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

He can't have killed everything."
"And if he has? If he's done everything he's supposed to have done?"
"Then we cut his black heart out, throw it on the ground, and stamp on it. And the same
for everyone with him."
Owen had to smile slightly. "Life's always been so simple for you, hasn't it. Hazel?
Good guys and bad guys, and a direct, forceful answer to every problem. But you heard
the man at the briefing. There are still powers that be who want Valentine brought back
alive for a show trial. If only because they could sell holo rights for a small fortune."
"I keep up with things," said Hazel. "And for every faction that wants the Wolfe
brought back alive, I'll bet I can name ten who'd very much rather he came back with
flies buzzing around him. Not least the clone and esper undergrounds. If word ever gets
out that Valentine Wolfe had once been an active part and supporter of the
undergrounds, they'd lose what little public support and popularity they have. And on
top of that, there are any number of people who struck questionable deals with him in
the past, and don't want it coming out now they've re-created themselves as pure-
hearted supporters of the rebellion."


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Simon R. Green - Deathstalker 04 - Deathstalker Honor


"And that's why we're going to bring the bastard back alive," Owen said firmly. "Not
necessarily in one piece, but definitely alive. I'm no man's puppet, and no organization's
either. I need to send a signal that no one pressures me. And I won't kill him just
because I want to."
"You and your damned conscience," said Hazel. "All right, so we try to take him alive.
What about his supporters?"
"Massacre the lot, for all I care."
"Now you're talking," said Hazel.
Owen leaned back in his chair, interlocked his fingers before him, and stared at them
thoughtfully. "He wasn't always a monster, you know. Valentine. We were children
together, moved in the same circles, went to the same parties. He seemed quiteтАж
normal then. Nothing out of the ordinary. No sign then of the psychopath he became.
Just another kid, perhaps a little quieter than most. Much like me. We were never
actually friends, but I can remember good times we had together. And then we went our
different ways, to be trained as a Wolfe and a Deathstalker, and I didn't see him again
for years. And sometimes I find myself wondering how two such similar children
became such different adults."
"People change," said Hazel. "Whether they want to or not. Life writes our scripts, and
we just get to ad lib now and again."
Owen looked at her. "Why, Hazel, that was almost profound."
"Don't you patronize me, Deathstalker. I have a mind. I have read the occasional book
in my time. When there was nothing else to do. I just meant that even while we're busy
changing the universe, it's busy changing us. Look at you; you're not the person you
used to be, even a few years ago. Thank God. The Owen Deathstalker I saved from
certain death down below is a very different man from the official hero who toppled an
empire."
"I know," said Owen. "That bothers me."
"Don't worry about it," said Hazel. "He really was a stuck-up little prig."