"Michael Z. Williamson - The Humans Call it Duty" - читать интересную книгу автора (Williamson Michael Z)

****

The path the Enemy left marked them as amateurs. David and his friends left much
less sign of their passing, although he could still follow them easily enough. There
were some friends, those who David called Black Ops, who were almost as adept as
he, and could kill silently and quickly. He wished for their company now. They were
hunters as he, even if human, and would understand his feelings. But those fellow
hunters were not here, and he must tread carefully. It was his Duty to his friend to
continue doing what he was trained to, and to recover the Comm. After that, it
would be a pleasure to kill those who had killed David. That was his Duty to himself.

There they were. He dropped into the weeds and became invisible, watching
them patiently. There was no hurry, for they could not get away from his keen
hunter’s skill. He sat and listened, grasping what few words he could, and waiting
for the right moment.

“—odd to find one rebel out like this, along our patrol route,” said one.

“They’re all weird, if you ask me. They don’t want law, don’t want schools,
and don’t want support. Why anyone these days would be afraid of the government
is beyond me,” said another. He felt like a leader, and Cap guessed him to be the
Sergeant. There were eight of them, so this was what David called a Squad, and
Sergeant was the Squad Leader. They were Enemies. He was sure, because the
clothing was wrong, they smelled wrong, and David’s people had Squads of twenty.

“It is their planet. Was,” said another. He carried a large Gun, the kind for
support fire. He was another primary target. “I guess they were happy, but a strange
bunch of characters,” he agreed.

“Well, we’ve got a prize, and a confirmed kill, so that should make Huff
happy.” He was turning the Comm around in his hands. He made a gesture and
handed it to another, who stuffed it into his harness. Cap made note of that ones
look and smell as Sergeant continued, “He wanted to prove that initiating lethal force
was a good idea, and this should help. We’ll sweep another few klicks tonight, then
pick up again tomorrow. Jansen, take point,” Sergeant said.

“Sure thing, Phil,” said the first one.
 The Squad rose to their feet and trudged away. They might imagine they were
stealthy, compared to city people, but Cap easily heard them move out, three
person-lengths apart, Jansen first, then Gunner, then Sergeant, then the rest. Cap
appeared out of hiding, and followed them, ten person-lengths back. He stayed to
the side, under the growth, and avoided the direct path they were taking. The Squad
had Guns, and he did not, but he had all the weapons he needed, if he could get
close enough.

It was only a short time until one said, “I’ll catch up. Pee break.”

“Shoulda gone before we left, geek,” Sergeant said.

“Sorry. I’ll only be a few seconds.”