"Kathy Tyers - Firebird 2 - Fusion Fire" - читать интересную книгу автора (Tyers Kathy)

What would be on that screen now? She took another sip. She knew he had found the overseeing of
procurement and maintenance people tedious, but occasional inspections and test flights enlivened the
cycle of personnel duties. He was working full-schedule at a half-time shared position, learning the ropes
and accruing leave time, because he intended to stay home for at least a month once the twins were born.
Revising Provost DankinтАЩs flight-training program absorbed more of his interest and consequently more
time, but she suspected other projects, too, and conscious of military security, she kept her peace when
she could.

тАЬBrenn?тАЭ She stared past him into misty forest. тАЬDardy mentioned yesterday that Staff Officer Terrell
wasnтАЩt born on Thyrica. Where is he from?тАЭ

He curled his fingers around his kaffa mug. тАЬHeтАЩs offworld born, but his family relocated while he was still
young enough to be tested and Sentinel trained.тАЭ

тАЬBut whereтАФтАЭ

тАЬBishniac.тАЭ

Firebird waited for him to explain. Perhaps she should have opened conversation on some other subject
this morning, but she sensed no irritation in his response. тАЬWhereтАЩs that, Brenn?тАЭ

тАЬGriffin region, just south-spinward of Caroli. ThereтАЩs a small Thyrian enclave there.тАЭ

She slid downward in the chair. тАЬBrenn,тАЭ she said carefully, тАЬI caught him looking at me yesterday,
staring, the way Vultor Korda used to do. But as soon as I opened my mouth he changed. It was as if
IтАЩd sneaked a glimpse around a barrier. ThereтАЩs power in his stare, Brennen. HeтАЩs so much like you,
yetтАж Oh, I donтАЩt know.тАЭ

тАЬMari, weтАЩve been through this before.тАЭ He fingered the rim of his mug.

тАЬHe tests only forty on the Aurian Scale. A.S. forty: solid but not exceptional,тАЭ she quoted the guide heтАЩd
given her. тАЬNo, Brenn. I meanтАжтАЭ She groped momentarily to control her resentment.тАЬI know this sounds
pretentious, Brenn. IтАЩm not trained in Sentinel ways and I know it, but would it be possible to deliberately
test lower than your true potential?тАЭ

Brennen blanked the bluescreen, and the eerie light in his blue eyes flickered out. He looked at her
solemnly: a manтАЩs face, man-colored. This was no alien, regardless of what her people thought. тАЬLower?
Mari, everyone tries to test high, to increase his eventual rank and influence.тАЭ
тАЬYes, of course. But would it be possible? He lookedтАж so intense. Do you think a person might conceal
his A.S. potential, try to lower his score, if that could reveal his identity?тАЭ

His mouth crinkled, and he didnтАЩt try to mask his amusement. тАЬI suppose itтАЩs possible.тАЭ

Firebird grasped both edges of her chair and scooted upright again. тАЬOh, all right, Brenn. IтАЩm sorry.тАЭ

Leaning forward, he stared into her eyes in a way that made her wonder if he saw directly into her soul
without using his epsilon-energy skills. тАЬI do understand, Mari. You see our system from the outside. All
thatтАЩs been drilled into us for years, you still question. ThatтАЩs good, so long as you respect it, too. Never
try to defeat that side of your nature.тАЭ He folded his hands. тАЬBecause you questioned your peopleтАЩs