"Alexander Kazantsev. The Destruction of Faena (ГИБЕЛЬ ФАЭНЫ, англ.)" - читать интересную книгу автора

"The stars have made us friends, is it not so?" continued Ala Veg, well
aware of the effect she was having on the young visitor.
"For the sake of everything I see here, it was well worth flying to the
stars," he murmured, lowering his eyes.
"I already know that you're a poet. But you are also an astronomer. I
want us to have views in common."
"I would like that so much!"
They were silent for a moment as they gazed at one another.
"Soon there will be a banquet. We shall sit side by side."
"Oh, yes!" Toni Fae nodded his head. "But we must also take Gor Terr
under our wing. He is as helpless as I am."
"I love the helpless ones," laughed Ala Veg, affectionately touching
Toni Fae's hand. "You are a charming boy and I'm so happy that you have
arrived. If only you knew how fed up we are with one another here!"
Mrak Luton, who was finishing his stroll along the corridor as if no
one had arrived at the station, had in fact been carefully measuring his
pace. Of all the new arrivals, he regarded the Dictator's daughter as most
important. For that reason, he went up to the lift-cage at the precise
moment when Mada, Ave and Smel Ven, the first pilot, came out of it.
The chief of the station was chewing it over in his mind: after
lift-off from Faena, the Dictator's daughter had married Ave Mar, son of the
Ruler of the Culturals. What was this? Politics?
"May they be prolonged, the successful cycles in the life of the Wisest
of the Wise who had the good fortune to have such a daughter," was the
flowery welcome with which he greeted Mada, and he announced that she and
Ave had been given two magnificent cabins in opposite compartments of the
station.
Mada flared up.
"Was not Station Deimo in electromagnetic communication with Quest?"
she asked angrily.
Mrak Luton shrugged his shoulders apologetically.
"If the customs of the Superiors are effective on the station,"
continued Mada, as if giving an order, "then you must give my husband and
myself a double cabin and send the roundheaded Lua couple there at once."
The station chief bowed respectfully as low as his paunch would allow.
"They exist to serve. May the cycles in the lives of the Dictator and
the Ruler be prolonged," he concluded, glancing at Ave for the first time.
Mrak Luton personally conducted the young couple to the best cabin on
the station, and on the way he showed the glowering Smel Ven his quarters.
Then he found Brat Lua and Tycho Veg who had just emerged from the central
compartment. He ordered Brat Lua to find his wife and report with her to
Mada and Ave. Only then did he notice that Smel Ven was still standing
outside his cabin door. Mrak Luton went up to him and heard the following
words, uttered in a half-whisper:
"The Dictator will hardly approve of such hasty hospitality." Smel Ven
vanished, slamming the door behind him.
Mrak Luton stared dully at the plastic-covered door.
Brat Lua not only brought his wife to Ave and Mada, he also brought
drawings. He was a calm Faetian of medium height, with a tight, glossy skin
and intent eyes.