"Ken Rand - Here There Be Humans" - читать интересную книгу автора (Rand Ken)

On the walls and around the room, glass cases displayed artifacts from the
local flora and fauna. A stuffed bird here, an odd-shaped rock there, a colorful pelt
from a furred creature in another case. Detritus all lovingly preserved and labeled. A
private museum.

AтАЩcom had heard of the artifact on the FirstтАЩs desk, a thumb-sized flat stone,
pointed at one end with sharp, serrated edges. A human hunting implement. Proof,
MтАЩlay had written in a report, of recent human activity in the area. Maybe human, but
recent? MтАЩlay couldnтАЩt prove it.

AтАЩcom barely listened, turned away from his people, staring out the huge
window in the wall behind the desk.

Jungle dominated the view. A wall of slender trees rose into thick leafy
canopies from tangled vines and dense, bushy undergrowth. Birds, insects and odd
small creatures flittered among the varied foliage. Deep green shades dominated
lesser greens, speckled by bright many-hued flowers.

тАЬNothing else, Dor?тАЭ

AтАЩcom found the viewтАФinteresting.

тАЬPetty theft, falsified maintenance logs, a little graft and a puffy sexual
dalliance, but no kidnap or murder suspects.тАЭ

The others laughed. AтАЩcom liked his team casual. No titles or rank on the job.
It made for good morale, efficiency. Better working conditions, better results, but
the casualness never extended outside the tight-knit group into the less tolerant
bureaucracy at large.

Yes, an interesting view.

тАЬNot our business,тАЭ AтАЩcom waved a dismissive thumb. тАЬWhat about DтАЩfif?
Jealousy?тАЭ

тАЬNegative,тАЭ prime tech Dev FтАЩrar said. FтАЩrar was assigned to question DтАЩfif
for such an intrigue. тАЬHeтАЩs loyal to MтАЩlay and the Bureau. Believe it or not, Sula, he
really likes Earth.тАЭ

No, not just interesting. Something more.

тАЬPardon?тАЭ

тАЬHe tried to hide it, but I saw his true colors.тАЭ

The viewтАФit was, wasтАФ

тАЬTried to hide it?тАЭ

тАЬAshamed.тАЭ Dev barked a cynical laugh. тАЬWhat would they think in orbital if