"Steve Perry - Aliens 03 - The Female War" - читать интересную книгу автора (Perry Steven)

Wilks tapped on Leslie's door using the small bottle of whiskey he'd bought.

"Hold on a sec!"

He heard muffled footsteps coming toward him, and then a loud thump. "Shit!"

Wilks smiled. The door opened to a very redfaced Leslie rubbing her right knee. Behind her was an
overturned chair.

"Wilks, you asshole," she said, straightening up. She wore a snug black bodysuit and matching
headband; sweat dotted her tawny skin. In spite of her words, she grinned. "That for me?" She motioned
at the bottle.
 "Well, if you're busyтАФ"

"Depends."

"I wanted to thank you for helping us out; thought we might have a drink, unless you're otherwise
involvedтАФ?"

Leslie grinned wider and stepped back from the door. "You always were the subtle type," she said,
and her voice softened slightly. "Come in, David."



Billie sat in the uncomfortable plastic chair and watched the vid screen flicker with the ruins of
Earth. The scanner roamed, and it surprised her how much old data was still being broadcast. Mostly
advertising for companies long dead, sometimes documentaries, the occasional fiction program; many
were in different languages. Billie touched the command button from time to time, looking for something
real, something current.

Something like Amy.

There was a flash of static and then a black screen. Suddenly a man's face appeared, a close-up.
Middle-aged, he was handsome in a rugged way, sharp nose and strong jaw dominated by intense, dark
eyes. His mouth was tightly set, deep lines etching the corners. He stared into the camera as if he were
about to fight it, his gaze unwavering. Something about the bland determination on his face reminded Billie
ofтАФ

"This is an exercise of faith," he said. "Of the new Christ and the power She commands." His voice
was deep and compelling.

Spears, she thought. Like Spears.

The camera pulled back to show the man standing on a low platform in a poorly lit studio. He was
tall and short-haired and wore a tight coverall that emphasized his biceps and chest. A large knife was
strapped to one hip.

"I am Carter Dane," he said, "and I have seen the Truth."

Billie heard quiet murmurs of approval from offscreen.