"Keith Brooke - Solo" - читать интересную книгу автора (Brooke Keith)

pops and I move down to the next link, steadily cutting my way through,
cutting my way out.

No sudden spotlights, no blaring sirens, but I know my corruption of the
establishment's defences will have been detected. When the hole is big
enough I step through. I look around once, then start to run, relying on
the biohydraulics grown into my neck to steady the view of the eyecam.
I have little idea of what to expect, now that I am free of the army and
their scientists. I came to this place in the back of a military truck: no
windows, no chance to keep track of the route taken from the remote hill
site where they picked me up. Being unfamiliar with that archaic mode of
transport, I could not even guess at the distance covered, only that the
journey started in mid-afternoon and ended in darkness.
It's hard running in all this slush and mud. At the foot of the slope I
come to another metalled road. I choose to run on its firm surface,
trading cover for distance.

Headlights again. Coming towards me. I plunge into the hedge, gasp in pain
as its pointed twigs and thorns rake my face. The car goes past.
In the distance, I can hear voices, petrochemical engines spluttering into
poisonous life. I force my way through the hedge. The road will not be
safe any longer.
Even as I do this I hear another vehicle approaching: coming, this time,
from the military base. I peer out. It looks like the jeep I saw earlier:
four boyish soldiers, one driving, the others clutching onto their
weaponry. They must have sobered up quite abruptly if they are the same
soldiers.
I run on the field side of the hedge, mud sucking at my feet. The panicked
military response will make excellent copy, but first I must ensure that
my escape is successful. And then I must find some way off this miserable
planet.

Not long after the jeep went by the helicopters joined the search. Great,
clumsy things, their engines booming persistently. Whenever one
approached, with its lights sweeping the ground before it, I ducked into
cover. Did they think I would stand in the open waving?
I'm in a town now. Neat little houses, streets lit by powerful lamps on
posts. These people use energy as if it was free. Perhaps it is. Perhaps
they really are stupid.
I realised, back there in the mud and sleet, that there is no way I can
get away from here. I need backup, but for the first time since I started
in this business I am solo.
They will recapture me, I know.
And perhaps it will be for the best. Even now I am broadcasting all that I
see. Unless it is being jammed, my signal is going out to orbit and from
there it will be relayed to every dataspread in the System. I don't know
why this race has never been contacted, inducted into the System, but my
scoop will break that embargo. By spreading my story and so forcing
contact I am taking the only chance I have of getting home.