"Lawrence Watt-Evans - The Spartacus File" - читать интересную книгу автора (Watt-Evans Lawrence)

most practical course of actionтАФtheonly practical course of action, reallyтАФwill be to send you in for a
full course of imprinting in the use of the new software."
 For a moment that didn't register; then the words sank in. Oh, God, Casper thought, neuro-imprinting
was supposed to hurt like hell. He pressed down into his chair; he hated pain.

At least this meant he still had his job, though. He wouldn't have to join the unemployed and homeless,
living in the streets. He'd still have both kidneys.

"I suppose it's for the best,тАЭ he said, his voice thin and weak.

"We think so,тАЭ Quinones said. Once again, he produced his artificial smile, this time a variant that was
probably meant to be comforting and paternal. тАЬAnd, Casper,тАЭ he added, тАЬyou won't be the only one.
We've made arrangements with NeuroTalents LLC for a group discount. We'll be having quite a few
people imprinted."

"And I gotlucky enough to be sent off first?тАЭ Casper asked.

Quinones nodded, deaf to the feeble sarcasm. тАЬThe work schedule decided it. You're the most available
at the moment."

Casper remembered the list of jobs he had found on his screen when he had arrived at the office half an
hour before, and he wondered what his co-workers were faced with if that schedule left him тАЬmost
available.тАЭ He made no comment on that; he just nodded and asked, тАЬWhen do I go?"

"You'll see Dr. Jalali this afternoon for a physical. Assuming she doesn't find anything that would keep
you from going, you're scheduled for tomorrow morning at ten."

Casper suppressed a shudder. тАЬI suppose it's well to get it over with quickly,тАЭ he said, trying
unsuccessfully to force a smile.

Quinones nodded again. тАЬAnd you'll need a day or two for the new information to settle in,тАЭ he said
blithely. Casper shuddered, and his discomfort with the idea finally seemed to register with his superior.
тАЬDon't worry about the imprinting,тАЭ Quinones told him, with another falsely paternal smile. тАЬThose
problems they had in the early days have all been taken care of. You'll be fine."

Casper nodded. тАЬI'm not worried about that,тАЭ he lied. He was quite sure Quinones had never been
imprinted, and never would be if he could help it. The bosses didn't need to worry about such things. The
Consortium took care of its managers, and the Democratic-Republican Party took care of the
Consortium.

Anyone who wasn't in the Consortium or the Party, though, was on his own.

"Good,тАЭ Quinones said. He closed the folder. тАЬAnd Casper, don't worry about coming in to work
tomorrow, either. Just go straight over to NeuroTalents in the morning, and relax afterwards.тАЭ He smiled
beneficently, as if he had just conferred a great favor.

The smug bastard probably thought he had, Casper told himself. Aloud, he said, тАЬThank you. That will
be nice."

Then Casper slipped out of the office and wove his way back across the big room to his own little niche,