"E. E. Doc Smith - D' Alembert 5 -Appointment at Bloodstar" - читать интересную книгу автора (Smith E. E. Doc)

Back down in the room, Pias was still holding the gun warily on Wilson. A loudspeaker
blared mechanically out of the wall, "This section of the test is over. Applicant is to
proceed to evaluation room for final processing."

Wilson smiled at his student. "It's over now. Sorry to have to do that to you, but it is a
necessary part of the test. In our business you can't really trust anyone completely."

"Then how do I know to trust you now?" Pias was not about to let go of the gun.

"You could try shooting me if you like; the gun doesn't work. I'm just going to stay here
while you go through that door. I'm told there'll be someone there who may convince
you, although I'm not allowed to see who it is."

Pias backed carefully to the door, not taking his eyes off the other until he reached it.
Then, as a test, he aimed the blaster at the floor and fired. Nothing happened. With a
grin, he tossed the blaster lightly back to his teacher. "Thanks for all you've taught me,"
he said.

In reply, Wilson raised his hand in the air in a general salute. "Here's to tomorrow,
fellow and friend," he said.

"May we both live to see it," Pias finished the Service toast. Then, without further ado,
he turned and went through the door.

Almost immediately he was being smothered by a passionate female. "Hey, I thought
the test was over," he protested. "I didn't know I'd have to risk being kissed to death as
well."

"You're all wet-literally," Yvette laughed between kisses. "It's a good thing I love you so
much, you sopping specimen of humanity." She went right back to kissing him, and
Pias, despite his general fatigue, resigned himself to his fate. If he were going to be
kissed, he might as well enjoy it.

CHAPTER 2
Abelard the Librarian

A less touching encounter was taking place fifteen thousand kilometers away, on
another continent of Earth, in a tastefully decorated suite of offices. The woman who
was known to most people only as Lady A sat behind a large desk whose top was
abnormally tidy. She used the desk largely as a prop, to put more social distance
between herself and whoever else was in the room. It gave the impression that she was
unapproachable-which was all but true anyway.

Abel Howard, the man she was currently interviewing, seemed unimpressed by the
trappings of her office: He was a big man with wide shoulders and a narrow intellect,
and he was not accustomed to thinking of women as anything more than kitchen help
or playthings. The fact that he was being hired by one was an anomaly, but he
expected the situation to right itself very shortly.

Lady A sized Howard up. She had seen his like many times before. Unfortunately, in