"Nancy Kress - Art of War" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kress Nancy)

And for a long moment, she actually looked uncertain. Yes, Dalo has the same
squat body and light coat of hair as the Teli. She is genemod for her native planet, a
cold and high-gravity world, which is also what Tel is. But surely a general should
know that interspecies breeding is impossible—es-pecially that interspecies
breeding? Dalo is as human as I.

The general’s eyes grew cold. Colder. “I don’t appreciate that sort of humor,
Captain.”

“No, ma’am.”

“I’m here to give you your orders. Tomorrow at oh five hundred hours, your
shuttle leaves for downside. You will be based in a central Teli structure that
contains a large stockpile of stolen Human artifacts. I have assigned you three
soldiers to crate and transport upside anything that you think has value. You will
determine which objects meet that description and, if possible, where they were
stolen from. You will attach to each object a full statement with your reasons,
including any applicable identification pro-grams—you have your software with
you?”

“Of course, ma’am.”

“A C-112 near-AI will be placed at your disposal. That’s all.”

“Ten-hut!” bawled one of the aides. But by the time I had gotten my arm into
a salute, she was gone.

“Seth,” Dalo said gently. “You didn’t have to do that.”

“Yes. I did. Did you see the horror on the aides’ faces when I said you were
half Teli?”

She turned away. Suddenly frightened, I caught her arm. “Dear heart— you
knew I was joking? I didn’t offend you?”
 “Of course not.” She nestled in my arms, affectionate and gentle as always.
Still, there is a diamond-hard core under all that sweetness. The general had clearly
never heard of her before, but Dalo is one of the best mutomati artists of her
generation. Her art has moved me to tears.

“I’m not offended, Jon, but I do want you to be more careful. You were
baiting General Anson.”

“I won’t have to see her while I’m on assignment here. Generals don’t bother
with lowly captains.”

“Still—”

“I hate the bitch, Dalo.”