Clan Corporate Read Online Free PDF Page A

they’re afraid youngsters would use me as an object lesson and strike out on their own. Defect. Leave the Clan.”
    “Yes, Helge. I think that’s what they’re afraid of. You’ve handed them a huge opportunity on a plate, but it’s also a threat to their survival as an institution. And there’s already a crisis in train for them to worry about.
    Frightened people act harshly … your mother has every reason to be scared witless, on your behalf. Do you see?”
    “That’s hard to believe.” Eyes downcast, Helge slowly began to walk back along the path. “Bastards,” she muttered quietly under her breath. “Lying bastards.”
    Olga trotted to catch up. “Come along to the garden party tonight,” she suggested. “Try to enjoy it? You’ll meet lots of eligible gentles there, I’m sure.” A quiet giggle: “If they’re not overawed by your reputation!”
    “Enjoy it?” Helge stopped dead, a pained expression on her face. “Last time I attended one of those events Matthias tried to blackmail me, his majesty insisted on introducing me to his idiot younger son, and two different factions tried to assassinate me! I’m just hoping that his majesty’s too drunk to recognize me, otherwise-”
    “This time will be different,” Olga said confidently, offering her hand.
    “You’ll see!”
    Translated transcript begins

    “A most excellent evening, your grace.”
    “Any evening at court is a most excellent one, Otto. Blessed by the presence of our royal sun, as it were. Ah, you-a glass for the baron, here!”
    (Pause.)
    “That’s very fine, the, ah, Sudten new grape? This year’s, fresh from the cask?”
    “Absolutely. His majesty’s vintners are conscientious as always. I understand we can expect this crop to arrive in our own cellars presently, in perhaps a few weeks-as the ships work their way into port, weather permitting.”
    “As the-oh. How do they do it?”
    “Witchcraft of some description, no doubt, though the how of it hardly matters as much as the why, Otto.” (Pause.) “Are you still having problems with your new neighbor?”
    “Why that-one-legged whore’s son of a bloated tick! I’m sorry, your grace. Sky Father rot his eyes in his head, yes! It continues. As the circuit assizes will attest this high summer. And he’s got the sworn men to compurge his case before the justiciars, claiming with their lying hands on the altar that every inch of the forest he’s cleared has been in his family since time immemorial.
    Which it has not, on account of his family being jumped-up peddlers-”
    “Not so loudly if you please, Otto. Another glass?”
    “My-discreetly! Discreetly does it indeed, sir, I must apologize; it is just that the subject causes me no little inflammation of the senses. My grief is not at the ennoblement of the line, which it must be admitted happened in my grandfather’s day, but his attitude is insufferable! To raze the choicest forest is bad enough, but to sow it with weeds, and then to erect fences and bar his fields to the hunt in breach of ancient right is a personal affront.
    And his claim to be under the instruction of his liege is …”
    “Quite true, Otto.”
    “I most humbly beg your pardon, your grace, but I find that hard to credit.”
    (Pause.)
    “It is entirely true, Otto. The merchants own considerable estates, and fully a tenth of them were turned over to this crop last spring. With considerable hardship to their tenants, I might add; an unseemly lack of care will see many of them starving. Evidently red and purple flowers mean more to them than the health of their peasants, unless by some more of their magic they can transform poppies into bread by midwinter’s eve.”
    “Idiots.” (Inarticulate muttering.) “It wouldn’t be the first idiocy they’ve been guilty of, of course, but to damage the yeomanry adds an insult to the blow.”
    “Exactly his thought.”
    “He-” (Pause.) “The rising sun is of this thought?”
    “Indeed. Even while