor;
at least, not this rich a one.тАЭ

тАЬThere's no treason involved,тАЭ said Landon. тАЬOnce you've completed the job, you'll very likely be a
bigger hero than me. It's just that things tend to get bogged down in red tape back on Earth, and it would
take years to get this done through normal channels. If the damned fools would just listen to me, they'd