"Joseph Delaney - In the Face of My Enemy" - читать интересную книгу автора (Delaney Joseph)

In The Face Of My
Enemy
Joseph H. Delaney

I am not a coward by nature, though surely there is a little cowardice in
all of us. Mine surfaced as soon as I could made out the features of the
man disembarking from the shuttle. It was Ivan Carmody himself, my
boss.
There are men. Also, there are MEN. The difference is one of kind, not
degree; and the mind perceives it instantly, unerringly, and inexplicably.
One approached whom I feared, but to whom duty demanded I explain
the other. And I wondered if I could.
My months on Campbell had been filled with many strange
experiencesтАФsome of which, I felt, were better left out of my report. But
Carmody would demand to hear them all. And I knew I would tell.
I was too minor to have met him face to face before. As Secretary of
Extraterrestrial Affairs he was the U.N.'s most powerful figure, and its
most colorful. As he approached I understood why, for he was imposing.
He was tall, with the look of an eagle about him, from the straight white
hair he wore combed back to the huge curved beak of his nose. Thick
glasses perched on its bridge magnified piercing green eyes that did not
blink.
"Kimberly Ryan," the voice boomed. "Are you in charge of this mess?"
I glanced around at the muddy street, the burned-out buildings and
crushed equipment. Most of the men who had watched the shuttle's
approach had skulked away. "Yes, sir. I have assumed command under
Emergency Regulation Number 309," I said, hoping I had cited the right
one. I felt his stare on my body, at the rough leather clothing that Casey
had made for me. "This is all I have left, Mr. Secretary. Everything
burned."
"I'll want to hear your report immediately, Miss Ryan, preferably not
out here in the street."
 "Yes, sir. We can go to Solar Minerals H.Q., to Mr. Meyers's office.
What's left of it, that is. I'll show you the way."
I turned and started off down the street, trying to stick to the dryer
spots. He followed along a pace or two behind.
"Where is Meyers?"
"Dead," I told him. He shot himself just before the settlement, uh, fell,
when he thought the aliens were going to fire the building. I can send for
Mr. Bigelow, though. He's in charge of Solar's operations now, I guess."
"No, I want your report first. We may be filing charges against the
management, including Mr. Bigelow."
I reached the stairs and started up, wondering if the flight would hold
both of us in its damaged condition. It had taken a glancing hit from a
catapult which had partially destroyed the landing, but Carmody did not
hesitate. He trailed me up the twenty or so steps closely enough for me to
hear him panting.
We entered Meyers's office and Carmody took it upon himself to sit at
Meyers's desk, despite the fact that the chair back was still spattered with
dried blood and brains. He propped his chin on his hands, leaning over