"Tanya Huff - Valor 2 - The Better Part of Valor" - читать интересную книгу автора (Huff Tanya)

*Report to shuttle bay twelve for decontamination in thirty minutes.
*
"If I can, I'll talk to Captain Rose before I go."
"Thanks, Staff. You're a real chirtric."
It wasn't every day she was called a delicacy, Torin reflected as she
continued toward her quarters, but even if she managed to talk to
Captain Rose he'd have no time to speak to the general before the
shuttle left the station.


The captain's Admin clerk agreed to pass the message along. "You
do know that captains aren't in the habit of paging two star generals
and suggesting they should make use of personnel with what amounts
to illegal computing skills, don't you, Staff?"
"Not my problem." Torin thumbed her kit bag closed. "I told him I'd
try to talk to Captain Rose. The captain was unavailable, I spoke to
you. My conscience is clear." Her slate made a noise somewhere
between a snort and a snicker. "You have something to add,
Corporal?"
"Just my best wishes for a successful mission and a safe return, Staff
Sergeant."
"Thank you. Kerr out."
"The double tone closing the connection sounded as she glanced one
last time around the room, noted both living and sleeping area would
pass at least a cursory inspection, and crossed to the door. The empty
sockets of the Silsviss skull on the shelf over her entertainment unit
seemed to follow her every move. A couple of the more politically
correct Battalion NCOs had objected to having the skull of a sentient
species mounted in the Senior Ranks' Mess, so rather than stuff it into
a recycler, she'd brought it home.
"Don't look so concerned," she told it. "I'll be back."
 *Report to shuttle bay twelve for decontamination in twenty
minutes.*
In spite of a crowd on the lower beltway, she made it with seven
minutes to spare and could walk across the lounge to the shuttle bay
without challenging the belief, widely held by the lower ranks, that
sergeants and above controlled time and therefore never had to hurry.
"Staff Sergeant Kerr!"
Torin checked her watch, then turned. His lilac eyes a couple of
shades darker than his hair, Second Lieutenant di'Ka Jarret, her platoon
commander, rushed around the end of an ugly gray plastic bench and
hurried toward her. As incapable of looking awkward as any of his
species, he didn't look happy. "Sir?"
"You were just going to leave?" He didn't sound happy either.
"The general's orders were specific, sir. I had forty-six minutes to
get to decon and you were at Battalion. Captain Rose sent you a copy
of the orders."
"I received the captain's transfer, Staff Sergeant," the di'Taykan
informed her, drawing himself up to his full height. Torin stared at the
pheromone masker prominently displayed at his throat and just barely