"Terry Dowling - Flashmen" - читать интересную книгу автора (Dowling Terry)

event, tearing up so much of eastern Australia, then The Sailmaker arriving
eight years later. Perhaps, experts argued, The Sailmaker had caused that
singular event, already on its way.

Now this. Sailmaker Two. Sailmaker Redux, whatever you could call it,
and here in Australia again, would you believe? However it fell, proof that
the Landings were there: a constant in all their lives. Ongoing.

They left the clean van in the holding yard at BeckerтАЩs, and Sam went
with Walt and Sunny through the Bendigo Gate, finally made it to the large
taproom of TaggerтАЩs with the windows showing the red land and red sky
before them. The forty-six Australian Landings were a day away, scattered
over three hundred and forty thousand hectares, twenty days across on
foot, six by WHO slow-mo ATV. The Sailmaker Redux was two days in.

тАЬHi, Aitch,тАЭ Angel Fleet said, meeting them at the tap-stage. She
looked older, leaner, wasted with too much sun and not enough care, but it
was so good seeing her, seeing her alive and still keen, though what other
careers were there really for hard-luck warriors, GodтАЩs-gift crusader knights,
once youтАЩd fought against dragons? тАЬThe kidтАЩs in the blue room swotting
the manuals. Sunny said youтАЩd do good cop on this.тАЭ

Sam had expected it, but it was beside the point. Being at TaggerтАЩs
again overwhelmed everything. Seeing Angel, any version of Angel.

тАЬHow have you been, Ange?тАЭ

тАЬManaging. Glad to have this. You, Aitch?тАЭ

тАЬComing round.тАЭ He nodded to the door. тАЬWhatтАЩve you told him?тАЭ

тАЬStandard run. TheyтАЩre alien zones. Dangerous. We came on hard,
Sunny and me. Figured bad cop was the way to go.тАЭ

тАЬGet much?тАЭ

тАЬYou kidding? He glazed over two minutes in. These kids can name
the flash crews up and down the spread, but the basics - forget it. Walt said
leave it to you. Just like old times.тАЭ

тАЬJust like old times.тАЭ

****

His name was Thomas Gunn and no-one called him Tommy. He was
sixteen, lean, of medium height, with a good open face, pleasing enough
features, the habit of tipping his head to one side when he was really
listening.

тАЬGlad they sent you, Mr Aitch,тАЭ he said when Sam took the other