"Maria V. Snyder - Poison 1 - Poison Study" - читать интересную книгу автора (Snyder Maria V)

The Territory of IxiaтАЩs military had come to power only a generation ago, but the rule had produced strict
laws called the Code of Behavior. During peacetimeтАФmost of the time, strangely enough for the
militaryтАФproper conduct didnтАЩt allow the taking of a human life. If someone committed murder, the
punishment was execution. Self-preservation or an accidental death were not considered acceptable
excuses. Once found guilty, the murderer was sent to the CommanderтАЩs dungeon to await a public
hanging.

тАЬI suppose youтАЩre going to protest the conviction. Say you were framed or you killed out of
self-defense.тАЭ He leaned back in his chair, waiting with a weary patience.

тАЬNo, sir,тАЭ I whispered, all I could manage from unused vocal cords. тАЬI killed him.тАЭ

The man in black straightened in his chair, shooting me a hard look. Then he laughed aloud. тАЬThis may
work out better than IтАЩd planned. Yelena, IтАЩm offering you a choice. You can either be executed, or you
can be Commander AmbroseтАЩs new food taster. His last taster died recently, and we need to fill the
position.тАЭ

I gaped at him, my heart dancing. He had to be joking. He was probably amusing himself. Great way to
get a laugh. Watch hope and joy shine on the prisonerтАЩs face, then smash it by sending the accused to the
noose.

I played along. тАЬA fool would refuse the job.тАЭ My voice rasped louder this time.

тАЬWell, itтАЩs a lifetime position. The training can be lethal. After all, how can you identify poisons in the
CommanderтАЩs food if you donтАЩt know what they taste like?тАЭ He tidied the papers in the folder.

тАЬYouтАЩll get a room in the castle to sleep, but most of the day youтАЩll be with the Commander. No days off.
No husband or children. Some prisoners have chosen execution instead. At least then they know exactly
when theyтАЩre going to die, rather than guessing if itтАЩs going to come with the next bite.тАЭ He clicked his
teeth together, a feral grin on his face.

He was serious. My whole body shook. A chance to live! Service to the Commander was better than the
dungeon and infinitely better than the noose. Questions raced through my mind: IтАЩm a convicted killer,
how can they trust me? What would prevent me from killing the Commander or escaping?

тАЬWho tastes the CommanderтАЩs food now?тАЭ I asked instead, afraid if I asked the other questions heтАЩd
realize his mistake and send me to the gallows.

тАЬI do. So IтАЩm anxious to find a replacement. Also the Code of Behavior states that someone whose life is
forfeit must be offered the job.тАЭ

No longer able to sit still, I stood and paced around the room, dragging my chains with me. The maps on
the walls showed strategic military positions. Book titles dealt with security and spying techniques. The
condition and amount of candles suggested someone who worked late into the night.

I looked back at the man in the adviserтАЩs uniform. He had to be Valek, the CommanderтАЩs personal
security chief and leader of the vast intelligence network for the Territory of Ixia.

тАЬWhat shall I tell the executioner?тАЭ Valek asked.