"Ann Crispin "Han Solo. Rebel Dawn"" - читать интересную книгу автора

"Yes. I was rescued from Ylesia by a... friend. But physically getting off the planet was the easy part," Bria admitted. "Long Сafter my body was free, my mind and spirit were still enslaved. I had to learn to free myself, and it was the hardest thing I've ever done."
Winter nodded, her gaze sympathetic. Bria was a bit surprised at herself for opening up to the girl this way, but the Alderaanian teenager was amazingly easy to talk to. It was obvious that she wasn't just making conversa-tion, she really cared about what Bria was saying. The commander shrugged slightly. "It cost me everything that was important to me, basically. Love, family... se-curity. But it was worth it, to be myself. And it brought me a new purpose in life."
"Fighting the Empire."
The older woman nodded. "Fighting the Empire that condones and encourages slavery. The filthiest, most degrading practice ever developed by supposedly civilized sentients."
"I've heard about Ylesia," Winter said. "The Viceroy ordered an investigation of the place a few years ago, when a few unpleasant rumors surfaced. Since that time, he's kept up a public information campaign to let Alderaanians know the truth about the place-about the spice factories, the forced labor."
"That's the worst thing about it," Bria said, bitterly. "They don't force you. People work themselves to death there, and they do it willingly. It's horrible. If only I had the soldiers and weapons, I'd head for Ylesia tomorrow with a couple of squadrons. We'd shut that stinking mudhole down for good."
"It would take a lot of troops."
"Yes, it would. They have eight or nine colonies there, now. Thousands of slaves." Bria cautiously sipped the hot beverage. "So... are you looking forward to to-morrow's session?"
Winter sighed. "Not really."
"I don't blame you," Bria said. "It must be pretty boring, hearing us wrangle Сall day over whether or not a Rebel Alliance is the right course of action. You ought to skip tomorrow's session, and go have some fun. Cloud City has tours to go watch the beldon herds, and there are aerial rodeos where thranta riders do stunts. I've heard it's an amazing thing to watch."
"I have to be at the conference tomorrow," Winter said. "Minister Dahlney needs me."
"Why?" Bria was puzzled. "For moral support?" The girl smiled faintly. "No. I am his recorder. He needs me to help him prepare his report for the Viceroy."
"Recorder?"
"Yes. Everything I see, or experience, or hear, I re-member," Winter said. "I cannot forget, though some-times I wish I could." Her lovely features grew sad, as though she was recalling some unpleasant scene from the past.
"Really?" Bria was thinking how handy that would be, to have someone like that on staff. She herself had taken lessons and hypno-conditioning to improve her own recall, because so little of what she did could be entrusted to datafiles or fiimsies. "You're right, that would make you inv:aluable."
"The reason that I said I wasn't looking forward to tomorrow's session," Winter said, leaning forward across the table, "wasn't that I was bored, Commander. What I meant was that it's hard for me to listen to Hric Dahlney stubbornly insist that Alderaanian ethics are more important than defeating the Empire."
Bria cocked her head. "Oh... now, that's interesting.
What makes you say that?"
"Twice, when I accompanied Leia and the Viceroy to diplomatic functions on Coruscant-" she stopped her-self, then smiled ruefully, "I mean, to Imperial Center-
I saw the Emperor. One of those times, Emperor Palpatine stopped and spoke to me, just a perfunctory greeting, but..." She hesitated, biting her lip, and for the first time, Bria saw her maturity slip, and a fright-ened child in those youthful features.
"Bria, I looked into his eyes. I cannot forget them, no matter how I try. Emperor Palpatine is evil. Unnatural, in some strange way...." The girl shuddered, despite the cozy warmth of the bar. "He frightened me. He was... malevolent. That's the only word that fits."
"I've heard stories," Bria said. "Though I've never met him. I've seen him from a distance, but that's all."
"You don't want to meet him," Winter said. "Those eyes of his . . . they fasten on you, and you feel as though they will drink up your spirit, Сall that makes you what you are."
Bria sighed. "That's why we must resist him," she said. "That's what he wants, to engulf us Сall... planets, sentients... everything. Palpatine is determined to be-come the most absolute despot in history. We have to fight him, or we'll Сall be ground to dust."
"I agree," Winter said. "And that's why I'm going to go back to Alderaan and tell the Viceroy that we of Alderaan must arm ourselves and learn to fight."
Bria blinked, startled. "Really? But that's not the way Minister Dahlney thinks."
"I know," the girl said. "And I know that the Viceroy is opposed to taking up arms. But your words over the past few days have convinced me that if Alderaan doesn't fight, we'll be destroyed. We'll know no true peace as long as the Emperor rules."
"Do you think Bail Organa will listen to you?" Bria said, feeling a spark of hope. At least I reached one person these past few days . . . it wasn't a complete waste ....
"I don't know," Winter replied. "Perhaps. He is a good man, and respects those who can make their points well, even if they are young. He does believe in resisting the Empire. He has already arranged for me and his daughter to be given special training in intelli-gence-gathering techniques. He'S aware that two young, innocent-seeming girls may be able t° go places and do things where seasoned diplomats would fail."
Bria nodded. "I've found that out myself," she said. "It's a sad but unfortunate fact that a pretty face and a sweet smile can provide a passport to places inside the Imperial bureaucracy and the High Command... where other efforts would be doomed to fail."
The attractive Commander smiled wryly as she poured another cup of vine-coffeine. "As you've no doubt noticed, the Empire is a male-dominated, human-dominated organization. And human males can be . . . manipulated . . . by woman, sometimes aH too easily. I don't like it, and it doesn't make it right, but it's the re-suits that count. I've learned that, over the years."
"Even if Viceroy Organa won't listen to me," Winter said, "I'm sure Leia will. She insisted that our Intelli-gence training include lessons in how to use weapons effectively. Both of us have learned to shoot, and to hit what we aim at. The Viceroy didn't like the idea, at first, but when he thought it over, he agreed, and even chose a Weapons Master for Leia. He's an intelligent man, and he could see that there might be situations where we'd need to know how to defend ourselves."
"What good will convincing the princess do?" Bria asked. "I know she's supposed to be well-loved, but she's still just a young girl."
"The Viceroy is considefing appointing her Alder-aan's representative to the Imperial Senate next year," Winter said. "Don't underestimate Leia's strength of purpose or influence."
"I won't," Bria said. She smiled at Winter. "I'm so glad we had this talk. I was feeling so discouraged, and you've lifted my spirits. I'm very grateful."
"I'm grateful to you, Commander," Winter said. "For speaking the truth in my hearing. The Corellian resis-tance is fight. Our best hope is a Rebel Alliance. I only hope it can happen one day...."
As the post-tournament party began to wind down, Han found himself beside Lando. He gestured at the door. "C'mon, I'll buy you a drink."
Lando smiled wryly. "You'd better be buying, old buddy. You've got all my credits."
Han grinned. "I'm buying. Hey... Lando, need a loan? And do you want to book passage back to Nar Shaddaa on that liner that's leaving tomorrow?"
Lando hesitated. "Yes... and no. I'd like to borrow a thousand, and I'm good for it. But I've decided to stay here on Bespin for a while. Some of the sentients who didn't make it to the finals of the tournament are bound to be hitting the casinos here on Cloud City, trying to recoup some of what they lost. I should do Сall fight."
Han nodded, and counted out credit vouchers equal-ing fifteen hundred credits, then handed them to Lando. "Take your time, buddy. No hurry."
Lando gave his friend a grin as they approached the bar. "Thanks, Han."
"Hey . . . that sabacc pot added to my other win-nings... well, I can afford it." The Corellian felt physi-cally tired, but so exhilarated that he knew he couldn't sleep-not yet. He had to savor his victory, his owner-ship of the Falcon, just a little bit longer.
"Well, I'm headin' back tomorrow. No reason to stick around, and Chewie'11 be wondering how I am."
Lando glanced across the bar and raised an eyebrow.
"Oh, I see at least two reasons to stick around."
Hah followed his friend's glance, saw the two women who were leaving the bar through the lobby exit. One was tall and full-bodied, with short black hair, the other was little more than a girl, slender, with long white hair. He shook his head. "Lando, you never quit. That tall one could put you on your rear, she's built like a null-gee wrestler, and the other is an invitation to a nice jail cell for corrupting a minor."
Lando shrugged. "Well, if not those two, then there are plenty of other lovely ladies here in Cloud City. And I want to check out the business opportunities here. I kind of like the place."
Hah grinned smugly at his friend. "Suit yourself. My-self, I can't wait to get home and take my ship out for a spin." He signaled the robo-bartender. "What's your pleasure, my friend?"
Lando rolled his eyes. "Polanis red for me, and a nice shot of poison for you." Han laughed.