"Steve Jordan - The Onuissance Cells" - читать интересную книгу автора (Jordan Steve)

opportunity to use the sec’s regional databases to familiarize Thomas with the flora, fauna and general
terrain of the NA(s)5 region, taking care to point out some of the more interesting or scenic sites of the
region. Thomas showed great interest in a number of the mountain areas and forests, and his genuine
interest in the world outside of the station seemed to soften San.
“That’s right,” she said at one point. “You’re supposed to be a frontiersman.”
Thomas nodded. “I was born and raised out there. Actually, I know a lot of this land west of here... but
I’d never gone this far east. My tribe was semi-nomadic.”
“Which tribe was that?”
“Cayache,” Thomas replied. “Southern Cayache.”
“Ah. I was about to say, I know most of the northern Cayaches. We see them hereabouts quite a bit.
But not the southern tribe.”
“We should be known as the eastern and western Cayaches,” Thomas commented. “We used to be
north and south of each other, but we haven’t been for generations. Still, you know how names tend to
stick.”
“I know this land better than the rest of the PKs, Commander,” San told him. “I’ll be glad to give you a
tour of the sights, since you need to see it all anyway. Maybe we can start tomorrow.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Thomas nodded.
Frank came back into the office at that moment. “Spoke to Teez. He’s a few minutes away from
Midland, heading for the medcenter. He’ll be awhile longer.”
“Well, I can wait ‘til later to see him, I guess,” Thomas said.
“I also tried to page Cartier again,” Frank added, more to San than Thomas. “His com is off, looks
like.”
“Oh, it is, is it?” San frowned and thought a moment. “Commander, we have a room reserved at the
Maria for you. Frank, why don’t you take him down and let him get settled. I’m going to talk to Matt.” She
stepped past them and headed for the door.
Frank turned to follow her. “You know where he is?”
 “I know exactly where he is,” San said, before the door slid closed behind her.
Frank turned back to Thomas, and shrugged. “What can I say? You caught us on a down week.”
“I got that impression,” Thomas replied. “Is there anything personal involved with those two?”
“Oh, no,” Frank said. But she’s been with Matt for over four years here. He’s like a mentor to her...
almost like a father to her. The thing is, Matt is a pioneer. This is the longest he’s stayed in one place for
years. He’s got the itch to move on. And San...” Frank trailed off, trying to think of the best way to phrase
his next comment.
“Well, San just doesn’t appreciate Matt’s point of view.”

San stood, her back to Midland, looking down the sandy shore of the river that passed through Midland.
Actually, the river itself still followed its original path, which took it past Midland, but a channel had been cut
that led through Midland’s ground level of docks. Directly under Midland, the waterway was broken by the
boat slips and loading stages of the docks. But on either side of Midland, the waterway had been shaped to
form lakes that were regularly used for recreation by the city’s residents.
It only took her a moment to find Matt Cartier, downstream from her. He was sitting on a grassy bank
that hung just above the water line, dangling his bare feet in the meandering flow of the river. A few
children played not far from where he was sitting, but they were leaving him alone, and he just sat there,
staring out across the river at the far bank and the fields and trees beyond.
San started walking towards him, following the natural contour of the ground. The path brought her up
just behind and to the left of Matt. She hadn’t made much noise, but Matt’s head inclined a bit in her
direction, then turned back to the waterway. San stopped just behind him, glaring down at the full but
slightly graying hair on his head, and put her hands on her hips. “You know you’re supposed to keep your
com switched on at all times”, she said coldly. “You may not be Commander anymore, but you’re still a
Peacekeeper.”