"David L. Robbins - Endworld 27 - Chicago Run" - читать интересную книгу автора (Robbins David L)

"At last," Carson said, pushing his helmet back on his head and
scratching his brow.

Private Lavender removed her helmet, displaying her short, curly red
hair, and rubbed the nape of her neck. "I can't wait to get back to the
barracks and take a nice, hot shower."

"Care for some company?" Carson asked.

"Dream on, asshole."

The three other soldiers laughed.

"Sergeant Sikes," Carson said to cover his embarrassment, "do you
think there's any chance this Shadow character will hit another patrol?"

"The higher-ups wouldn't have squads patrolling outside the perimeter
fence if there wasn't," Spikes replied. He extracted a map from a shirt
pocket and unfolded it.

"I heard tell the Shadow has killed thirty-seven already," Carson
mentioned.

"Then you know more than I do," Sikes said, studying the map. "The
top brass isn't about to reveal the exact figure. You've been listening to too
much scuttlebutt again."

Lavender chuckled and poked Carson in the arm. "As usual you don't
know what the hell you're talking about."/p>

"Oh?" Carson snapped. "Shows how much you know, Ms. Stuck-Up. I
happen to be good friends with Jessie Malovich, and I bet you've heard of
him."

All the rest now focused on the corporal.

"Malovich was the guy mentioned on the news," one of the men
remarked. "The only grunt who survived the Shadow's first attack."

Carson squared his shoulders and nodded, pleased at being the center
of attention. Despite his stripes the others, except for the crusty sergeant,
tended to look down their noses at him because he was career military and
they were young brats who were begrudgingly pulling the two-year stints
required of all Technic City citizens. Once they'd put in their time they'd
go on to lucrative civilian jobs. "That's right," Carson declared, sticking
his thumbs under his web belt.

"You really know him?" Lavender asked.