"David Weber - Worlds of Honor 4 - Service of the Sword" - читать интересную книгу автора (Weber David)

they in turn learn about usтАФand while they learn about the Peeps."
 "And if part of that learning experience," Michael said, understanding, "is a Manticoran light
cruiser sweeping through as diplomatic limousine service, then all the better."
"You've got it," Beth said. "Before you start wondering, it's not pure coincidence that
Intransigent has been chosen for escort duty. Apparently, the Masadans and Graysons are both
misogynists. One of the sticking points in our negotiations with both societies has been that not
only do we permit women to serve in our armed forces, but also that our 'kingdom' is actually a
'queendom.' "
If Michael hadn't already encountered some information on this social peculiarity he would
have thought Beth was joking, but he already knew how blinkered both the Masadans and the
Graysons were by elements of their religious heritage.
"The Graysons are showing some signs of thawing on that point," Beth went on, "but the
Masadans are not. Some of my advisors thought that the Masadans might be distracted by, well,
by . . ."
She stopped and Michael, uncertain when was the last time he had seen his sister so at a loss
for words, waited in mild astonishment.
"They thought if you went out there," Beth continued in a rush, "that the Masadans might
draw the conclusion that I was just a figureheadтАФa broody hen laying eggs to hatch the next
generation of Winton monarchs. Certainly, Roger's existence would confirm their willingness to
think that way. When a culture deliberately isolates itself as the Masadans have, it tends to
interpret data solely through its own distorted viewpoint."
"And," Michael said, taking up the thread to spare Beth further irritation, "the Faithful of
Masada might even be honored, if they think that someone holding real power came all that way
to see them."
He considered the plan, then shook his head decisively.
"It's stupid, Beth. There's lots of information available that would counter any attempt to
make you look like a 'broody hen' possessed of the right pedigree. Anyhow, I'll just be a
midshipman. That's hardly a rank guaranteed to impress."
"Actually," Beth said, ignoring Michael's first point to concentrate on the second. "The
Masadans may well be impressed. They're a hard society, one that seems to believe equally that
God preordains their success and that success is proof that God favors someone. They're also
warlike, and their leaders often lead in battle as well as in the political arena."
"So a prince who's 'warrior' enough to come up through the Academy and serve in a
midshipman's berth would impress them?" Michael said dubiously.
"Let's just say it couldn't hurt," Beth assured him.
Michael decided to leave this for further consideration and turned to what seemed to be what
he really needed to know. He suspected that Elizabeth's advisors had wanted this part of his
briefing to come from the diplomatic corps, not from the QueenтАФjust in case her sense of
priorities was different than their own.
"How much do you want me to do when I'm there? As far as that goes, is the Navy being told
that I'm wearing an extra hat?"
Beth's answer was equally direct.
"I want you to cooperate with the diplomatic service as much as seems reasonable. I do not
want you to make any promises to anyone in my name or your own."
 Michael's dark brown eyes widened in shock.
"As if I would!"
"I know you wouldn't," Beth said softly, "but you'd be astonished how many people don't
believe that."
Michael snapped a few pawns into their velvet niches to cover his reaction. He'd supported
Beth and her policies since the day she was crowned. It deeply angered him that anyone would