"E. E. Doc Smith - D'Alembert 10 - Revolt of the Galaxy" - читать интересную книгу автора (Smith E. E. Doc)

herself, but she was a skilled athlete and could follow the strict Circus regimen for child
training.
Kari Bavol, six months old, was still a bit young for such vigorous activities, but her father
took her into the swimming pool every day and taught her enough swimming to "drownproof" her while
she learned not to be afraid of the water. Pias, though in superb shape, was neither a performer
nor an athlete, and while he loved his daughter, he looked forward to the day when he could hand
her over to some of the Circus's more skilled teachers, who'd give her a more complete education
than he could ever hope to impart. In the meantime he did the best he could, and any skills he
lacked as an instructor were more than compensated for by fatherly affection.
The days were spent quietly in childrearing, reading, and casual conversation, but the peace was
deceptive. While Pias and Yvonne projected an image of cool serenity, both were torn with worry
over the fate of their spouses. Yvonne's husband Jules and Pias's wife Yvette were currently on
assignment for SOTE - an assignment that could be the most dangerous of their careers as secret
agents. Jules and Yvette had gone to the planet Omicron in company with the Galaxy's most
nefarious traitor, Lady A, to investigate the possibility that the Empire was under attack from a
hostile alien force. Pias and Yvonne had been unable to accompany their mates, and could only stay
home and worry about what might be happening to them. Both knew they would have trouble sleeping
until they knew the fate of their beloved partners.
Several days after Jules and Yvette had left for Omicron, Felicit├й received a midmorning vidicom
call from Baron Ebert Roumenier of Nouveau Calais, Vonnie's father. After inquiring about the
health of his daughter and his precious grandson, the baron got down to business. "Actually," he
told Vonnie, "I'm calling to speak to your brother-in-law Pias. Does he have a sister named Beti?"
When Pias was brought to the vidiphone and the question was asked, he sat upright and his body
tensed. "What's happened?" he asked. "Is she there? Is everything smooth?"
"She had a bit. of a fright last night, but she's recovered," Ebert said, and went on to recount
the police version of what had happened. "She refused to say why the men tried to kill her, and
the men only know they were hired to do a job. Lady Bavol said she refused to discuss the matter
with anyone except her lost brother Pias, whom she thought might be on DesPlaines. Since she's a


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member of the nobility the police brought the matter to my attenion, and I've invited her to stay
here as my guest until the business is settled. I thought I'd contact you so we could figure out
what to do."
"Thank you," Pias said. "I'll be over there as fast as I can. Tell her I'm coming, but don't give
her any details about ... well, about my business or the family I've married into."
The baron nodded. His family was also involved with the Service, and he knew the value of keeping
secrets.
Yvonne offered to come with Pias, since she hadn't visited her father in several weeks. The two
agents and their children climbed into the personal copter and started the ninety-minute flight to
Nouveau Calais.
Not much was said during the trip. As Vonnie looked across at Pias she could see conflicting
emotions playing across his features. In all the years Vonnie had known him, she'd never heard
Pias say a single word about his family - but she'd gotten enough of the story from Yvette to
understand some of the pain behind his silence.
When Pias and Yvette were engaged, Pias took his fianc├йe to Newforest to meet his family. There he
learned that his father had contracted an incurable disease and that his younger brother was
plotting against him. Because of the secret nature of his job, Pias couldn't tell his family the