"L. E. Modesitt - The Forever Hero 2 -The Silent Warrior" - читать интересную книгу автора (Modesitt L E)

The Book of Deeds
Authorized Version (First Revision)
Old Earth, 3788 N.E.C.

III


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GRIM--THAT WAS the appearance of the gardens in the central courtyard of the senior officers
quarters, reflected Gerswin.

Heavy gray clouds poured out of the eastern hills and down over New Augusta, scudding
across the sky so swiftly that their motion was apparent with even a single glance through the
narrow windows of his room.

No rain dropped from the mass of gray, and the air beneath was preternaturally clear, as
if the sky held its breath.

The senior commander turned and glanced toward the vidscreen.

"Seems like you've done this before," he said quietly, but neither the screen nor the room
answered him.

High Command had not expected him to choose the Service over the newly created Recorps,
and now the admirals didn't know what to do with him.

Gerswin could understand their dilemma. A deskjob in New Augusta might give him access to
influence or to make more trouble. At the same time, his rank would guarantee him a job with
access to people and resources at any out-base. At the moment, there were no handy combat or high
risk assignments for commanders where he could be placed with the hope of his not returning.

Although Corpus Corps involvement in shortening his life span was a possibility, Gerswin
hoped that no one in their right mind would seriously consider assassination or removal. The
subsequent inquiry would prove too unsettling and would expose too many weaknesses in both the
Empire and the Service, not to mention the possibility that the devilkids might feel compelled to
take on the Empire because they would regard the Empire's commitments as worthless.

But ego was a touchy subject, and Gerswin would not trust rationality to prevail, not for
a time at least. For that reason were the throwing knives concealed behind his artificially
stiffened waistband, the sling leathers in place. He also was devoting increased attention to his
surroundings, especially when he went out.

In the interim, while the admirals decided, he reported to the detail section every
morning, was updated on how no new assignments were yet available, and asked to check back the
next morning. Three days earlier, he'd spent the day taking a battery of tests, and the first
thing after he'd arrived had been a three day physical.