"Clancy, Tom - Op-Center 05 - Ballance of Power" - читать интересную книгу автора (Clancy Tom)

Aideen looked at her boss in the growing darkness.
Passing cars slowed and stopped, their lights
illuminating the still, awful scene. Martha was lying on
her side, facing the booth. Thick puddles of
blood were forming on the pavement beneath and behind her body.
"Oh, Jesus," Aideen choked.
The young woman tried to rise but her legs wouldn't
support her. She crawled quickly toward the
BALANCE OF POWER 17
booth and knelt beside Martha. She bent over her and
looked down at the handsome face. It was utterly still.
"Martha?" she said softly.
Martha didn't respond. People began to gather
tentatively behind the two women.
"Martha?"
Aideen said more insistently.
Martha didn't move. Aideen heard the sound of
running feet inside the courtyard. Then she heard
muted voices shouting for people to clear the area.
Aideen's ears were cottony from the shots.
Hesitantly, she touched Martha's cheek with the
tips of two ringers. Martha did not respond.
Slowly, as though she were moving in a dream, Aideen
extended her index finger. She held it under
Martha's nose, close to her nostrils. There was
no breath.
"God, oh God," Aideen was muttering. She
gently touched Martha's eyelid. It didn't
react and, after a moment, she withdrew her hand. Then
she sat back on her heels and stared down at the
motionless figure. Sounds became louder as her ears
cleared. The world seemed to return to normal motion.
Fifteen minutes ago Aideen was silently
cursing this woman. Martha had been caught up in
something that had seemed so important-so very damned
important. Moments always seemed important
until tragedy put them in perspective. Or
maybe they
were
important because inevitably there would be no more. Not
that it mattered now. Whether Martha had been
right or wrong, good or bad, a visionary or a
control freak, she was dead. Her moments were over.
The courtyard gate flew open and men ran from behind
it. They gathered around Aideen, who was star 18
OP-CENTER
ing vacantly at Martha. The young woman touched
Martha's thick, black hair.
"I'm sorry," Aideen said. She exhaled
tremulously and shut her eyes. "I'm so very, very