"Naomi Kritzer - Turning the Storm" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kritzer Naomi)

"I joined the Cause after you departed for Ravenna," Felice said. "I am originally from
Parma."
Lucia gave Felice a long, careful stare. I looked at her; she shrugged.
"Well," I said. "You probably know that we led the uprising at Ravenna." Felice
nodded. "That was about a month and a half ago. We've liberated three more slave labor
camps since our escape, adding former slaves to our army when possible." Our army had
doubled in size from the original group, but then the other camps had been smaller than
Ravenna.
"At the last camp, reinforcements had been sent down," Giovanni said. "Fortunately,
they had not been well integrated. The new troops and the old did not trust each other,
and fought together poorly. Still, we can't count on that being true everywhere."
"What sorts of training have you done with your men?" Felice asked.
"Tactics," I said. "Some sword training, and bow."
"Three victories," Felice said. "That's quite something."
"Minimal losses," I said. "That's something we hope to keep up."
"Any problems?" Felice asked.
"Well, you know, we're fighting a war," I said. "People get injured sometimes, or die.
That's a problem."
"But other than that?" Felice asked.
There were the constant petty squabbles, the rivalries between the original Lupi and
the mutineer soldiers from Ravenna, the constant shortage of supplies, and the fact that
half of the people I'd impulsively made leaders couldn't lead their way out of a stable if
you drew them a map, but I wasn't about to share those problems with Felice. "That's
pretty much it."
"Well," Felice said, his face lighting up. "Sounds like you're in good shape, then." I
nodded. "So anyway, I'm here to take over."
I froze, not entirely sure I'd heard quite right. Lucia's jaw dropped, then she closed her
mouth and sat back quietly, her eyes flickering from me to Giovanni and back. The slight
quirk of her lips made it clear she was waiting for the show.
"You're here to what?" Giovanni demanded, just barely restraining himself from
attacking Felice. "I am doing just fine myself, thank you very much."
"Oh, er, yes, of course," Felice said, glancing from Giovanni's face to mine. "Of course
you're doing fine. We really appreciate what an excellent job you've done since Beneto's
execution. The reformer leaders in Cuore have voted to give both of you a commendation,
in fact. But you have to understand, a position like this requires someone with
experienceтАФ"
I cut him off with a raised hand. "So how many armies have you led into battle?"
"Oh, I'm very good at strategy," Felice said confidently. "I won nineteen out of
twenty-five mock battles with my tutorтАФ"
I laughed. "You're not taking my army away from me."
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me. Signore Felice, you can try to command here if you enjoy being
laughed at, but this is my army. If you think we're putting our men into your manicured
hands, think again. You don't command hereтАФI do."
Felice was putting on a patient expression, and that did it. "Michel!" I said.
Michel was waiting outside the tent and poked his head in. "Yes, Generale?"
"Take this man to the stockade and place him under guard. He is not to be left alone at
any time."
 Michel took Felice's arm. "If you'll come with me, signore," he said.
"ButтАФbutтАФwaitтАФ" Felice said as Michel started to haul him off.