"Timothy Zahn - Spinneret" - читать интересную книгу автора (Zahn Timothy)

I volunteered because many of my people were coming. Many of them, on the
other hand, didn't truly volunteer."

Her eyes widened momentarily, then settled into cool disbelief. "You have any
proof of this?"

He shook his head. "Nothing that would be seen as such. And don't misunderstand
me: I'm not saying they were kidnapped and loaded aboard trucks for the training
center. The pressure was much more subtle than thatтАФportrayal of Astra as a new
beginning, the land of opportunity and freedom that the U.S. had turned out not to
be, plus the implication that life would be getting harder if not enough of us
volunteered. We were painted a rosy pictureтАФcan you blame us for being
unhappy with the housing and working conditions we've been put into here?"

"This is a brand-new world. Did you expect to find hotels and theaters waiting for
you?"

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Zahn, Timothy - Spinneret



"I expected exactly what is hereтАФa continuation of the social injustices I was
already tired of."

"Everybody's had to make sacrificesтАФ"

"But some aren't making nearly as many as others," he shot back. "Are the
scientists living three and four to a house? The soldiers? How many Anglos are
going out in the fields tomorrow, planting crops by hand because the extra
machinery is still packed into their crates?"

"All right, then," she said after a short silence. "Assume for the moment that
you're right. What do you suggest be done?"

"For now, a sincere commitment to improve conditions in Ceres would probably
be enough. We're not stupidтАФwe know you can't build new houses overnight. If
you could get us another couple of hologames for the rec center, that would be a
nice gesture." Perez paused as a flicker of surprise crossed Carmen's face.
Probably expected some wildly impractical scheme for turning Ceres into Little
Mexico, he thought. Well, enjoy it while you can, because here comes the bite.
"And I think Major Dunlop has proved he has no real feeling for the people here.
He should be transferred and someone else put in charge."

Carmen's pleased/surprised expression vanished. "Oh, you think that, do you?"
she asked coolly. "Do you want to suggest a replacement while you're at it?"

"Not necessarily. But why are you suddenly so hostile? I thought United States
citizens had the right to choose their own leaders."