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

Only one, shooting blindly and crying gibberish under his breath. Taken by
panic, Cap thought, and the smell agreed. He was coming this way, but only from
luck, and there were no others.

He could handle one.

As the Enemy came over the hummock, Cap sprang out of the leaf bed, his
deathsnarl tearing the air and terrifying the animals. The Enemy stopped, wide-eyed
and color draining from his face. Smell told Cap that Enemy had voided himself, and
as he tried to swing his Gun around, Cap took him.
 First, he crushed the wrist that held the Gun with his jaws, while scratching for
the face to distract him. Bones splintered, the Gun fell, Enemy screamed, and
Capstick turned his attention elsewhere. The other hand was bringing up a Knife, and
Cap rolled off, pivoted, and leapt back. The blade tore his lip as he hit, but he
shattered that arm, also. The Enemy was sheathed in Armor and a Helmet and
Boots, but the thighs and the groin were exposed, and Cap sunk his fangs deep into
soft, warm flesh. Enemy howled in agony and thrashed, cried and shook, whimpered
and twitched, and was still. Cap ate a few more bites to keep his strength up, and
trotted off in a circle around the area, ears alert for voices.

Four.

“She has to have a trauma team! Phil! Abort the goddamn mission!” Gunner
screamed.

“Yes!” Sergeant agreed. “Hold on, okay?” A moment later he continued,
“White Mountain, this is Silver Three. Abort! Abort! Abort! Require immediate
extraction and medevac.” There was another pause, and Cap knew the message was
being turned into a squeal before the Comm sent it, so no one would know they
were sending it. The magic squeals only other Comms could hear. If he’d only been
able to find friends, all these would be dead. Now they would get away. That
saddened him. But he might get another yet

Sergeant spoke again. “Understood, White Mountain. We can make exfil
point in thirty minutes.” Click. “Okay, let’s destroy the excess gear and weapons
and bury them ... Guys, where’s Jansen?”

They worked themselves into another panic, and Cap again knew pleasure.

****

People had good ways to deal with wounds, and Cynd was strapped to a Litter they
built. She moaned, and was still alive, but Cap knew he could fix that in a moment’s
time. All that were left now were Gunner and Sergeant and one called Wes. Wes and
Sergeant carried Cynd, and Gunner led the way. They were heading north again, and
Cap used the arboreal highway to follow them. Sometimes he led them. He knew
where they would go, for a Vertol could best reach them on the Bald Hill.

The three Enemy were jogging quickly through the forest. Cap slipped into the