"Timothy Zahn - Dragonback 03 - Dragon And Slave" - читать интересную книгу автора (Zahn Timothy)

some allies among the various human and alien beings of the Orion Arm. A
mercenary group, almost certainly, one which they already knew employed
Brummgas. If they could identify that group, they might have a chance of
locating the rendezvous point themselves before the refugees arrived.
If they couldn't, the fleet would fly straight into an ambush... and the K'da
and Shontine peoples would cease to exist.
"Maybe there is a better way, Uncle Virge," Jack said. "But I'll be stripped,
sanded, and varnished if I can come up with one."
"You could still take this to StarForce," Uncle Virge said.
"We've been through all this," Jack reminded him sourly. "StarForce, the
Internos, and every other government agency is out because we don't know who
we
can trust."
"Then how about Cornelius Braxton?" Uncle Virge persisted. "He owes you
big-time
for pulling his marshmallows out of the fire the way you did during Arthur
Neverlin's big power grab."
Jack shook his head. "You don't create a megacorporation like Braxton
Universis
without a lot of brains and a lot more ruthlessness," he pointed out.
"Grateful
or not, ten to one he'd try to twist all this to his own advantage." The
boy's
lip twitched. "Besides, I don't think Neverlin's given up, and I'd rather not
be
standing anywhere near Braxton when he makes his next move. No, for right now
it's got to be just you and me and Draycos."
"But to throw yourself into a slavemaster's lap?" Uncle Virge protested.
"What
if he doesn't go for it?"
"He will," Jack assured him. "Slavemasters are in the business for the money.
All we have to do is make sure the offer is too good to pass up."
"And if you can't get out afterward?"
"What, with my trusty K'da poet-warrior at my side?" Jack threw a strained
smile
at Draycos.
"I'm sure he'll be a big help," Uncle Virge said, his tone making it clear he
wasn't sure of that at all. "But why go in as a thief? Why not as a soldier
looking for work?"
"I've tried being a soldier," Jack said. "You saw how well it worked."
"You lived through it," Uncle Virge countered. "That says a lot."
Jack snorted. "Not really," he said. "Anyway, what do you suggest I use for
references? Ask them to get in touch with the Whinyard's Edge?"
"Besides, the Chookoock family already has many mercenaries to hire out,"
Draycos put in. "That is why we chose this particular slave dealer, after
all."
"Yes, I remember the logic, thank you," Uncle Virge said icily. "I just don't
think it's going to be easy for a slave to get into their personnel records."
"It'll be a lot easier from in there than it would be from out here," Jack
said.