"Liaden Universe - 04 - Plan B" - читать интересную книгу автора (Miller Steve)

"It is true that Shan and I tended to embraceЧinappropriateЧnecessities," he murmured; "but Nova was quite well-behaved as a child." A ripple of the shoulders. "Mostly."

Miri choked back another laugh. "What about the baby? Anthora? She as bad as the rest of you, or did your uncle get some sleep?"

"Ah, well, Anthora has always been Anthora, you see. Her necessities are often on another plane altogether." He tipped his head, green eyes very bright. "What distresses you, Miri?"

"IЧ"Hell, hell, HELL and damnation ! Memory triggered and for an instant she was in the stifling cubicle in Surebleak Port, fourteen, brain-burned and reeling; and the tech was telling Liz, "I'm sorry, Commander. Doesn't look like she can take sleep-learning."

"Miri?" The fingers brushing her cheek were warm; out of the present, not the past. "Cha'trez, please."

"I can't." She swallowed; focused on his face. "Can't, boss, get it? Liz took me to a Learning Shop in Surebleak Port to tack on Trade before we left planet. Damn near killed me. Tech saidЧsaid I couldn't take it. Sleep-learning. Found out later thatЧdefectivesЧcan't take theЧstrain on their brains." She managed a wobbling grin. "I know I'm not supposed to tell you I'm stupidЕ"

"Nor are you defective." He stroked her cheek, her forehead; lay his fingers lightly along her lips and then let them drop, eyes troubled. "Tell me, were you given a physical before you took the program?"

She shook her head. "Just plugged in and left alone. It started to hurtЧI remember screaming, trying to rip the wires outЧ"

He frowned. "Why not use the dead-man switch?"

"What dead-man switch?"

Anger, jolting as an electric shockЧhis, not hers; then his voice, very calmly. "A dead-man switch is required in all sleep-learning modules. Lack of the switch would cost a Learning Shop its license to operate."

Miri closed her eyes, suddenly very tired. "So, who checks licenses on Surebleak?"

Silence; then a sigh and the warmth of his fingers closing around hers. "Let us go to the 'doc, cha'trez."

She stood quietly at his shoulder while he made the inquiry, in Trade, so she could read it: MIRI ROBERTSON : PROGNOSIS FOR SLEEP LEARNING.

The autodoc took its time answering, lights flickering while it consulted its data banks. Miri Robertson will insert her hand into the unit, it directed, a small slot opening to the right of the keypad.

Miri stuck her left hand in as far as it would go, felt the tingle; heard the chime and saw the words. Miri Robertson WILL WITHDRAW HER HAND.

The slot closed and the screen cleared. More lights flickered. Then: Recuperation nearing completion. Sleep-learning ALLOWED FOR MAXIMUM THREE-HOUR SHIFTS, NOT exceeding three shifts per day; minimum break shifts two hours. Supplements suggested after each learning shift to insure recuperation at current satisfactory rate. Dispensed below.

"I suggest," said Val Con softly, "that you are better nourished than you were at fourteen. I also suggest that this module is properly tuned and equipped." He slipped the supplement pack out of the dispensary and handed it to her. "An Agent is too valuable to lose to brain-burn; a failed mission far too high a price to pay for faulty machinery."

She stared at him; turned to look at the module, complete with dead-man switch, open and ready to receive her.

"Three hours?" It seemed like three centuries.

"It is the most efficient block of time," Val Con said gravely, and stroked her hair. "Miri, I swear that you are in no danger."

She looked at him, remembering the pain and the burning and the terror. "It's really that important?" But of course it was that important. He was her partner. It was his responsibility to see she had what she needed to survive; what she needed for them both survive.

"OK," she said, and suddenly, desperately, reached up to kiss him. He hugged her tight.

"I will be watching," he murmured. "Malfunction triggers an alarm on the pilot's board. Use the switch, if you feel any discomfort."

"Right." She stepped back, stuck the vitamin pack in her pouch and went over to the module. She lay down and took a grip on the switch. Val Con lowered the lid.