[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
bubbling up now beneath the self-imposed constraints.
The ship doors closed behind him, and he concealed an algorithmic turbulence,
what in human terms he would have called an intellectual panic--not at the
closed spaces of the ship, but at the opening flowers of curiosity within his
own mind!
In their small cabin, Daneel placed their two small pieces of luggage in
containment racks and pulled down a small sitting platform. Lodovik remained
standing. Daneel folded his arms.
We will not be disturbed, he said. We can drop to our lowest level here. We
should be at the rendezvous in six hours, and on Eos within three days.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
How much time do we have, before you lose control of the situation on
Trantor? Lodovik asked.
Fifteen days, Daneel said. Barring unforeseen circumstances. And there are
always those, where humans are concerned.
26.
Vara Liso could hardly contain her rage. She raised her fists to Farad Sinter,
who backed off with a small, shocked grin, and circled him in the broad
public-affairs office. A number of Greys, pushing carts or carrying valises,
witnessed this confrontation from the adjoining hallway with wonder and
concealed, colorless glee.
That is idiotic! she hissed at him, then lowered her voice. Take off the
pressure...and they will regroup!
Then they will come after me!
The blond major, her constant and now intensely annoying shadow, danced
ineffectually around, trying to interpose himself. But Vara just as deftly
maneuvered around him. Sinter was left with the impression he was in a small
and embarrassing riot. By walking crabwise toward the open door of his
secondary office, Sinter managed this small squall into a less public
container.
Page 68
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
You lost the trail! he said, half bark, half sigh, as a Grey shut the door
behind them. The Grey merely glanced at the trio, then went about her duties,
nonplussed.
I was pulled away! Vara howled. Tears started from her eyes and poured down
her cheeks.
Abruptly, the major stopped his dance and stood in one spot, trembling
allover, his limbs jerking. Then, he looked for a chair, saw one in a comer,
and collapsed into it. Sinter witnessed this with wide eyes.
Did you do that? he asked Vara.
Vara shut her mouth with a small click of teeth, pulled back her head on its
long, thin neck, and stared at the major. Of course not. Though he has been
abominable, and uncooperative.
The strain-- the major managed between clenched, clattering teeth.
Sinter stared at her for several seconds, until Vara realized she was arousing
some very unhealthy suspicions. Major Namm shook himself, steadied, and
managed to stand again, swallowing hard. He came to attention, rather
ridiculously, and focused on a wall opposite.
How did you lose her? Farad Sinter asked softly, looking between them.
It was not her fault, the major said.
I asked her,
Sinter said.
She was very fast, and she sensed my presence, Vara Liso began. Your
agents, your
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
bumbling police, weren t fast enough to catch her--and now she s gone, and you
won t let me find her!
Sinter s lips protruded in thought, pressed together as if waiting for a kiss.
It was a ludicrous expression, and suddenly, in Vara Liso s heart, what had
started out as admiration and love flip-flopped into bitterness and hatred.
She kept her feelings to herself, however. She had already said too much, gone
too far.
Did I
whip that young officer?
She glanced at the stiff, silent man with a small measure of guilt. She must
keep her abilities in check.
The Emperor has specifically forbidden me from conducting any more of our
searches. He does not seem to share our interest in these...people. And for
the moment, I m not going to press my advantage and try to convince him to
change his mind. The Emperor has his ways, and they must be observed.
Vara stood with hands folded.
He was convinced by Hari Seldon that this could look very bad, politically.
Vara s eyes widened. But Seldon supports them!
We don t know that for sure.
But they were recruiting me! His granddaughter!
Farad reached out and took her by the wrist, then tightened his grip ever so
slightly. She winced.
That is a fact to be kept just between you and me. What Seldon s
granddaughter does mayor may not be connected to the Raven himself. Perhaps
the whole family is crazy, each in his unique way.
But we ve discussed--
Seldon is done for. After his trial, we can pursue those intimately connected
to him. Once Linge
Chen has satisfied himself, the Emperor will likely not object to our cleaning
up the scraps. Sinter gave
Vara Liso a pitying glare.
What is it? she asked, quivering.
Don t ever assume I am giving up.
Ever.
Page 69
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
What I do is much too important.
Of course, Vara Liso said, subdued. She stared down at the plush carpet
under the desk, with its weave of huge brown and red flowers.
We ll have our time again, and soon. But for now, we simply constrain our
enthusiasm and dedication, and wait.
Of course, Vara Liso said.
Are you all right? Sinter asked the young major solicitously.
Yes, sir, the man said.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
Been ill recently?
No, sir.
Sinter seemed to dismiss the problem, and the officer, with a wave. Major Namm
retreated hastily, pulling the large door shut behind him without a sound.
You ve been under a strain, Sinter said.
Perhaps I have, Vara said, her shoulders slumping. She smiled weakly at him.
A little rest, some recreation. He reached in his pocket and pulled out a
credit chit. This will get you into the Imperial Sector retail emporium. A
little discreet shopping, perhaps.
Vara s forehead furled. Then her face went smooth and she took the chit and
smiled. Thank you.
It s nothing. Come back in a few days. Things might have changed. I ll assign
a different officer to protect you.
Thank you, Vara Liso said.
Sinter touched her chin with one finger. You are valuable, you know, he
said, and was secretly disgusted by the look of sheer need on the woman s
exceedingly unattractive face.
27.
Though he would go before the Commission of Public Safety alone, Hari knew [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl freetocraft.keep.pl
bubbling up now beneath the self-imposed constraints.
The ship doors closed behind him, and he concealed an algorithmic turbulence,
what in human terms he would have called an intellectual panic--not at the
closed spaces of the ship, but at the opening flowers of curiosity within his
own mind!
In their small cabin, Daneel placed their two small pieces of luggage in
containment racks and pulled down a small sitting platform. Lodovik remained
standing. Daneel folded his arms.
We will not be disturbed, he said. We can drop to our lowest level here. We
should be at the rendezvous in six hours, and on Eos within three days.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
How much time do we have, before you lose control of the situation on
Trantor? Lodovik asked.
Fifteen days, Daneel said. Barring unforeseen circumstances. And there are
always those, where humans are concerned.
26.
Vara Liso could hardly contain her rage. She raised her fists to Farad Sinter,
who backed off with a small, shocked grin, and circled him in the broad
public-affairs office. A number of Greys, pushing carts or carrying valises,
witnessed this confrontation from the adjoining hallway with wonder and
concealed, colorless glee.
That is idiotic! she hissed at him, then lowered her voice. Take off the
pressure...and they will regroup!
Then they will come after me!
The blond major, her constant and now intensely annoying shadow, danced
ineffectually around, trying to interpose himself. But Vara just as deftly
maneuvered around him. Sinter was left with the impression he was in a small
and embarrassing riot. By walking crabwise toward the open door of his
secondary office, Sinter managed this small squall into a less public
container.
Page 68
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
You lost the trail! he said, half bark, half sigh, as a Grey shut the door
behind them. The Grey merely glanced at the trio, then went about her duties,
nonplussed.
I was pulled away! Vara howled. Tears started from her eyes and poured down
her cheeks.
Abruptly, the major stopped his dance and stood in one spot, trembling
allover, his limbs jerking. Then, he looked for a chair, saw one in a comer,
and collapsed into it. Sinter witnessed this with wide eyes.
Did you do that? he asked Vara.
Vara shut her mouth with a small click of teeth, pulled back her head on its
long, thin neck, and stared at the major. Of course not. Though he has been
abominable, and uncooperative.
The strain-- the major managed between clenched, clattering teeth.
Sinter stared at her for several seconds, until Vara realized she was arousing
some very unhealthy suspicions. Major Namm shook himself, steadied, and
managed to stand again, swallowing hard. He came to attention, rather
ridiculously, and focused on a wall opposite.
How did you lose her? Farad Sinter asked softly, looking between them.
It was not her fault, the major said.
I asked her,
Sinter said.
She was very fast, and she sensed my presence, Vara Liso began. Your
agents, your
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
bumbling police, weren t fast enough to catch her--and now she s gone, and you
won t let me find her!
Sinter s lips protruded in thought, pressed together as if waiting for a kiss.
It was a ludicrous expression, and suddenly, in Vara Liso s heart, what had
started out as admiration and love flip-flopped into bitterness and hatred.
She kept her feelings to herself, however. She had already said too much, gone
too far.
Did I
whip that young officer?
She glanced at the stiff, silent man with a small measure of guilt. She must
keep her abilities in check.
The Emperor has specifically forbidden me from conducting any more of our
searches. He does not seem to share our interest in these...people. And for
the moment, I m not going to press my advantage and try to convince him to
change his mind. The Emperor has his ways, and they must be observed.
Vara stood with hands folded.
He was convinced by Hari Seldon that this could look very bad, politically.
Vara s eyes widened. But Seldon supports them!
We don t know that for sure.
But they were recruiting me! His granddaughter!
Farad reached out and took her by the wrist, then tightened his grip ever so
slightly. She winced.
That is a fact to be kept just between you and me. What Seldon s
granddaughter does mayor may not be connected to the Raven himself. Perhaps
the whole family is crazy, each in his unique way.
But we ve discussed--
Seldon is done for. After his trial, we can pursue those intimately connected
to him. Once Linge
Chen has satisfied himself, the Emperor will likely not object to our cleaning
up the scraps. Sinter gave
Vara Liso a pitying glare.
What is it? she asked, quivering.
Don t ever assume I am giving up.
Ever.
Page 69
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
What I do is much too important.
Of course, Vara Liso said, subdued. She stared down at the plush carpet
under the desk, with its weave of huge brown and red flowers.
We ll have our time again, and soon. But for now, we simply constrain our
enthusiasm and dedication, and wait.
Of course, Vara Liso said.
Are you all right? Sinter asked the young major solicitously.
Yes, sir, the man said.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
Been ill recently?
No, sir.
Sinter seemed to dismiss the problem, and the officer, with a wave. Major Namm
retreated hastily, pulling the large door shut behind him without a sound.
You ve been under a strain, Sinter said.
Perhaps I have, Vara said, her shoulders slumping. She smiled weakly at him.
A little rest, some recreation. He reached in his pocket and pulled out a
credit chit. This will get you into the Imperial Sector retail emporium. A
little discreet shopping, perhaps.
Vara s forehead furled. Then her face went smooth and she took the chit and
smiled. Thank you.
It s nothing. Come back in a few days. Things might have changed. I ll assign
a different officer to protect you.
Thank you, Vara Liso said.
Sinter touched her chin with one finger. You are valuable, you know, he
said, and was secretly disgusted by the look of sheer need on the woman s
exceedingly unattractive face.
27.
Though he would go before the Commission of Public Safety alone, Hari knew [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]