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

Petr laughed out loud. тАЬYou are right. I have always said death is too good for thesurat . I need only
steal from under Sha the deal that would make him a legend, the deal that would guarantee his place in
The Remembrance. Then my work will be done and I can pass. My genetic material would be judged
superior and used to create a new shiver of Sea Fox.тАЭ

JesupтАЩs laugh echoed down the corridor. тАЬYour humility never ceases to amaze me.тАЭ

There is the sarcasm I am used to.Petr pushed away from the wall and stepped back toward the desk.
Still he refused to acknowledge the insidious call of the data cube. тАЬHumility is an invention of the weak
to salve their egos when they fail.тАЭ

Jesup held up his hands. тАЬAnd you, my ovKhan, are anything but weak,quiaff ?тАЭ

Silence was the only appropriate answer. Jesup insulted everyone: there were times when Petr believed
his aide insulted those around him for the sole purpose of creating the opportunity to put others in their
place with a pile drive of his bony flesh. One day, Petr himself would call his aide to the Circle and Jesup
would learn thereare limits.

This day, like many days before, would not be that day.

тАЬYou understand that he will try to beat us to the prize?тАЭ

тАЬHe will try, my ovKhan. Sha, like you, is simply trying to do what is best for his Aimag. All for the
greater good of the Clan,quiaff ?тАЭ

PetrтАЩs eyes burned with an inner fire. тАЬNeg.You know as well as I that he is a parasite masquerading as
ovKhan of Beta Aimag. Spina Khanate would be well rid of him.тАЭ

тАЬDo I?тАЭ replied Jesup. тАЬHas he not brought great glory and honor to his Aimag? To Clan Sea Fox?тАЭ

тАЬAre you trying to aggravate me? You appear to be in no condition to accept a challenge.тАЭ His anger
overwhelmed his decision to allow Jesup his self-respect. Petr would no longer ignore the manтАЩs pain and
the near-defeat it indicated.

JesupтАЩs eyes widened, yet Petr caught a hint of something more behind his aideтАЩs expression of surprise.
тАЬFar be it from me, ovKhan, to provoke a challenge from your august person. I would be destined to
lose, for have you ever lost a challenge?тАЭ

Rage burned in his chest; a vortex of emotions battered his iron control. He choked on the memories
invoked by JesupтАЩs veiled reference. He took a half step toward Jesup, his hands balled into fists. тАЬI will
accept no such reminders of my failures.тАЭ Each failure was etched on his soul as a searing brand to goad
him to greater perfection. Especially one, whose connection to Sha he ignored.

тАЬReminders of what, magnificent ovKhan? It would seem I cannot even remember how to fight. How
can I remember anything but your glorious victories for our Aimag?тАЭ
 Though Petr could almost taste a strange undercurrent to JesupтАЩs response, the manтАЩs tone of voice, his
shrug and slightly canted head worked their usual magic, pouring water on the heat of his anger, drowning
the flame and leaving only ashes. He permitted a small smile to touch his lips. тАЬOne of these days you will
not find the words, and I will relish that moment.тАЭ