"George R. R. Martin - WC 4 - Aces Abroad" - читать интересную книгу автора (Martin George R R)

touched him a moment ago redoubled.
She looks like Andrea, like Succubus-the resemblance is startling. And she
detests me; God, how she hates. "Senator?" Sara repeated.
"Yes, I'm very much looking forward to this," he said automatically. "Our
society's attitudes toward the victims of the wild card virus have changed for
the worse in the last year. In some ways people like the Reverend Leo Barnett
would have us regress to the oppression of the fifties. For less enlightened
countries, the situation is far, far worse. We can offer them understanding,
hope, and help. And we'll learn something ourselves. Dr. Tachyon and myself have
great optimism for this trip, or we wouldn't have fought so hard to bring it
about."
The words came with rehearsed smoothness while he recovered. He could hear the
friendly casualness of his voice, felt his mouth pull into a proud half-smile.
But none of it touched him. He could barely avoid staring rudely at Sara. At
this woman who reminded him too much of Andrea Whitman, of Succubus.
I loved her. I couldn't save her.
Sara seemed to sense his fascination, for she cocked her head with that same odd
challenge. "It's also an entertaining little junket, a three-month tour of the
world at the taxpayer's expense. Your wife goes with you, your good friends like
Dr. Tachyon and Hiram Worchester. .."
At his side Gregg felt Ellen's irritation. She was too practiced a politician's
wife to respond, but he could feel her sudden alertness, a jungle cat watching
for a weakness in her prey. Off balance, Gregg frowned a moment too late. "I'm
surprised a reporter of your experience would believe that, Ms. Morgenstern.
This trip also means giving up the holiday season-normally, I go home after the
congressional break. It means stops at places that aren't exactly on Fodor's
recommended list. It means meetings, briefings, endless press conferences, and a
ton of paperwork that I can certainly do without. I guarantee you this isn't a
pleasure trip. IT have more to do than watch the proceedings and cable a
thousand words back home every day."
He felt the black hatred swelling in her, and the power in him ached to be used.
Let me take her. Let me dampen that fire. Take away that hatred and she'll tell
you what she knows. Disarm her.
She's yours, he answered. Puppetman leapt out. Gregg had encountered hatreds
before, a hundred times, but none had ever been focused on him. He found control
of the emotion elusive and slippery; her loathing pushed at his control like a
palpable, living entity, driving Puppetman back.
What the hell is she hiding? What caused this?
"You sound defensive, Senator," Sara said. "Still, a reporter cant help but
think that the main purpose of the trip, especially for a potential '88
presidential candidate, might be to finally erase the memories of a decade ago."
Gregg could not help the intake of breath: Andrea, Succubus. Sara grinned: a
predator's smile. He readied himself to assault her hatred again.


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"I'd say the Great Jokertown Riot obsesses both of us, Senator," she continued,
her voice deceivingly light. "I know it did when I wrote my piece on it. And