"Thomas A. Easton - Organic Future 5 - Seeds of Destiny" - читать интересную книгу автора (Easton Thomas A)

Seeds of Destiny
by Thomas A. Easton
This story copyright 1994 by Thomas A. Easton. This copy was created for
Jean
Hardy's personal use. All other rights are reserved. Thank you for honoring
the copyright.

Published by Seattle Book Company, www.seattlebook.com.
* * *


CHAPTER 1

"Sir?"
A hand reached toward Marcus Aurelius Hrecker from a shadowy alcove in
the
painted tunnel wall. Automatically, he raised a warding arm and shifted his
step
to stay out of reach. Olympia, burrowed into the bulk of the grandest
mountain
in the Solar System, was as safe as any place, safer than any city on Earth
or
the Moon. But you could never tell. Even in a crowded tunnel.
"Sir? Please!"
The hand belonged to a small woman, stooped and wrinkled and smelling of
years. Her hair was so gray it was practically white. Almost against his
will,
he stopped and faced her. Other pedestrians flowed past behind him.
"Did you know I'm being evicted? I had such a nice apartment. And they
say
they need it for someone else. They're putting me in a home. Just one room and
a
cafeteria and a lounge full of old wrecks. Like me."
"I'm sorry." He shook his head. "But there's really nothing I can do."
Why
was she even telling him? He didn't know her, and he could imagine no reason
why
she would think he might change the housing office's mind. Certainly he
couldn't
take her home with him. His own apartment was barely large enough for him.
"Of course you can't!" She nodded rapidly, her eyes bright, her mouth set
in
a pursed line. "Not about that. But..." She reached into the shadows behind
her.
Light glinted on polished metal wheel-hubs and basket wire. He recognized a
cart
of the sort many people used when shopping. "I have to get rid of my flowers,
you know. I can't take them with me. They just won't allow it. There's no
point
in even asking. But you look like a nice fellow."