"Kristine Smith - Kilian 1 - Code Of Conduct" - читать интересную книгу автора (Smith Kristine)

It had been that way since they'd left Whalen two days ago. Every time Jani tried to
question Evan
about Lyssa, an advisor would turn up to drag him off.

Maybe I need a uniform and a title to get his attention. A possibility, but not one
she wanted to
consider. Even in her current circumstances, she wouldn't have traded places with
Evan or any
member of his escort. Voices snapped. No one smiled.

We're in Exterior country, my friends. Unlike every other Ministry, which located its
main headquarters
in Chicago and scattered its annexes throughout the colonies, Exterior had moved its
Main House to the Outer Circle planet of Amsun and maintained only a token
presence on Earth. That hadn't seemed wise when the late David Scriabin, Lyssa van
Reu-ter's father, had set the transfer wheels in motion fifteen years before.

Smacks of genius now. Exterior burgundy formed the basis for every aspect of
interior decoration in Amsun Primary, a constant reminder to all parties wearing
Treasury gold, Commerce green, Interior black, and every other Cabinet hue in
exactly whose sandbox they played.

Jani passed the portrait of a severe, dark-haired woman wearing a high-necked tunic
in the ubiquitous colour du monde. Everyone thought Exterior Minister Anais
Ulanova should have stood for Prime
during the last election. When she didn't, the Earthbound news services professed
shock. The colonial reaction, in contrast, had been blase. Why fight to be shepherd
when you already own the sheep?

As she came upon yet another holosilk study in red and orange, Jani rolled her eyes.
It was partly artistic opinion, partly aggravation. Red was the color of blood and
warning lights to her augie, the chromatic equivalent of a scream in the night.
Unfortunately, the action caused an eyefilm to shift. She tried to
blink it back into place, and it hung up on her eyelid. Tears brimmed, then spilled as
the film edge
curled and split. She cupped a hand over the damage and searched in vain for a sign
indicating a
restroom.

"Ms. Tyi?"

Tyi? Tyi? That was her name now. Risa Tyi. Josephan. Bad choice. She couldn't
speak Josephani.

"Ms. Tyi!" Evan had pulled up short and stared back at her. "Is everything all right?"
The look in Jani's visible eye must have set off alarms. "Folks, I'll get back with
you." He left his puzzled entourage behind and hurried to her side. "I knew you
shouldn't have flown so soon after the surgery." He gripped Jani by the elbow and
pulled her toward the elevator bank. "I hope the incision glue held."