"G. David Nordley - The Forest Between the Worlds" - читать интересную книгу автора (Nordley G. David)

considered himself open minded, but the idea of her letting one of the round, furry, vaguely spider-shaped
beings stick its organ into her body in the name of science was a little beyond him.

Jones groaned. "Akil, everyone knows sheтАЩs been screwing the things; sheтАЩs said as much herself. She
likes to shock people. Like standing in front of me covered with nothing but dirt and scratches and saying
тАШoh, yes, I didтАЩ when IтАЩm open-mouthed and saying тАШyou couldnтАЩt have.тАЩ

"But sheтАЩs serious. She thinks they do it to exchange data encoded in molecules as well as to bond with
their group, like the Bonobo. Well, sheтАЩs bonded all right. Addicted is what IтАЩd call it. But I donтАЩt think
the Forest People are doing anything more than following instincts."

"I understand thereтАЩs some debate about that," Akil said, with some understatement. The dispute
concerning the intelligence or not of the Forest People was more like a minor war among the staff. He
tried not to take sides, but if there were genuine intelligence on these worlds, it had reacted very slowly to
their presence. Or maybe it was just watching.

"Debate, hell! WeтАЩre just spinning our wheels. SheтАЩs got all the data because sheтАЩs the only human being
on this planet the Forest People accept, because sheтАЩs the only one that would ever be willing to do . . .
that! I donтАЩt know why I care."

Akil found himself momentarily speechless at the display of feeling and wondering whether Jones and
Fina had some kind of relationship. Meanwhile, he stood in front of FinaтАЩs door feeling like an idiot as he
confronted her domeтАЩs cyberservant.

"IтАЩll try again." He spoke toward the door. "Will you at least tell me if Dr. Fina is in?" Akil asked it. "I
donтАЩt need to bother her, just tell me if sheтАЩs in. We are concerned. If she is in and you donтАЩt tell me, she
may be inconvenienced unnecessarily in our efforts to find out."

"I have been instructed not to answer any questions."

The hell with it, Akil decided, and struck the door with the flat of his hand. It made a low, hollow woody
sound. "Sharada Fina!" he yelled. "We just want to know if youтАЩre home."

"IтАЩm doing something private," her voice answered. "Please respect my privacy."

"Sorry," Akil said and turned away, embarrassed, then stopped.

Something seemed wrong with her voice, he thoughtтАУher intonation or timing. A lack of tension, perhaps,
or natural irritation?

"Dr. Jones. . . ."

"I heard, and I donтАЩt believe it either. ItтАЩs a sim. That womanтАЩs headed for a disciplinary hearing. Base
ops, IтАЩm formally requesting authorization to take control of Dr. FinaтАЩs dome system. Explain things to
Commander Richards. Hang on, Mateo, IтАЩll be right up there."

The ground base computer acknowledged its instruction. AkilтАЩs intuition told him that after the ten
minutes of lightspeed delay plus however long it took to get Commander RichardsтАЩ attention and
decision, they would find an empty hut with its robot AI dutifully following its masterтАЩs instructions to
simulate her presence for as long as possible.