"Dune 03 - Whipping Mek (Short Story)" - читать интересную книгу автора (Herbert Brian & Frank)

him some more. But even I don’t know all the surprises he might have in store.”

Vergyl moved back to reassess his opponent. He studied the robot’s optic

sensors, which glowed a steady orange, focused on the pulse weapon.

Abruptly, Chirox lunged with the barbed short sword, exhibiting

unexpected speed and agility. Vergyl tried to dodge the blow, but not quickly

enough, and a shallow gash opened on one of his arms. He went into a floor roll

to escape, then glanced at the wound as he leaped back to his feet.

“Not a bad move,” Noret said, his tone casual, as if he didn’t care whether

the robot killed Vergyl. Killing was both sport and profession to him. Maybe it

took a harsh mindset to be a mercenary for Ginaz, but Vergyl—endowed with no

such harshness—worried that he had gotten into this situation on impulse and

might be facing a challenge more difficult than he was ready for. The combat

mek kept advancing with jerking, unpredictable speeds, sometimes lunging,

sometimes with an astonishing fluidity of motion.

Vergyl darted from side to side, striking blows with the pulse sword. He

executed proficient rolls and considered attempting a showy backflip, but didn’t

know if he could pull it off. Failure to properly execute a move could prove fatal.

DUNE: WHIPPING MEK

14

One of his pulse blows struck the panel box on Chirox’s side, making it

glow red. The robot paused. A thin, agile arm emerged from the robot’s torso

and adjusted something inside.

“It can repair itself?”

“Most combat meks can. You wanted a fair shot at a real machine opponent,

didn’t you? I warned you, this robot does not fight below its abilities.”