"John Ringo - The Legacy of the Aldenata 7 - Watch On The Rhine" - читать интересную книгу автора (Ringo John)

Federation sector of the galaxy, systems already fallen to the invaders
appearing as red in contrast to Federation blue. The map was framed on
all sides by statistical indicia, the profit and loss sheets so beloved of
Darhel merchants and bankers.

"Obscene," muttered the Urdan. "By what right do you charge us the
absurd wages these barbarians demand? I have shareholders and
investors to whom I am responsible. The cost of these humans is
unsupportable. They should take an Indowy's wage and be grateful for it."

The Ghin rather agreed with that last. The arrogance of the humans was
infuriating. Nonetheless, he answered, "It is the fault of the most
numerous among the human subspecies, the ones they call the Chinese."
A little of the Ghin's own fury at human arrogance began to peek
through. He suppressed that fury ruthlessly; lintatai, once entered into,
was as much a danger to a Ghin as to any Darhel.

"The humans that are called 'Chinese' did some calculations and
determined that the wages we were offering were much less than we
would have been willing to pay. They, along with the other barbarians,
simply held out and refused us aid until we had given them a better
offer." With a smug smile the Ghin concluded, "Not that we would not
have paid three times what the humans demanded. But they didn't know
that, of course. Rejoice that the cost is so low. It could have been much
worse. And rest assured, my expenses were even greater than yours. And
I have plans for these Chinese to answer for their effrontery."

Head still bowed, because the Urdan really was dangerously close to
lintatai, that Darhel lord raised his eyes back to the hologram and asked,
"And that is another thing. I see the frontier plainly marked. But why
have the human mercenaries permitted this open sector where the
Posleen are pushing through en masse?"

In response, the Ghin merely smiled.

***
Closing on the present:

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The tunneling ship hummed with life and purpose; though that purposeтАФ
life for the Po'oslen'ar, the People of the ShipsтАФwas death for all who
stood in their path.

Athenalras mused in pride and satisfaction, contemplating the thrice-
cursed Aldenata instruments few of the People but he could comprehend.