"Lawrence Watt-Evans - War Surplus 01 - The Cyborg And The Sorcerers" - читать интересную книгу автора (Watt-Evans Lawrence)

"No, never mind, I heard you." That, he thought to himself, was just lovely; he might get his head burned
off any time the computer thought he was shirking. He wondered whether this was a manifestation of the
machine's death wish, and decided that it almost certainly was. He slung the submachine gun over his
shoulder, remembering as he did that it was now useless until he returned the ship and reloaded it, and
started to trudge south.

"It's too bad I couldn't just fly, like the Teyzhan councillor," he muttered to himself. He wondered just
what he had stumbled into, and how these "wizards" worked their magic.

"You know, computer," he said thoughtfully, "for the first time on this damn mission we might actually
have found something."

"Affirmative."

Slipping back into the more familiar subvocalizing, he continued, "It's almost too bad the war's over." The
computer did not answer.
 Chapter Five

SLANT SPOKE ALOUD, DEMANDING ANGRILY, "YOU SERIOUSLY expect me to parachute
into the middle of an unfriendly city at night?"

"Affirmative."

"It's been fourteen years since I used a parachute!"

"Query: Advisability of practice jumps."

"Probably . .. no, let's get it over with." He lay back on the acceleration couch, hands behind his head.

"Launch in thirty seconds."

"Fine."

"Drop will be from altitude of fifteen kilometers."

"What? Are you crazy?" He took his hands from beneath his head and sat up.

"Negative."

"Why so high?

"Extreme altitude is advisable to lessen risk of detection."

And to increase my chances of getting killed, Slant thought. "Right. I'll need oxygen equipment, and
maybe a pressure suit."

"Affirmative."

He decided he didn't dare argue further; the computer might decide he was disloyal. He had no desire to