"Charles Ingrid - The Sand Wars 06 - Challenge Met" - читать интересную книгу автора (Ingrid Charles)

Amber stirred at Jack's elbow. He sensed her withdrawing to the
entrance of the room. He looked back. "Was he this bad when they found
him?"

Her face was pale, expression drawn, as if the time they'd shared together
had never happened. She nodded in answer to his question. "Nearly this
bad. They got him on life support as quickly as they could. And then, he
just declined."
 He swept his gaze over the monitors, reading the obscure displays. It
was obvious even to him that Jonathan clung to life by the faintest of grips.
He raised his voice. "Observation?"

"Yes, sir," the near wall answered him. Whether the doctors beyond were
flesh or mechanical, Jack could not tell.

"What are his chances?"

"He can be sustained indefinitely, but whether it is worth it to do so…"
the voice trailed off and Jack knew he spoke to flesh. Only flesh worried
about the quality of life. Machines worried only about function, on or off.

Jack looked back to Amber who stood braced by the door, her palms
behind her slender hips and pressed to the wall. "Did he put up a fight
before?"

She shook her head. "Jack, I don't know. Why?"

"I'm wondering if Colin was taken… or if he left voluntarily."

She straightened indignantly. "Colin wouldn't have left Jonathan like
this!"

"Not wouldn't have, Amber—the proof is that he did leave him. I only
wonder if he was forced to, or if he left on his own."

"How can you ask such a thing?"

Jack looked at her mildly. "I can ask because I'll need to know. Who
found them? Did Colin take them to some faraway meeting place where he
met more than he counted on? Or were they intercepted? Am I to start
looking among friends or foes?"

She came toward him then. "I'm sorry. I thought—"

The corner of his mouth drew up. "Jonathan was my friend, too." He
turned back to the crèche, sighing barely audibly. "What could you tell us, if
you were able…" Jack brushed his palm lightly over the man's limp arm,
feeling the feverish dry texture of the other's skin.