"Stross, Charles - The Hidden Family (v1.1)" - читать интересную книгу автора (Stross Charles)

fantasy

A TOM DOHERTY ASSOCIATES BOOK NEW YORK

For my parents

NOTE: If you purchased this book without a cover, you should be aware that this 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 Stross Teaser copyright й 2006 by Charles Stross

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

Torо is a registered trademark of Tom Doherty Associates, LLC.

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

First edition: June 2005 Х 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 his startling lack of skin and hair pigmentation: He kept his eyes downcast as he regurgitated a seemingly endless stream of reports from the various heads of police, correspondents of intelligence, and freelance informers who kept his office abreast of news.