"Kristine Kathryn Rusch - Chimera" - читать интересную книгу автора (Rusch Kristine Kathryn)

slightest sound.

Her arm tingled. It had fallen asleep. Slowly she brought it back and massaged
it, wondering if she should pick up the sleeping creature and carry him to his
cedar bed. He hadn't slept there, though, hadn't even stepped in it. Maybe he
didn't like it, and after the cage experience, she didn't want to force him
into something he didn't like. She waiting until the feeling returned to her
arm, and then stood slowly, careful not to wake Cedric.

She went back to bed, but left the hall light on.




·····
The following morning, after she had shared her breakfast with a tired Cedric,
she had gone into her office. Papers were scattered on tables and on her desk.
Old papers, copies of things that should have been recycled long ago. House
had left her work station running, even though she hadn't touched it for
months. Her ergonomically designed work chair no longer fit her body. She
moved it aside and pulled over a wooden chair that she once stacked
information cubes on.
She had left the office door open, but Cedric hadn't followed her inside.
Which was good. If he could understand what she said—and she was becoming more
and more convinced that he could—she didn't want him to hear this next
conversation.

She had House locate and dial the Chimera Mission. Anna answered and switched
to holo when she realized that Gen was on the line.

"Problems?" Anna asked as if she had been expecting this call.

Gen had carefully worn a long-sleeved shirt so that no one would see the
injury Cedric had given her. "No. He seems pretty well behaved."

"He's not used to his surroundings yet," Anna said. "Wait until he gets
comfortable."

Gen swallowed back her next question. She was going to ask what he would do
once he was comfortable, but she didn't want Anna's attitude toward Cedric to
poison her mind any farther.

"Was he adopted before?" Gen asked.

"No," Anna said. "We had him listed as borderline unadoptable. I'm still not
sure about you taking him."

Gen ignored that as well. "Could you tell me again what they did to him?"

"I told you all I know," Anna said. "Brain enhancement. Drugs for Parkinson's,