"David Weber & Linda Evans - Bolos" - читать интересную книгу автора (Weber David)

I retrieve dead specimens with external armatures and proceed to
dissect the samples. I perform a thorough analysis of biological systems,
genetic makeup, and deduce probable reproductive pattern. I note
internal and external parasites. I determine that it will be necessary to
procure live, undamaged samples. I discard the remains and turn my
attention to this task. To fully eradicate this infestation, I must first
completely understand the physiology of the creature I am to eliminate.
I cross the perimeter boundary toward the EnemyтАЩs fallback position.

They stared gloomily at the plans on screen.
тАЬWell,тАЭ Lewis Liffey said glumly, тАЬit was worth a try.тАЭ
They could have repaired the SWIFT unit, if their parts depot hadnтАЩt
been blown to vacuum. But not even by cannibalizing other components
of the Cross could they fix the shambles that remained.
тАЬWell,тАЭ Lewis said again. тАЬI guess we concentrate on our next crisis.тАЭ
He glanced at Tillie Matson. Her face was too pale. Even at her best, she
would never have fit conventional definitions of prettiness. But her eyes
could reach out and grab a manтАЩs soul. He wondered if Carl Matson was
truly aware of what heтАЩd lost. . . .
Lewis cleared his throat and turned his attention to Saros Mysia.
тАЬAnything you could find on propulsion systems would help.тАЭ
The colonyтАЩs educator/librarian nodded and rattled a few keys in rapid
succession. They spent the next several hours studying everything in the
colonyтАЩs library on repair of FTL and Sub-L propulsion systems. And
while he pored over schematics and technical data, LewisтАЩ mind raced
ahead to the thousand other worries facing him. TheyтАЩd need a form of
government, laws and law enforcement, medical facilities the Cross had
never been designed for, a way to raise food, a way to keep their
population from expanding any farther than it would after the dozen or
so now-pregnant colonists among them gave birth. . . .
Lewis didnтАЩt know if he could bring himself to order those womenтАФ
or others, down the roadтАФto abort children they simply couldnтАЩt afford
to feed. Twenty years . . . Mandatory birth control would not be popular
amongst people who had signed onto a colony expectingтАФanticipating
joyfullyтАФthe need to procreate like mad. They needed a skilled socio-
psychologist. What they had were one medical generalist who was
currently trying to cope with a wide range of injuries and an educator
whose lifelong plans had been to build a school for hard-working farm
kids.
DonnerтАЩs Party had nothing on us, Lewis thought sourly. And IтАЩll be
damned if we devolve to that level.
And underlying every other worry on his mind, shoved painfully back
into a corner where he could almost insulate himself from it, was the
agonizing question, When they hit Scarsdale, did the bastards kill
Ginnie? He had no way of knowing. Might never know.
So Lewis threw himself into the terrible job of keeping everyone
aboard the Star Cross alive and refused himself the luxury of grief.
 The refugee center wasnтАЩt able to give most folks an answer to their
question. But they had an answer for Carl Matson. Pity thickened Hal
AbramsтАЩ throat as the director absorbed the news.