"Peter Watts - Bulk Food" - читать интересную книгу автора (Watts Peter)

тАЬI suspect that Mr. Largha isnтАЩt all that interested in the boring
details of our, er, negotiations.тАЭ Finch extends a hand, helps Doug
up off the carpet. Doug stands unsteadily.
тАЬI was looking forтАФthe gift shop!тАЭ His mission! Precious
seconds, precious minutes irretrievably lost while all those other
dorks and bozos line up to lay claim for his meat! If he doesn't
come home with the steaks, he'll be sleeping on the sofa for a
week. Doug turns and lunges towards the door he came through.
He forgets all about his ankle for the half-second it takes for him to
try and run on it. By the end of that same second heтАЩs on the floor
18 Peter Watts

again. "My steaks--" he whimpers. "I was going to be at the head
of the lineтАж I had it planned to the secondтАжтАЭ
тАЬWell, I must say,тАЭ Finch extends a helping hand again, тАЬitтАЩs
heartening to see someone so enthusiastic about the Aquarium's
new programs. Not everyone is, you know. Let me see what I can
do.тАЭ
Anna Marie Hamilton stands with her arms folded, sighing
impatiently. тАЬMister Finch,тАЭ she says, тАЬif you think IтАЩm going to
let this distract me from the liberation ofтАФтАЭ
"Not now, Ms. Hamilton. This will only take a moment. And
then I promise, we can get right back to your tough and
uncompromising negotiations." Finch takes a step towards the
door, turns back to Doug. "Say, Mr. Largha, would you like to talk
to a killer whale while you're waiting? A Matriarch? We have a
live link to Juan de Fuca." He raises an arm to the flatscreen on
one wall.
"Uh, live?" Emotions squabble in Doug's cortex. The pain of
failure. The hope of salvation. And now, a vague discomfort. "I
don't know. I mean, they are okay with this, aren't they? The
whole whale show thing?"
"Mr. Largha, not only are they okay with itтАФit was their idea.
So how about it? A conversation with a real, alien intelligence?"
"I don't know," Doug stammers. "I don't know what I'd sayтАФ"
Anna Marie snorts.
Finch draws a remote control from his blazer. "I'm sure you'll
think of something." He points the remote at the flatscreen,
thumbs a control.
Nothing obvious happens.
"Back in a moment," Finch promises, and closes the door
behind him.
Anna Marie turns her back. Doug wonders if maybe she's
offended by someone who would be in such a rush to line up for
orca steaks.
Or maybe she just doesn't like people very much.
A long, mournful whistle. "Sister Predator," intones an artificial
voice.
Bulk Food 19