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

asked.
"The Manticorans have sent someone very important to meet the Council," Dinah said, and
though her voice was respectful, her eyes gleamed with mischief. "It seems that all these years we
have been foolish in believing that such a powerful kingdom could be ruled by a weak woman. It
seems that there is a prince who actually holds the reins, though he was but a child when his
father died and so the Queen was crowned in his stead. Now a grown man, this prince has come
here himself to meet with our Elders."
"And none of the Elders will miss such an important occasion," Judith said, her heart
pounding with excitement.
"None," Dinah agreed. "Ephraim has ordered Gideon and his other sons to accompany him."
"Many other households will do the same," Judith said, "for is it not true that a man's strength
is in his sons?"
"There's even more," Dinah said. "A well-informed source tells me that the Navy is pulling
out for maneuvers."
"They aren't worried about a Manticoran attack?"
"Not in the least. Manticore wants allies, not another system to administer. The Navy,
however, does not want the Manticorans to get too close a look at what we have."
Judith, thinking of the modifications that had been worked on Psalms and Proverbs wondered
if some similar tinkering might have been done to a few of the fleet vesselsтАФjust enough to whet
the Admiralty's taste for what the People's Republic could offer, perhaps. She could see why they
wouldn't want to show their hand without reason.
"God truly is with us," Judith breathed. "Surely we can escape from a few patrol boats."
They smiled at each other. It did seem that God had parted the Red Sea for them, for in none
of their plans had they dared anticipate such a removal of the Masadan men from their
households.
Yet this would not make the success of Exodus certain. Many households would be secured
more tightly in the absence of their masters. Many women would be forced to accompany their
husbands, and so be prevented from escape. Then there was each step of the escape itself: the
taking of the shuttle, the subduing of the caretaker crew, getting the ship from orbit and to hyper
limit. Judith's head swam. However she had to admit that the omens were still too good to ignore.
The Sisters were committed to making the attempt, no matter the risks. Death was preferable
to the life they would be leaving behind them. At last resort, Judith thought grimly, Aaron's Rod
would make a spectacular funeral pyre. Perhaps some new Moses would be guided by the bright
burning of that beacon and finally set her Sisters free.
***
Michael thought he was ready for anything. However, when Lieutenant Dunsinane told him
that not only was he being relieved of some of his shipboard assignments so that he could
accompany Mr. Lawler to the surface, but even smiled as she did so, he was so startled he nearly
forgot to thank her.
 "I've reviewed your work," Dunsinane went on when Michael finished stammering, a trace of
her former severity returning, "and I see that you've kept up on your assignments. And don't
thank me too fast. There's one limitation to your shore leave, Mr. Winton."
"Yes, Lieutenant?"
"Unless you are prevented by some serious impediment from doing so, you are required to
return on-board each night in order to report."
"I will, Lieutenant," Michael promised. "According to Mr. Hill's briefings, the Faithful are
very unlikely to schedule any meetings after the dinner hour. It violates one of their social
customs. All I'd miss is Mr. Lawler's recap of events."
Dunsinane didn't quite grin, but Michael thought that the twitch at one side of her mouth
might mean that she had detected the inadvertent note of relief that had entered his voice at the