"David Weber - Worlds of Honor 4 - Service of the Sword" - читать интересную книгу автора (Weber David)

"That is exactly what he's doing," Captain Boniece agreed. "Moreover, his request is not
precisely out of line with what we were told to expect from the moment Intransigent was diverted
to Masada."
"I suppose not, Sir," Carlie admitted grudgingly.
Captain Boniece met her gaze squarely, any hint of amusement gone from his expression.
"Have you been dissatisfied with how Mr. Winton is conducting himself, Lieutenant?"
"Not really, Skipper. He does his duties, but he doesn't seem much like the other middies."
"Perhaps," Boniece replied, "because Mr. Winton is not like any other snottyтАФnot on
Intransigent, nor on any other ship in Her Majesty's navy."
Carlie's eyes widened. The term was openly, sometimes even affectionately, applied to
middies, but as far as she could recall, it was the first time she had heard it applied to
Intransigent's berth.
Captain Boniece seemed to think he had made a point of some sort, for his smile momentarily
returned before he continued his train of thought.
"Even as you have been observing Mr. Winton," he said, "I have been observing you,
Lieutenant. It seems to me that you're trying to make Michael Winton into just one of everyone
else. What you must understand is that even if he serves in the Navy for a hundred years, Michael
Winton will never be just like anyone else. Even if Queen Elizabeth has twenty children, Michael
will always be her only brother. I want you to accept this and work with it. That's an order."
"Yes, Captain."
The snap in his tone was such that Carlie started to rise and salute, believing herself
dismissed, but Captain Boniece motioned for her to remain.
"I want you to think about something else, Carlie," he said. "Not only is Mr. Winton unlike
everyone else with whom he servesтАФso is every member of this crew different from every
other."
Carlie blinked at him, too startled to manage even a routine "Yes, Sir."
"Have you ever wondered, Lieutenant Dunsinane," Boniece continued, "why the assistant
tactical officer is put in charge of the middy berth? After all, what do a dozen or so snotties have
to do with planning an attack or defense, deciding whether to roll the ship or fire from all ports?"
"Yes, Skipper," Carlie said, too confused now to be indirect. "Honestly, I have."
"Tactics," Boniece went on, "is the most direct track to command, and a commander needs to
learn to work with the most important asset the ship possessesтАФthe crew. Unlike energy batteries
or missile tubes, crews don't come with neat specs listing limitations and advantages. Crews are
unpredictable, annoying, surprising, and astonishing."
Carlie, beginning to understand now, was feeling like a complete idiot. Boniece, however,
wasn't done with drumming his lesson home.
"If you win your white beret, you're going to need to deal with every variation of human
temperament. You're going to need to learn the way to get the best out of each one. Sometimes
that's going to mean preferring someone who seems too junior to merit preferment. Sometimes
that's going to mean passing up someone who, by The Book, has every advantage going for him.
Once the ship leaves base, there's no supply room with spare crew members. You need to train
your crew for diversity and flexibilityтАФand contrariwise, you need to train them for perfect
expertise in their departments."
Carlie nodded.
"I think that I haven't been treating my snotties," she grinned as she said the formerly tabooed
word, "as they deserve. I'll remember that, Sir. And now that you mention it, Mr. Winton has
been drawing rather more than the usual workload. I believe he can miss a few hours here and
there. I would, however, like him to report back to the ship to sleep."
Captain Boniece cocked an eyebrow at her.
"I don't think Mr. Winton will forget where his duty lies," Carlie explained. "However, I