"Feintuch,.David.-.Seafort.06.-.Patriarchs.Hope.Txt" - читать интересную книгу автора (Feintuch David)

"It's not my responsibility."

"You remember, don't you, Nick?" Her voice was soft.

I looked away. At last I said, "I'll do what I can."

In the gathering dusk Hazen and I walked slowly back to
his office. "How well do you know Oregon, Commandant?"

"He's a good man. Even if he wasn't watching carefully,
how could he have caused their deaths? We've used the emetic for years."

My smile was grim. "Generations."

"It was surely an accident, Mr. SecGen. Contaminants."

"Do you believe that?" My own doubts were growing.

A long silence. "I want to."

Abruptly I liked him more. "I'm sorry. I know I've been taking over."

"That's your privilege, sir. You're SecGen,"

I grinned, remembering an Admiral who'd commandeered my ship, long past "That
doesn't make it easier,"

"No," he said, I admired his honesty. He added, "You don't remember me, do
you?*'

I cast about in my memory. "I was notified of your appointment. You had UNS
Churchill, am I right?"

"I was in Valdez Barracks," He spoke as if he hadn't heard. "When you took
command." He slowed his pace, so I'd have less difficulty keeping up. "Sergeant
Ibarez,"

"Ah,** How could I make him change die subject? I loved Academy, truly I did.
Yet...

"I was one of the few left here when you took the cadets to Farside. Else I'd
have volunteered, I know 1 would," His face was red, and his gaze was carefully
averted. "I'd fallen—we were skylarking in barracks. About a week before die
fish attacked. I broke three ribs. Sarge said you were furious."

"It's a cool night," I said desperately. "After toe sun goes—Commandant, I atone
every night of my life for what I did to those wretched cadets. Be thankful you
weren't among them." During die final alien attack I'd called for volunteers,
knowing, but not telling them, I was sending them to their deaths. At least,
with effort, I now could speak of it For years I could not