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Redliners

David Drake
Fout! Onbekende schakeloptie-instructie.
Copyright ┬й 1996 by David Drake

ISBN: 0-671-87733-X

Cover art by Gary Ruddell

First printing, August 1996

Drake, David.
Redliners / David Drake

ISBN 0-671-87733-X (HC)
I. Title
PS3554.R196R43 1996
813'.54тАФdc20 96-17559
CIP
 PROLOGUE

When I entered Category 4 of the Unity civil service thirty-seven
years ago, I gave up my former name and life to become a servant
dedicated to all mankind. There are those who say I ceased to be
human when as part of the process a computer was embedded in my
central nervous system.
I am called John Smith, though my name might as easily have been
Xiang Quo or Krishna Singh or Ali Nasr. I am now Chief of
Administration, the highest permanent official of the Unity. There are
those who say I have the powers of a god and the ruthlessness of an
avalanche.
Since I entered Category 4, my only desire has been the long-term
good of mankind. Since I became Chief of Administration, my will has
been the only will of mankind.
There are those who say I have no more mercy than a surgeon
treating cancer.
There are those who say my planning has been mankindтАЩs only
salvation during these seven years of war with the Kalendru, who
understand the concepts of тАЬmasterтАЭ and тАЬslaveтАЭ but not of тАЬequals.тАЭ
There are those who say that even such as I must retire, as a blade is
retired when grinding use wears it to a sliverтАФbe that sliver ever so
sharp.
They say, they say . . .
And they are all of them correct.
Operation Active Cloak



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