"Charles Stross - Merchant princes 02 - The Hidden Family" - читать интересную книгу автора (Stross Charles)

book is stolen property. It was reported as "unsold and destroyed" to the
publisher, and neither the author nor the publisher has received any payment for
this "stripped book."

This is a work of fiction. All the characters and events portrayed in this book
are either products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously.

THE HIDDEN FAMILY

Copyright ┬й 2005 by Charles Stress Teaser copyright ┬й 2006 by Charles Stress

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book, or portions
thereof, in any form.

Edited by David G. Hartwell

A Tor Book

Published by Tom Doherty Associates, LLC
175 Fifth Avenue

New York, NY 10010

www.tor.com

Tor┬о is a registered trademark of Tom Doherty Associates, LLC.

ISBN 0-765-35205-2 EAN 978-0-765-35205-7

First edition: June 2005 тАв First mass market edition: May 2006

Printed in the United States of America

098765432




PART 1

Business Plans

Learned Counsel

The committee meeting was entering its third hour when the king sneezed,
bringing matters to a head. His Excellency Sir Roderick was speaking at the time
of the royal spasm. Standing at the far end of the table, before the red velvet
curtains that sealed off the windows and the chill of the winter afternoon
beyond, Sir Roderick leaned forward slightly, clutching his papers to his bony
chest and wobbling back and forth as he recited. His colorless manners matched