"Michael Swanwick - Tin Marsh" - читать интересную книгу автора (Swanwick Michael)

тАЬBecause I told you to. Because weтАЩre going to have a little fun. Because you
have no choice. Understand?тАЭ

She nodded miserably.

тАЬGo.тАЭ

****

She walked, he followed. It was a nightmare that had somehow found its way
into waking life. When Patang looked back, she could see MacArthur striding after
her, small in the distance. But never small enough that she had any kind of chance to
get away.

He saw her looking and stooped to pick up a boulder. He windmilled his arm
and threw.

Even though MacArthur was halfway to the horizon, the boulder smashed to
the ground a hundred yards ahead of her and to one side. It didnтАЩt come close to
striking her, of course. That wasnтАЩt his intent.

The rock shattered when it hit. It was terrifying how strong that suit was. It
filled her with rage to see MacArthur wielding all that power, and her completely
helpless. тАЬYou goddamned sadist!тАЭ

No answer.

He was nuts. There had to be a clause in the contract covering that. Well, then
... She set her suit on auto-walk, pulled up the indenture papers, and went looking
for it. Options. Hold harmless clauses. Responsibilities of the SubcontractorтАФthere
were hundreds of those. Physical care of the ContractorтАЩs equipment.

And there it was. There it was! In the event of medical emergency, as
ultimately upheld in a court of physicians ... She scrolled up the submenu of
qualifying conditions. The list of mental illnesses was long enough and inclusive
enough that she was certain MacArthur belonged on it somewhere.

SheтАЩd lose all the equity sheтАЩd built up, of course. But, if she interpreted the
contract correctly, sheтАЩd be entitled to a refund of her initial investment.

That, and her life, were good enough for her.

She slid an arm out of harness and reached up into a difficult-to-reach space
behind her head. There was a safety there. She unlatched it. Then she called up a
virtual keyboard, and typed out the SOS.

So simple. So easy.

DO YOU REALLY WANT TO SEND THIS MESSAGE? YES NO