"Peter F. Hamilton - The Naked God" - читать интересную книгу автора (Hamilton Peter F)

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Jay Hilton was sound asleep when every electrophorescent strip in the paediatric ward
sprang up to full intensity. The simple dream of her mother broke apart like a stained-glass
statue shattered by a powerful gust of sharp white light; colourful splinters tumbling off
into the glare.
Jay blinked heavily against the rush of light, raising her head in confusion. The familiar
scenery of the ward hardened around her. She felt so tired. It certainly wasn’t morning yet.
A huge yawn forced her mouth open. All around her the other children were waking up in
bleary-eyed mystification. Holomorph stickers began reacting to the light, translucent
cartoon images rising up to perform their mischievous antics. Animatic dolls cooed
sympathetically as children clutched at them for reassurance. Then the doors at the far end
of the ward slid open, and the nurses came hurrying in.
One look at the brittle smiles on their faces was all Jay needed. Something was badly
wrong. Her heart shivered. Surely not the possessed? Not here?
The nurses began ushering children out of their beds, and along the central aisle towards the
doors. Complaints and questions were firmly ignored.
“It’s a fire drill,” the senior staff nurse called out. “Come along, quickly, now. I want you
out of here and into the lifts. Pronto. Pronto.” He clapped his hands loudly.
Jay shoved the thin duvet back, and scuttled down off the bed. Her long cotton nightie was
tangled round her knees, which took a moment to straighten. She was about to join the
others charging along the aisle when she caught the flickers of motion and light outside the
window. Every morning since she’d arrived, Jay had sat in front of that window, gazing
solemnly out at Mirchusko and its giddy green cloudscape. She’d never seen speckles of
light swarming out there before.
Danger.
The silent mental word was spoken so quickly Jay almost didn’t catch it. Though the feel of
Haile was unmistakable. She looked round, expecting to see the Kiint ambling down the
aisle towards her. But there was only the rank of flustered nurses propelling children along.
Knowing full well she wasn’t doing what she was supposed to, Jay padded over to the big
window, and pressed her nose against it. A slim band of tiny blue-white stars had looped
itself round Tranquillity. They were all moving, contracting around the habitat. She could
see now that they weren’t really stars, they were lengthening. Flames. Brilliant, tiny flames.
Hundreds of them.
My friend. My friend. Lifeloss anguish.
Now that was definitely Haile, and intimating plenty of distress. Jay took a step back from
the window, seeing misty grey swirls where her face and hands had pressed against it.
“What’s the matter?” she asked the empty air.
A cascade of new flames burst into existence outside the habitat. Expanding knots
blossoming seemingly at random across space. Jay gasped at the sight. There were
thousands of them, interlacing and expanding. It was so pretty.
Friend. Friend.
Evacuation procedure initiated.
Jay frowned. The second mental voice came as a faint echo. She thought it was one of the
adult Kiint, possibly Lieria. Jay had only encountered Haile’s parents a few times. They
were awfully intimidating, though they’d been nice enough to her.
Designation. Two.
No. The adult responded forcefully. Forbidden.
Designation.
You may not, child. Sorrow felt for all human suffering. But obedience required.
No. Friend. My friend. Designation. Two. Confirmed.