"Ashley McConnell - Quantum Leap - Prelude" - читать интересную книгу автора (McConnell Ashley)

fact, as old as the clash of cultures. A New Mexico man had been elected President of the League of
United Latin American Citizens. It was going to be another hot, dry, sunny day in Albuquerque.

Admiral Albert Calavicci was nearly as white as the sheets he was lying on, his eyes closed and his
left arm dangling from a traction hook to keep it elevated.

"You know, that stunt last night really took it out of you," his visitor continued. The kid couldn't take a
hint in a package. "You're going to have to take some time to get back on

your feet." The eyes snapped back open, challenged. "What, you think

I'm some kind of old man?"

The young manтАФAl decided grudgingly that he deserved thatтАФlifted his hands in protest. "No, no,
no, nothing like that. It's just that, you know, lots of things are changing for you now, and you've got this
broken arm. Makes a great excuse for sitting back a little and taking some time to think about things.
You should take advantage of the opportunity."

Al's eyes narrowed. "What do you know about what's changing for me?" Pushy, this kid was. Poking
in. Interfering. Of course, if the kid hadn't been there to apply pressure and all of that stuff, Al might be
dead right now instead of in the hospital with his arm hanging from a bunch of wires and pulleys. On the
other hand, if it hadn't been for this kid, Ross Malachy, he wouldn't have gotten shot in the first place. It
served him right for barging in on a robbery in progress.

His attention had been attracted to the situation in the first place because he recognized Ross. It
wasn't as if Ross Malachy were a friend; he was just the kid who worked for Stephen Wales, and
Stephen Wales was the guy who led the encounter group Al had gotten mixed up in. But he'd recognized
the kid when he'd seen him in the notions store, and then seen what he was trying to do: disarm another
kid armed with a gun. Al didn't really know Ross; he would have provided a diversion for anybody under
the same circumstances.

Of course, he was the one who got lucky and caught a bullet. If he wasn't so hazed out from pain
medication, he might get a little ticked off.

Ross shrugged. "I dunno. I heard it somewhere. That you were retiring from the military, and . . . that
you were retiring. I knew somebody once who was retiring from the military. It wasn't easy, being a
civilian all of a sudden."

Al studied him. Ross had a really dumb grin on his face. In fact, he was acting like he had some kind
of secret, some surprise he was hugging to himself. Al didn't like surprises. But aside from that, he was
the first person who really seemed to understand. Getting shot, hey, that could happen to anybody. But
retiring from the only life you'd known for thirty yearsтАФ that meant something. His suspicions thawed.

"Well, I can't stay here." He glanced up at his arm in disgust. "This really sucks."
 "You know what I think you should do?" Ross said, the picture of innocence. "Since you really
shouldn't stress yourself any more. Right now, I mean," he added hastily. "With a bullet wound. You
ought to take some time. That's serious stuff."

"Yeah, kid, what do you think I should do with all this time you think I have?" The words were heavily
laced with sarcasm, but not too heavily that it wasn't clear Al was curious about the answer. He tilted his