"Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman - StarShield Book 1" - читать интересную книгу автора (Weis Margaret)

The InquisitorтАЩs face was all rage. In a single, trained motion, he release his grip on the arm she
was holding and slammed the back of his fist into MerindaтАЩs face.
Merinda fell backward to the polished marble floor, the physical damage being the least painful
effects of the blow.
Queekat instantly turned back to Primla, pulling the EтАЩtorisтАЩ face closer to his own as he leaned
over him. His voice was frighteningly insistent, a razorтАЩs edge of rage. тАЬI am the Inquisitor, EтАЩtoris
Primla! I see more, know more and am more than you can possibly experience in your entire, pathetic
existence! You will do as I instruct, without question because to do otherwise would be more than
unwise. You will answer my questions more than completely because I and my brothers are not to be
treated lightly by anyone тАФ especially some backwater, officious sifter who is lord over his only little
playroom and doesnтАЩt want to share his toys with the rest of the galaxy.тАЭ
Primla lay helpless beneath the raging Queekat.
Merinda lay silently a few feet away, shaking uncontrollably.
тАЬIтАЩm not an unreasonable man,тАЭ Queekat said quietly, his voice suddenly shifting with dizzying
ease from its near screaming tirade of a moment before. The Inquisitor suddenly flashed a terrible
smile. тАЬI even bring you some news that apparently you havenтАЩt heard yet.тАЭ
The Vestis stepped over Primla and, still holding the prone man by the folds of his robe, dragged
him down the stairs he had fallen against, lifted him quickly to his feet and, in a single, fluid motion,
shoved him toward the Atis Librae team that continued to stand in shocked amazement at the entrance
to the rotunda.
тАЬThese, as you might recognize, are some of your fellow sifters,тАЭ Queekat spoke in even tones,
his voice changing its tone and tempo once again. As he spoke, the Vestis moved up behind the quiver-
ing Primla, took both the manтАЩs shoulders in his hands and spoke quietly into his ear just loud enough
for everyone to hear. тАЬThey come from the monastery posting on Brishan. You have good sifters in
Brishan. Very dutiful. Very thorough. So thorough, in fact, that they found out something which appar-
ently you donтАЩt even know, EтАЩtoris Primla. Librae Dharah, here, found out that someone here in the
Citadel was doing something rather unexpected.тАЭ His face turned toward the group and focused on the
tall woman standing next to Evon. тАЬJust what was that you discovered, Terica?тАЭ
Evon turned. TericaтАЩs face had blanched. She was blinking furiously. тАЬWell, it really is probably
nothing at all . . .тАЭ
тАЬTELL HIM!тАЭ Queekat screamed at her, the violence of the sound causing Primla to wince and
shake.
Terica looked as though the Inquisitor had struck her. тАЬOn checking a number of the reflect
reports from our station, we discovered indications that the news and information we were transmitting
up the network had been altered at the Citadel level.тАЭ
тАЬBut,тАЭ Primla sputtered, тАЬthatтАЩs not possible.тАЭ
тАЬNot possible?тАЭ Queekat mocked the older man. тАЬWhy? Because you didnтАЩt see it? Because

┬й Copyright 1997 by Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman / All Rights Reserved. Page 24
nothing goes wrong in this perfect world of yours? Or is it because you are a part of some plot to
subvert the integrity of the Omnet?тАЭ
тАЬPlot?тАЭ Primla looked suddenly at Queekat as though the Inquisitor had lost his senses. тАЬWhat
plot? ThereтАЩs nothing wrong with this station! We uphold the finest traditions of the Omnet here and
have for nearly three centuries! The search for truth and information, ancient and modern, is at the very
heart of the Omnet. How dare you accuse my center of fabrication and falsehood!тАЭ
тАЬBecause, good EтАЩtoris, somewhere between here and Brishan, someone has changed the truth,тАЭ
Queekat said. тАЬYou have tonight. You are going to walk out of this room right now and with the capable
help of these wonderful Brishan sifters, youтАЩre going to sort this out. In the morning, youтАЩre going to
give me the answer I want. Is that clear?тАЭ
Primla nodded once slowly.