"Alan Dean Foster - Flinx 5 - Flinx in Flux" - читать интересную книгу автора (Foster Alan Dean)

and Stick and the others seated at the table. The Cause excited her in a way no
man ever had.
She was a biologist, not a starlet. When she spoke, the natural seductiveness of
her voice masked the intensity of her devotion to the Cause. Her dedication and
early military training had overcome the organization's initial resistance to
her beauty. Now she was looked upon as merely another soldier. By herself she
had induced two governments to alter their positions on issues important to her
colleagues: one by persuasion, one by blackmail.
Now she held up what looked like a fragment of fabric half a meter square and
five centimeters thick.
"Do you all know what this is? It's a new product and currently only available
in limited quantities on the luxury market." The perfect slash of her mouth
twisted, accomplishing the seemingly impossible by muting her beauty. "I'll tell
you what it is: the latest and greatest perversion of the natural order for
profit."
"Verdidion Weave, isn't it?" Ormega opted as she leaned forward for a better
look.
Flora nodded brusquely. "A previously untouched organism from a previously
unspoiled world. It's been genetically altered to enhance the comfort of a
wealthy few, though there are plans afoot to lower the cost by increasing
production." She made it sound like an oath framed in flaming quotation marks.
"In other words, the bastards responsible for this plan on expanding their
operation throughout the planet of origin."
Spider folded his hands in front of his belly. "A perfect world for our first


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major public operation. There are no mitigating circumstances involved. It's not
as if these slime are altering grains to feed additional mouths. This is a
deliberate attempt to manipulate a natural environment purely for profit. We're
going to stamp it out, shut it down so thoroughly that every other company in
the business will think three times before trying anything similar on any other
virgin world.
"As you all know, our operations until now have been limited to saving a single
species here, a lifeform there. This time, my friends, an entire world will be
looking to us for its salvation. We have before us the opportunity to ensure the
future tranquillity of a complete ecological system. We're going in with a sword
this time instead of a scalpel!
"It's going to be expensive and dangerous. Anyone who wants out can stay behind,
and they won't be thought the worse of for their decision. If our preliminary
sortie brings us the information we need, our chances of success will be greatly
enhanced."
"I guess I'm not as familiar with this Verdidion Weave and its background as
some of you." Ormega was the only other woman in the council of six. She was
small and dark and a lot older than Flora, but there was a powerful bond between
them. They were bishops in the same church. Ormega did not envy Flora her youth
and beauty, and Flora respected the other woman's experience and knowledge.
"It's a complex and highly adaptable organism, as is much of the life thus far