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

human throat nor a computer sentience. There was alien flesh inside the
armor, regenerating like a chick within its shell. That it missed the soldier
who wore the armor, its symbiotic link, gave it more credence than Colin
had at one time supposed.

The Walker saint replied, "Jack's busy. He'll come after us." The man did
not elaborate. The machinations of humankind might stall any kind of
rescue, but Colin had been prepared for that.

It appeared the armor was not. "You should have brought Jack," it
repeated with the petulance of a small child. It shifted and brought up a
gauntlet. The massive fist could easily crush Colin, but he did not flinch as it
came to rest upon his shoulder. The petulant tone faded. "There," Bogie
said. "Company."

The armor's sensors were far better than human eyes and so it was a
while before Colin could see what the other registered. Then, when he
recognized it, it was with a sucked in breath. His right hand went
involuntarily to his cross and gripped it.

"By God," Colin whispered. "I was right."

The cross within his fist cut into his weathered palm. God was his
business, not diplomacy. But it had seemed to him that mankind had no
right to war with a creature they had not even met face-to-face, as terrible as
that enemy had proven in the past. He was old enough to know destiny
when it crossed his path.

The heavens seemed to tremble as the alien fleet moved into sight,
warships thrumming with massive power. The tiny rescue coracle would be
dwarfed by any vessel they sent out. Colin looked out over the fleet even as
a lethal, viperous looking vehicle peeled away and headed in their direction.
To have been spotted so quickly!
 Colin dropped the cross and laid his hand over the gauntlet on his
shoulder. "I can't take you with me," he said.

Armor couldn't flinch… could it?

"Alone again?" said the being.

"Till Jack finds you. He should. But I can't take you with me." To meet
with them, to have at last the evidence his Protestant ministry had long
searched for, to prove to the worlds and mankind that Christ had indeed
gone on to walk on other shores. There wasn't an archaeological site the
Walkers delved where they hadn't also found signs of these others. They
had become, enemy or not, someone he had to treaty with. Yet, as the
fighter winged toward him, his dreams failed and his heart skipped a beat.
What if he was wrong?

As if echoing his thoughts, Bogie growled. "The enemy."