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

feeling that Hill was the type of man who kept secrets by reflex. Hill probably thought it would
be a breach of basic security if he knew the color of his own socks.
"Ambassador Faldo is most impatient for our arrival," Lawler interjected happily, "but
Captain Boniece tells me we cannot be shuttled planetside until tomorrow morning. That leaves
us ample time to review."
For the next several hours, Michael tried not to think wistfully of the engineering sim he
hadn't completed, nor about the trauma team drill Surgeon Commander Rink had promised to run
for the middies. When the twittering of the com broke into Lawler's nearly uninterrupted lecture,
Michael realized he'd been all but dozing.
"Ambassador Faldo wishes to speak with you and your shore party," the duty
communications officer announced. "If you are free."
Lawler smothered a look of mild annoyance, then nodded.
"Please patch the Ambassador through."
"Just a moment, Mr. Lawler."
Cayen had leapt to his feet the moment the com chimed and, by the time the call came
through, he had modified the desk unit so that the ambassador's face was projected on one of the
cabin's bulkheads, sparing them the need to crowd around a terminal.
Ambassador Faldo, like Mr. Lawler, was a first-generation prolong recipient. Unlike Lawler,
who managed to project incredible vigor, Faldo looked tired. His hair had apparently once been
blond, but had now faded to a muddy gray with just enough of the original color left to make him
appear molting. His eyes, sunk beneath puffy lids, were a washed-out brown, but their gaze
remained direct and penetrating.
"The reaction," the ambassador began after minimal polite greetings had been exchanged, "to
the presence of Prince Michael aboard Intransigent has beenтАФto speak mildlyтАФbeyond my
greatest expectations. Not only has the Chief Elder expressed a desire to meet Mr. Winton, but
the Senior Elders are to be included in the reception. In fact, as far as I can tell, everyone who is
anyone as well as everyone who wants to be thought anyone is attending some enormous
conclave of Elders that the Faithful have 'coincidentally' announced will be happening at this
time."
"That's wonderful, Sir," Lawler said.
 "I suppose so," Faldo agreed. "However, it means I want to move up the time for our meeting
tomorrow. We're to join the Chief Elder at precisely noon, and I want time to prepare for such an
important event. The Chief Elder has honored us by putting at our disposal a meeting room at the
Hall of the Just."
Doesn't want us talking where he can't try to overhear us, Michael wondered with inbred
cynicism. Probably. He knows that'll mean Faldo won't be able to give me too detailed a list of
do's and don'ts. Maybe figures he'll be able to trip me up somehow.
Michael listened attentively as plans for the next day's meeting were made, but nothing more
significant was said, doubtless because of fear that either the Peeps or the Masadans would hear
something they shouldn't. Tight-beam communications were good, but as a communications
officer Michael knew all too many ways their security measures could be circumvented.
After the connection had been cut, Lawler resumed pacing, rubbing his hands together with
vigorous enthusiasm.
"Well, that's very interesting, very interesting . . ." he was beginning, but Hill interrupted.
"It is indeed," he said. "There have been some rumblings of discontent regarding how Chief
Elder Simonds has been making policy. I wonder if this is his way of demonstrating to his own
people how integral he is, and of convincing them that they do not want another leader."
"Mountain coming to Mohammed, and like that," Lawler said. "Yes. Well, we can let him
play his games."
"In all deference, Sir," Hill replied, not sounding deferential at all, "I wouldn't use that