"Mack Reynolds - Code Duello" - читать интересную книгу автора (Reynolds Mack)

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Code Duello by Mack
Reynolds
PART ONE
Chapter One
IRENE KASANSKY said, "He's expecting you. Watch out. The jetsam is
flying today." She did things to the bank of orderboxes she had on her
desk, even as she clipped out her words. Her deft hands flew, pressing
buttons, flicking switches.

Sid Jakes grinned at her. "I've never seen the day," he said, "when you
didn't think the jetsam was flying. I hate to say this, Irene, but I think
you're a fake. I think you like it here at Section G." She glared at him.

Lee Chang Chu, who stood next to the assistant Section G head, said,
"Irene is the most efficient colleague we have."

Irene snorted and snapped into an orderbox: "Well, find him, then!"
She flicked it off and glared up at Lee Chang, standing there hardly five
feet tall and very antique Oriental in her cheongsam dress. "Let me tell
you, Goody Two Shoes, my resignation is in. This efficient colleague has
had it. I'm transferring to Statistics." Sid chuckled over his shoulder even
as he led the way to the door to the sanctum sanctorum beyond. "That'll
be a neat trick to pull off," he said. "The Old Man wouldn't let you go if the
Director of the Commissariat himself was silly enough to want you."

The ultra-secretary glowered at him, but was forced to direct her
attention to her chattering orderboxes.

Sid Jakes held open the door for Lee Chang, taking her slim figure in
appreciatively, as she tripped through in the ages-old quick shuffle of the
Chinese woman.

"Lee Chang," he said, "why don't you marry me? I'm handsome,
reasonably young, of charming disposition, and an incredibly competent
lover, and have excellent prospects, if our good commissioner will ever
drop dead." He hurried ahead of her to deal with the next door.

She cocked her head to one side slightly and thought about it. She said
briskly, "Several reasons, Citizen Jakes."

"I can't imagine what they could be."