"Simon R. Green - Deathstalker - 4 - Deathstalker Honor" - читать интересную книгу автора (Green Simon R)

Owen wasn't quite sure where he stood with Oz. The original Ozymandius had been the
Family AI, handed down to Owen from his deceased father. It turned out to contain
hidden Empire programming, and had acted as a spy for Lionstone before finally
turning on Owen and trying to enslave him with control words it had placed in his
subconscious. Owen had had no choice but to use his Maze-given powers to destroy the
AI. Only sometime later Oz came back. Or a voice in his head that only he could hear,
claiming to be the AI Ozymandius. Certainly it was just as knowledgeable and irritating
as the original. Owen had accepted the situation for the time being, for as long as the AI
remained useful. And because he hadn't the faintest idea how to get rid of the voice
anyway.
Besides, he'd missed Oz.
"So, do I start the descent or not?" said Oz briskly. "We're fully cloaked, but there's no
telling how long even Hadenman shields will hold up against the security systems
Valentine's installed here. What used to be standard weather-control satellites have been
upgraded with really heavy-duty sensors and more weaponry than your average Fleet
cruiser. When the Wolfe says Do Not Disturb, he means it."
"Maintain orbit," Owen said firmly. "I want a really good idea of what to expect
dirtside before I commit us to a landing. Scan the area surrounding the Standing, ten-
mile radius, and report on the local population's situation."
"OwenтАж I've already done that. There is no local population anymore."
"What?"
"I've scanned the surrounding areas to the limit of my sensors. There isn't a single living
soul outside of the Standing for hundreds of miles. I'm sorry, Owen."
Owen shook his head slowly. He'd read the reports on Valentine's destruction of
Virimonde, watched Toby Shreck's filmed coverage, seen interviews with the few
survivors to get off-planet, but he'd always assumed they were exaggerated. No one
could oversee the murder of a whole planet's population just for the fun of it. Not even

file:///D|/Program%20Files/eMule/Incoming/Gree...athstalker%2004%20-%20Deathstalker%20Honor.htm (7 of 466) [7/12/2004 2:51:34 AM]
Simon R. Green - Deathstalker 04 - Deathstalker Honor


Valentine Wolfe. Deep down, part of him had desperately wanted to return home to the
cheers of his people, overjoyed to have their rightful Lord back at last. He'd wanted to
apologize for not being there to protect them. Wanted to promise them that things
would be different now he was back. He'd keep them safe, protect them, guard them
from all harm. They'd never be hurt again because he was off somewhere else being a
hero of the rebellion. There was so much he'd wanted, needed, to say. He hadn't wanted
to believe that all his people were dead.
"What's the matter?" said Hazel. "Is there a problem?"
"No," said Owen. "I was just thinking. About the way things used to be here."
"Don't," said Hazel. "That's always been your problem, Deathstalker. Always living in
the past."
"I understand the past," said Owen. "Things were simpler then. I understood my world
and my Empire and my place in it. Or I thought I did. Since then I've seen the
destruction of everything I ever believed in, lost everything I ever cared for, and now to
top it all, I find I can't go home again. Because Valentine Wolfe burned it all down and
pissed on the ashes. Virimonde is dead."
"We can't know that for sure till we get down there and check for ourselves," said
Hazel. "Reports can be exaggerated; sensors can be mistaken. It's a big world, Owen.