"E. E. Doc Smith - D' Alembert 3 - The Clockwork Traitor" - читать интересную книгу автора (Smith E. E. Doc)

and broadcast his serial number, because from out of nowhere five copters
surrounded
him, paralleling his course-one below, one above, and three in a triangle
around him at
the same altitude.

The radio on his control panel came to life. "Land your craft at once,
Winsted, or face
the consequences. We have authorization to fire on your copter if necessary."

Think, man, Winsted told himself. But his mind still felt slightly muzzy from
the hypnotic
block and his thoughts jammed up against one another in a hopeless tangle. He
knew
there would be no way he could break out of this formation if the law officers
were
authorized to shoot and he would not be likely to survive the crash that would
follow
their blasting his vehicle. He had no choice but to give in and hope to win
his case in
court.
"Acknowledged," he said in a weary tone as he began piloting his craft slowly
down to a
nearby rooftop. The copter under him got respectfully out of his way and the
rest of the
police followed him, maintaining a cautious distance.

Oh well, it could be worse, Winsted thought. I've got a lot of money in the
bank, I can
afford a sharp lawyer. I may worm my way out of this yet.

But Winsted's case was never to come to trial ... and what began as a routine
police
arrest would shortly come to the notice of the Service of the Empire. The
repercussions
would be felt from the planet Kolokov all the way to Earth, and would threaten
the
stability of the succession to the very Throne of the Empire itself.

Chapter 1
The Princess's Progress

For Crown Princess Edna Stanley, heiress to the Throne of the Empire of Earth,
there
was little time for unhappiness. Her schedule was so filled with official
duties that her
own personal emotions had to wait. There was always some bridge to dedicate or
a
new starship to christen; there were endless testimonial banquets given in
honor of this