"Kristine Kathryn Rusch - Dancers Like Children" - читать интересную книгу автора (Rusch Kristine Kathryn)

"How long ago was this holo taken?" I asked.
"Almost a year," Tanner said. "But the children weren't as taken with
the Dancers as Latona thought they would be. I believe that was the only
visit."
"What has changed since then? What has provoked the Dancers?"
Netta glanced at Tanner. She sighed. "We want to take control of the
xaredon, leredon, and ededon plants."
The basis of Salt Juice, the colonists' chief export. Salt Juice was
one of the most exhilarating intoxicants the galaxy had ever known. It mixed
quickly with the bloodstream, left the user euphoric, and had no known side
effects: no hangovers, no hallucinations, no addictions, and no dangerous
physical responses. That export alone brought in a small fortune. "I didn't
know the Dancers controlled the herbs," I said.
"They grow the herbs and give us the adult plants. We've been trying to
get them to teach us to grow the plants, but they refuse." Netta shook her
head. "I don't know why, either. We don't pay them. We don't give them
anything for their help."
"And the negotiations broke off?"
"About a week before the first death." The deep voice surprised me. It
belonged to Davis. I had forgotten he was there.
Another fact that I would have to investigate. I was developing quite a
mental checklist.
"Let me show you the final image," Tanner said. "It's of the first
death. You can see the others if you want in the viewing library. This one
begins the pattern carried through on the rest."
He clicked the image. The scene in front of me was grim. Linette, her
hair longer and sun-blonde, her skin darker than it had been in the first
projection, leaned against one of the terraformed doors. Her feet stretched
out in front of her; her arms rested at her sides. Her chest was open, dark,
and matted with blood. Tanner froze the projection, and this time I got up,
examining the halo from all sides. The stumps at the ends of her arms were
blood-covered. Her clothing was also bloodstained, but that could have been
caused by her bleeding arms. Blood did coat the chest cavity, though. Whoever
had killed her had acted quickly. The girl's eyes were wide and had an
inquisitive expression. Her mouth was drawn in a slight _O_ of surprise or
pain.
"The wounds match the wounds made by Dancer ceremonial tools," Davis
said. "I can show you more down in the lab later if you want."
I nodded, feeling sick. "Please shut that off," I said. Turner flicked
a switch, and the image disappeared. Five children, dead and mutilated. I had
to get out of the room. I had received too much information, and seen too
much. My stomach threatened to betray me. The others stared at me.
"This packet and the information you've given so far should be enough
for me to get started," I said. I stood up and clutched the chair for support.
"I'm sure that I will return with questions." I let myself out of the room and
took a deep breath. The image of the child remained at the edge of my brain,
mingling with that of other dead colonists on a world ten years away.
I heard rustling inside the conference room, and knew I had to be gone
before they emerged. I hurried through the dimly lit corridor. Sunlight glared
through the cracks around the outside door. I stopped and examined the almost