"Applegate, Katherine A - Animorphs - 23 - The Pretender" - читать интересную книгу автора (Applegate Katherine A)

1

My name is Tobias.

That's my name. But names don't really tell you much, do they? I've
known two Rachels. One was this whiny, obnoxious person. The other
Rachel - the one I know now - is the bravest person I've ever known.

But you'd think that my telling you my name is Tobias would at least
tell you that I'm human, wouldn't you? You'd assume I have arms and legs
and a face and a mouth. But names don't even tell you that.

I am not human.

I was human once. I was born a human. There are human characteristics
within me. And I can

2 become a human for two hours at a time. But I am not human.

I am a red-tailed hawk. A very common species of hawk, nothing exotic.
Red-tails tend to live in woods near an open field or meadow. We hunt
best that way: by sitting on a tree branch, gazing out across the field,
spotting prey, then swooping in quickly for the kill.

That's what I do. I live in the trees near a very nice meadow.
Unfortunately, the hunting has been bad lately. Partly that's just the
way it goes. There are good times and bad times in the predator business.

But more, it's competition. Another red-tail has been moving in on my
territory. He's been eating my mice. Between him and the minor drought
we've been having, food's getting a little scarce.

Stupid, huh? Stupid that I'd worry about something like that. I mean, I
have powers far greater than that other red-tail. I can morph to human.
I can morph to any animal. I could morph to some member of the feline
family or some kind of snake and take out the red-tail.

Only I don't.

I could confront the other hawk. Red-tail to red-tail. We could fight it
out.

Only I don't.

I don't do anything. Pretty soon he'll make a

3 move on me, push me aside. Maybe then I'll have to figure out what to
do. But right now, I don't do anything. I just go hungry.

I could go to the others for help. To Rachel and the other Animorphs, my