"Follett, James - Earthsearch 00 - Mindwarp" - читать интересную книгу автора (Follett James)

black and white stripes.
`That means we want you to wait a little longer,' Father
Gilith explained in answer to the boy's puzzled expression.
The moment he was alone, Father Gilith checked Ewen's
astounding score. Both he and the girl would be sent to the
GoD Training Centre immediately. But Ewen's score had been
the maximum attainable. He called up his standing orders and
read through them before touching out a number on his data
screen. He hesitated before pressing the last digit. What if
he were wrong? What if the mindwarps in the interview chairs
weren't working properly and that the boy knew from other
kids what the questions would be? But that was impossible, of
course; all the interviewing technicians had checked their
mindwarps that morning. The standing orders for all selection
examiners under circumstances such as these were unequivocal.
They also stated that the First Secretary always made himself
available on selection days for such an eventuality.
Father Gilith had no alternative but to touch the final
digit.
First Secretary Caudo Inman's gaunt, timeless face
appeared on the desk screen. The lights glittered menacingly
on his rimless spectacles. Father Gilith shivered inwardly
and with good reason. In addition to being First Secretary to
the Emperor himself, and Vice-Chancellor of the GoD Training
Centre, Caudo Inman held all the highest offices in Arama.
Not a man to be trifled with.
`Yes...?' said Inman testily. He glanced down at a
monitor. `Gilith, isn't it? Why have you called this number?'
`I have a recording that I think you should see, sir.'


3
Kally was distraught from the moment Ewen had returned with
his badge showing black and white stripes. She had a vague
recollection that her badge had changed to such a pattern
after her selection test but her memories of that day were
elusive and refused to be pinned down. `But surely you
remember what they asked you?' she asked.
`It was lot of questions,' said Ewen.
`What questions?'
`Don't remember.'
There was that look of defiance in his intense blue eyes.
That familiar jut of his jaw that she knew sprang more from
quiet determination rather than arrogance. Ever since Ewen
had learned to walk and talk, Kally wished she knew more
about her son's father. All she had been told at the AI
centre was that he was an extremely intelligent, ambitious
man.
`But you must remember, Ewen!'
`Well I don't!'