"Traviss,.Karen.-.wess'har.wars.1.-.City.of.Pearl" - читать интересную книгу автора (Traviss Karen)

УAnd will you erase the gethes when they come?Ф the navigator asked. He had that bright expressionЧa mix of fear and adulationЧthat Aras had seen too many times. You were the Restorer. You can save us again. УOr will we take them before they land?Ф

The youngsterТs eyes darted between ArasТs face and his claws. Every normal wessТharЧclawless, heirs to deathЧseemed to stare at those claws.

УI will decide that when we know more about them. If they seek refuge, I will examine their need.Ф Aras paused, and wondered again if he could have acted differently long ago; but he knew he could not have done anything more or less than to wipe out the isenj cities. He had no idea why this question continued to plague him. УIf they come intent on exploitation, I will remove them.Ф

УSir, is it something I should fear?Ф

УYouТll be long dead if the worst happens,Ф Aras said. УBut IТll live to see it.Ф

He would live to see it all.


1

I will be honest in all my dealings with others.

I will avoid experiments on feeling life-forms wherever possible.

I will safeguard the environment.

I will not plagiarize or hinder the work of other scientists, nor knowingly publish false research.

I will put the common good before professional pride or profit.

THE DA VINCI OATH,
popularly known as the ScientistsТ Oath,
amended 2078

Mars Orbital
April 25, 2299

IТm going home.

УGood morning,Ф said Shan Frankland, and held up her warrant card. УWeТre from Environmental Hazard Enforcement. Please, step away from the console.Ф

She loved those words. They cast a spell. They laid bare menТs souls, if you knew how to look. She looked around the administration center and in three seconds she knew the man at the desk was uninvolved, the woman marshaling traffic was surprised by the intrusion, and the man lounging against the drinks machineЕwell, his face was too composed and his eyes were moving just wrong. He was the fis-sure in the rock. She would cleave it apart.

IТm going home. Five days, tops.

УInspector McEvoy,Ф she said, and motioned her bagman forward. УOver to you.Ф She put her warrant card back in her top pocket and stood watching while her technical team flowed in and put in override codes on all Mars OrbitalТs systems. The station was temporarily hers.

This is the last time IТll have to do this.

УMay I?Ф She walked across to the stationТs video circuit. The traffic marshal stepped aside. She settled into the seat and tapped the transmission key.

УMay I have your attention, please? This is Superintendent Shan Frankland. This orbital station is now under the jurisdiction of the Enforcement Division of the Federal European Union. There will be no traffic movements or transmissions until the preliminary investigation is complete. Please report to your muster stations at 1600 station time for a briefing from my officers. Thank you for your cooperation. WeТll be out of your way just as soon as we can.Ф

She leaned back, satisfied. Space stations were lovely places to carry out environmental hazard audits. Nobody could make a run for it. Nobody could get evidence off the premises. There was only one way off Mars Orbital without a scheduled flight, and that was via an airlock. It was right and fitting that she should have a relatively simple rummage job as her final task before retirement. She had earned it.