"Foster, Alan Dean - Damned 2 - The False Mirror" - читать интересную книгу автора (Foster Alan Dean)

Kizzmatis were very bad shots or else that they had also not expected to run
into their opponents quite so soon. A hasty call indicated that Birachii's Squad
Two was in equally good shape. He felt better.
"I think we've surprised them." Birachii sounded confident over the
communicator.
Ranji kept his lips close to the pickup. "It's mutual. Don't try to move on 'em
too fast. We want to be in position to support each other.''
"Check. How many you estimate?"
"One to three squads."
"Affirmative. We're behind a little hill. I'll try to work our way around to the
west. They'll expect us to come over the top."
"Don't count on it. Don't count on anything with this lot. Watch yourselves."
Birachii responded with a rude noise, which left Ranji and his companions
grinning.
"They didn't waste any time." Tourrnast-eir used,his perception lens to try and
peer through the thick brush. "By my ancestors, they're quick."
"Hopefully they're thinking the same of us," said someone else. He held his
pistol with both hands. "Maybe they'll run right into our line of fire."
"Wonder if they've crossed more of the Maze than we have?" mused a fourth member
of the squad.
This was not how his people should be thinking. "Nobody covers ground faster
than the Ciilpaan," Ranji snapped. It didn't matter that he did not believe it,
only that his squad believed him.
"Check," murmured Tourtnast-eir. Crawling on his belly, he began edging to his
right. "Let's try and get behind them."
"No." Ranji put a restraining hand on his friend's leg. "The first thing they'd
expect in a situation like this is a flanking move. They'll be setting up for
it."
"Won't matter if we move faster than them," observed Weennoon.
"If we don't and I'm right, then it's Trial end for this squad. You ready to
chance that, Weenn?" The older boy subsided, thoughtful.
"What do you have in mind, Ranji?"
"Their reputation's as exalted as ours. I've been thinking ever since we were
told that they'd be our final opponents that the same old strategies won't work.
This isn't slow-stupid Goriiava from down south. I've believed all along that
we'd have to try something new to prevail."
"Maybe so," Weenn agreed, "but we can't sit here waiting for them to flank us,
either."
"How about setting up and waiting for them back at the last partition?" Tounnast
looked hopeful. "The snow on the other side might blind them temporarily."
"Good idea, except that we don't progress by going backward. I don't want us to
get into a protracted firefight. If that's what they want then let them initiate
it by retreating to a defensive position. If they do that then we'll respond
with countering strategies, but only then."
Off to their left, Birachii's group continued to exchange heavy fire with the
enemy. That presented possibilities as well as dangers. He relented enough to
allow Tourmast to reconnoiter. His friend returned moments later.
"I can see the fire off to the west. Still no sign of anyone in front of us."
Ranji considered. "So all of them are engaging Squad Two ... or else there's
more of them ahead, waiting for us." He eyed his companions. As usual, they were