"Michael A. Stackpole - Battletech - Mechwarrior - Dark Age 12 - Hunters Of The Deep" - читать интересную книгу автора (Stackpole Michael A)

тАЬBut until then you will be my court jester, as though I am a spheroid tyrant?тАЭ Petr cocked an eyebrow,
waiting for the response.

Jesup swallowed, then looked slightly abashed.

тАЬDo I find you tongue-tied?тАЭ

тАЬNaturally not, ovKhan, butтАФwe are ready to begin.тАЭ

Petr looked at the two benches directly in front of him and found scientist Jonnic already present, the
waiting throngs silent and peering at him quizzically. He gave Jesup a dirty look before turning to the
crowd.

He stood, tapping his feet to the deck to attach his slips, then bowed formally in a mimicry of the sea
fox, a mark of respect for those present. тАЬScientists, we have gathered this day for a Trial of Grievance.
Because both individuals hail from the same subcaste, there is no need for a quorum of Bloodnamed from
the Clan Council extant in our flotilla. Instead, scientist Kif will be judged by his peers. I, as ovKhan of
Delta Aimag, will mete out the final sentence. In this, we shall not deny justice. In this, we shall all
prosper.тАЭ

тАЬSeyla,тАЭ echoed around the room, the scientists sealing the trial with affirmation.

All bowed formally in return.

тАЬScientist Jonnic, proceed,тАЭ he said, then resumed his seat.

A tall woman stood, pale of hair and flesh, with fingers that reminded Petr of spider legs in their length
and skeletal appearance, not to mention their almost constant flickering. Disengaging her slips, she used
the small pneumatic air pump at the small of her back to smoothly maneuver into the air, then spread her
arms to bow once more, and began.

тАЬScientists, I am present to prove unequivocally that scientist Kif grossly underestimated the challenges
involved in this experiment, and wasted precious Clan resources, in the destruction of the JumpShip and
in the wasted man-hours of the scientists on his development team and the technician and labor castemen
tasked with the construction of the failed prototype,тАЭ she began, her sonorous voice weaving a cadence
that immediately enthralled her audience. Petr wondered how she found the breath for such long
sentences in her emaciated-looking body.

тАЬNot because of an unforeseen problem,тАЭ she continued, тАЬbut due simply to his arrogance. His belief that
he knew a shortcut the rest of his peers not only could not see, but would never see if he did not show
the way.тАЭ

She tapped the small remote she held, and the lights dimmed as holographic projections filled the room.
тАЬEach of these diagrams elucidates the points that Kif failed to take into account, thus leading to the
failure of his program, regardless of the promise it held for success.тАЭ

Petr glanced sideways for a moment at Jesup, startled to hear even a backhanded compliment from
Jonnic. Did the rival scientist actually accept KifтАЩs theory? A slight shrug from Jesup reflected PetrтАЩs
inability to answer that question. Only time would tell.