"Walter Jon Williams - Metropolitan - 02 - City On Fire" - читать интересную книгу автора (Williams Walter John)

But of course it is foolish to think she can ever go back to the Scope of Jaspeer. Not with the police after her for what the statutes quaintly called "crimes against the public interest," in this case stealing millions of dalders' worth of plasm and giving it to a political adventurer who promptly used it to overthrow a friendly government.
She sends the wiregram and feels a moment of loss as a part of her former life falls away.
Item #5. Item #6. Her lover, her family.
Two more parts of her former life. By now she doesn't want to contemplate losing either.
Aiah looks at her watch. 11:41. Almost midbreak, and she suddenly realizes she's very hungry.
She hasn't eaten since yesterday's sandwiches.
She stands, stretches, wonders where in this giant place she can get something to eat. Aiah walks through her empty receptionist's office into the hallway, and her nerves give a little jump as she sees Constantine bearing down on her at his usual earth-devouring paceЧelemental energy, balanced and directed and walking on two long legs.
His black velvet suit, trimmed with lace, makes him look like a pirate at a bankers' convention. He carries a black leather briefcase with a combination lock.
A smile breaks across his face. "Miss Aiah," he says. "Are you comfortable in your new quarters?Ф
Aiah's answering smile freezes to her face. "As soon as they scrape the former occupant off the walls, yes.Ф
Constantine looks surprised.
"My apologies. No doubt a mistake was made in all the confusion.Ф
"No doubt." Aiah's tone is meant to indicate that there is a story here if Constantine wants to hear it.
There is an awkward pause. Apparently it is not the time for stories.
"Are you engaged?" he asks finally.
Aiah suppresses a bitter laugh. "Not until I have a budget and personnel, no.Ф
Tigerish pleasure glows in his eyes. "I am now in a position to give you both. I have just come from a meeting of the cabinet, and your department is approved. You will be pleased to know you are the Director of the Plasm Enforcement Division. Gentri, the Minister of Public Security, objected loudly to your endowment, because you're in competition with the plasm squads of the police, and therefore in a position to make him look badЧbut the rest understand the necessity." He bows, absurdly formal, and holds out the briefcase. "Your commission, madame. And some documents for your files. The lock combination is on a plastic flimsy inside. Read, memorize, destroy.Ф
"Sounds serious." She takes the briefcase and finds it heavy.
"Names, biographies, public information, informers' reports pulled out of the Specials' files by Sorya. The Plasm Enforcement Division's first cases.Ф
Aiah's nerves tingle as she feels the weight of the briefcase on the end of her arm.
My commission, she thinks. I have just joined an army, and these are my marching orders.
"Do you have time for a meeting?" Constantine asks.
"I seem to have little else on my schedule." Except a meal, her stomach reminds her.
Constantine cocks his head and looks at her, intent eyes narrowing. "You lack your usual energy, Miss Aiah. Have you eaten? Shall we have our meeting in the dining suite?Ф
Aiah rocks back on her heels with relief. "Yes. Absolutely.Ф
"You skip too many meals.Ф
"If I knew where to get a meal around here, that might change.Ф
A smile dances across his face, and he makes another elaborate stage bow. "I shall direct you. If you would follow me?Ф
Aiah returns the courtesy. "I would be pleased to do so.Ф
"This way, then. The Kestrel Room has a lovely view, and a private room where we may talk.Ф
CENSORS SENT HOMECENSORSHIP OF NEWS ENDS IN CARAQUI210 MILLION DINARS SAVED BY GOVERNMENT ACTIONToying with a salad and sipping at a glass of wine, Constan-tine watches with amusement as Aiah eats. The Keremaths' kitchen staff are undergoing a screeningЧno one wants some legitimist partisan poisoning half the new government in one swoopЧso the cooking is being done by military personnel, Constantine's mercenaries. What the food lacks in subtlety and flavor is made up for in quantity, and the vat shrimp with vegetables served on noodles is more than acceptable.
The Kestrel RoomЧrooms, in truthЧis another example of Keremath extravagance. Wood is everywhereЧparquetry floors, parquetry walls, carved, beamed ceilings. And the huge outcurving windows of transparent plastic offer a spectacular view of the city.
"I obtained for you a personal plasm allowance," Con-stantine says.
Aiah looks up sharply from her plate, suddenly greedy for more than food. "How much?" she asks.
Amusement kindles in Constantine's eyes. "A quarter of a kilomehr.Ф
Aiah is impressed. "Per year? That's good.Ф
"Per month. Commencing immediately.Ф
She stares at him. His smile broadens, turns a little predatory, sharp teeth flashing. "Being a part of the power structure has its benefits, does it not?Ф
"I am beginning to see that it does." She gives the matter some thought. "Is the cabinet so obliging to every department head?Ф
"Our job, yours and mine, is the management of plasm. Other departments will not require these allocations." Con-stantine shrugs his big shoulders back into his chair and gives a catlike smile. "Oh, it was a splendid meeting, on the whole. Drumbeth backed all my proposals, including your department, and Drumbeth has the loyalty of the army, so the others in the triumvirate have to tread warily when he makes his wishes known." He toys with his fork, twirling it on the linen tablecloth. "There were some conditions. Allies that want their rewards.Ф
"Who, in this case?Ф
"Adaveth. You remember him?Ф
Distaste tingles its way along Aiah's nerves. "The twisted man.Ф
"The Minister of Waterways," Constantine says. "He will appoint your second-in-command, though I will have a veto if the individual is entirely inappropriate.Ф
Ten percent of humanity, Aiah knew, had twisted genes. Most genetic alterations were for small things, hardly noticeableЧboosted immune systems or outright immunity to certain diseases, cosmetic changes, genetic tweaks relating to the strength of the body or the power of the intellect. But Adaveth and his kindred were different: small, hairless, goggle-eyed. Probably intended to be semiaquatic. It gave Aiah the shivers just being around anyone that inhuman.
"Will he be twisted?" she asks.
Constantine gives her a sharp glance. "I would not be surprised. That is Adaveth's constituency." He pauses, toying again with his fork. "Many of the twisted here were created, by the old Avian oligarchy, for certain tasks. Positions in the civil service are traditionally reserved for them, and many of these have to do with servicing and maintaining plasm connections. Possibly because the workers are twisted, the jobs are low-status, low-pay. But I think they know more about how Caraqui is wired together than anyone, and if Adaveth chooses well your assistant should be invaluable.Ф
"I understand the rationale," Aiah says. But, she thinks, she reserves the right not to like it.
"I desire to make use of every opportunity," Constantine says. "Every untapped resource, every talent, all the ability that has been wasted or suppressed." His intent eyes burn Aiah's nerves. "That is why I make use of you, Miss Aiah. Your gifts were unappreciated in your previous life.Ф
Aiah holds his glance by an act of will. "I would like to think so, Metropolitan.Ф