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

"Well, though I'm highly flattered by the proposal, I suspect that you're
ulcer-prone, in spite of your surface clan. Besides, I doubt if Commissioner
Metaxa plans on dropping dead in the immediate future. But, above all,
you're already married."

"Um." He made a wry face. "That's true, that's true, but we could
always elope to the planet Saudi." He had a finger on the door screen now,
activating it, and standing so that the occupant of the office beyond could
see him.

"Saudi?" Her voice, as always was a tinkle. It would be a perceptive
observer who could suspect that Lee Chang Chu was one of the most
efficient supervisors in the cloak and dagger Section G of the Bureau of
Investigation, Department of Justice, Commissariat of Interplanetary
Affairs.

The door smoothed open and Sid Jakes grinned, even as he politely
motioned her to precede him. "Saudi. The planet Saudi. Polygamy," he
said.

Ross Metaxa, rumpled of clothes as ever, sat behind his cluttered desk.
He was slightly red of eye, sour of mien and gave a first impression of
either too little sleep, or too much bottle belting the night previous.

Before Sid Jakes could get Lee Chang settled into a chair, the
Commissioner of Section G growled, "What is a Special Talents class?" He
reached into a. desk drawer and came up with a squat bottle and three
small glasses. "Denebian tequila?" he said, gesturing an invitation with
the brown bottle.

Lee Chang Chu shuddered a polite negation.

Sid Jakes said, "I'm much too young, Chief."

Lee Chang said, "It's a project of mine, Commissioner. After all, you put
me in charge of recruiting new agents."

He glared at her. Ross Metaxa was the only person in Section G who
would have dreamed of glaring at the tiny Chinese. He picked up a report
from the mess on his desk, laid it down again and thumped it with the
back of his hand.

"Agents, agents! Section G agents, the toughest operatives in United
Planets. It takes years to locate a prospect, more years to train one. You're
an old hand, Chu; I thought I could trust you with this. In the field, you're
as good a supervisor as we have. And in the past you've field trained some
of our best. Ronny Bronston, for example." He looked at his assistant,
perched on the side of his superior's desk. "How is Bronston?"

"Oh, Ronny'll be all right. You can't crisp him."