"Thomas Easton - Organic Future 03 - Woodsman" - читать интересную книгу автора (Easton Thomas A)

those of vanished animals, enough to turn them into physical duplicates and
supply the zoos with exhibits. In time, said the gengineers, perhaps they
would make the replacements so complete that they could let the vanished
species return to the wild. Whether there would be a wild for them to return
to was another question; the world was more crowded with human beings than it
had ever been.

"The Engineers trashed my lab twice while I was working for the ESRP," he
added. "They haven't found this place yet. There are advantages to being out
here in the boonies." He shook his head. "One of these days, they're going to
stop playing nice guy..." When Frederick looked pained, he said, "I know. I
know. Relatively speaking. And I don't want to be there when it happens. I'd
rather spend my time twiddling my thumbs." He brought his hands together in
front of his paunch to demonstrate. Then he opened the envelope, extracted the
check, and waved it in the air. "And letting you pay the bills." He backed up
at last, letting his visitors into his office. The room was dominated by a
metal desk supporting an ancient PS/4 computer. A stained anti-static pad
showed around the edges of the keyboard. The room's walls were covered with
shelves that sagged under the weight of books, technical journals, and disks.
A stiff-looking armchair sat by the window.

"There aren't that many intelligent genimals." It was illegal to give an
animal the genes for human intelligence, but that only limited the number of
gengineers who did it. The results were usually turned loose to fend for
themselves. Occasionally, they later came to public attention, as Frederick
once had himself.

"So I have time to play consultant." Duncan sat down in the softly padded
swivel chair by the desk, tucked the check under the edge of the blotter, and
swung toward the window. He gestured Frederick toward the armchair and said,
"Is that one?" He pointed at the German shepherd, his expression hopeful. He
did not make the mistakes of trying to pet the dog or speaking baby talk to
it; experience had taught him that if Renny were indeed an intelligent
genimal, he would not appreciate the condescension.
 Frederick shook his head as he took the seat, while Renny flopped onto the
floor between the two men and barked a laugh. He slapped the carpet twice with
his tail. "Bet your ass I am!" Duncan did not seem surprised by the rough but
clear voice. He had obviously met many creatures that looked like animals but
spoke like humans.

"He seems to be happy the way he is."

The dog nodded, his tongue showing between his teeth. "I know better," he
said.

"I'd think you'd want to be like us," said Duncan.

"Huh! Ordinary dogs, maybe," said Renny. "We're pack animals, sure, and
they'll take you apes for their pack. But not me. I'm too smart to fall for
that con. I'd rather be what I am." He lay down on the carpeted floor and