"Vernor Vinge - Across Realtime 2 - The Ungoverned" - читать интересную книгу автора (Vinge Vernor)

Big Al. We feel a special obligation to small police companies that serve no-
right-to bear-arms customers. But you're going to have to tell me more. Why so
secretive?"
Al waved his hands. "I'm afraid of blabbermouths. I couldn't take a chance on
the enemy learning I was bringing you into it until you were on the scene and
in action."
Strange that he says "enemy," and not "crooks" or "bastards" or "hustlers."
"But even a large gang might be scared off knowing-"
"Look, I'm not talking about some punk gang. I'm talking about the Republic
of New Mexico. Invading. Us." He dropped into his chair and continued more
calmly. It was almost as if passing the information on had taken the burden: off
himself. "You're shocked?"
Brierson nodded dumbly.
"Me too. Or I would have been up till a month ago. The Republic has always
had plenty of internal troubles. And even though they claim all lands south of
the Arkansas River, they have no settlements within hundreds of kilometers of
here. Even now I think this is a bit of adventurism that can be squelched by an
application of point force." He glanced at his watch. "Look, no matter how im-
portant speed is, we've got to do some coordinating. How many attack patrols
are coming in after you?"
He saw the look on Brierson's face. "What? Only one? Damn. Well I suppose
it's my fault, being secret like, but-"
Wil cleared his throat. "Big Al, there's only me. I'm the only agent MSP sent."
The other's face seemed to collapse, the relief changing to despair, then to a
weak rage. "G-God d-damn you to hell, Brierson. I may lose everything I've
built here, and the people who trusted me may lose everything they own. But I
swear I'm going to sue your Michigan State Police into oblivion. Fifteen years
I've paid you guys premiums and never a claim. And now when I need max
firepower, they send me one asshole with a ten-millimeter popgun."
Brierson stood, his nearly two-meter bulk towering over the other. He
reached out a bear-like hand to Al's shoulder. The gesture was a strange cross
between reassurance and intimidation. Wil's voice was soft but steady, "The
Michigan State Police hasn't let you down, Mr. Swensen. You paid for protection
against wholesale violence тАУ and we intend to provide that protection. MSP has
never defaulted on a contract." His grip on Alvin Swensen's shoulder tightened
with these last words. The two eyed each other for a moment. Then Big Al
nodded weakly, and the other sat down.
"You're right. I'm sorry. . . . I'm paying for the results, not the methods. But I
know what we're up against . . . and I'm damned scared."
"And that's one reason why I'm here, Al: To find out exactly what we're up
against before we jump in with our guns blazing and our pants down. What are
you expecting?"
AI leaned back in the softly creaking chair. He looked out through the window
into the dark silence of the morning and for a moment seemed to relax. How-
ever improbably, someone else was going to take on his problems. "They
started about three years ago. It seemed innocent enough and it was certainly
legal . . . ."

2
 Though the Republic of New Mexico claimed the lands from the Colorado on