"David,.Peter.-.Spider-Man.2" - читать интересную книгу автора (David Peter)

УEighteen,Ф Octavius admitted. УMaybe nineteen. But I was busy.Ф
УYou always are. Did she put you in the cab?Ф
УYes.Ф
УAndtell the cab where to go?Ф
Octavius slumped his head, defeated. УAll right, fine. You win. ItТs probably
better that you didnТt tell them, in case IЕФ
УForgot?Ф Again Connors laughed, and he patted Octavius on the back. УOtto, if
Rosie werenТt in your life, youТd have had to invent her.Ф
УBelieve me, I know that all too well. If it werenТt forФ
A faint vibration shook the ground beneath them. Otto looked at Connors and
said, УAre there fault lines beneath Manhattan?Ф
УIТm not a geologist, Otto.Ф
УCurtis!Ф said Otto, feigning shock. УHow could you say that?Ф
Connors rolled his eyes. УSorry. Seismologist.Ф
УThank heavens. I would have expected thatЧФ
УOh, my God,Ф Connors suddenly said, his eyes widening, and Octavius turned to
see what had so distressed him.
УWhat the hellЕ ?Ф breathed Octavius, no less surprised.
A vehicle that looked like nothing so much as a giant robot was charging across
the quad. It had to be at least fifteen feet tall, and appeared to have stepped
directly out of one of those Japanese animation cartoons. The legs, however,
werenТt moving independently of each other, but instead were mounted on huge
caterpillar treads. People were scrambling to get out of its way, and that was
fortunate, because it paid no heed to whatever or whomever lay in its path.
Trees, park benches, a couple of concrete tables erected to play chess upon, all
were crunched under it as it made a beeline directly toward Octavius and
Connors.
Octavius stood rooted to the spot. He was able to make out a human face peering
out through some sort of clear window situated in the chest area. The person
appeared to be male, with a shaved head, and he had a demented grin.
УOtto, come on!Ф shouted Connors. УThereТs a giant robot coming this way!Ф
УI donТt know that itТs technically a robot,Ф muttered Octavius. УThere appears
to be a human operator within. I believe that for it to be a robot, it needs to
be able to function independently ofЧФ
УOtto!Ф
УOh! Right! Coming!Ф
They dashed along the sidewalk, Otto weighed down by the briefcase and teaching
materials he was carrying. They were running well clear of the mechanoidТs path,
so Otto cast a glance over his shoulder.
УCurtЕ I believe we may have a problem. I think itТs following us.Ф
Connors turned and saw that his friend was right. The robot had changed course,
and clearly was in pursuit.
Instantly, he dropped the materials heТd been carrying. Octavius looked at him
accusingly. УCurtis! WeТre going to need those forЧФ
Connors didnТt hesitate. He reached over with his one arm and knocked everything
out of OttoТs arms, sending it tumbling to the sidewalk.
УHave you lost your mind?Фdemanded Octavius, shouting above the rumbling.
УNo, but you may have!Run! Ф
Connors immediately began running again, and Octavius had to choose between
stopping to pick up his fallen materials or matching ConnorsТ actions. He chose