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already there and we had already lost the world.
There was nothing there to threaten us but other humans.
She took a deep breath and closed her eyes.  And now the Zerg are coming from
everywhere. They re on the planet. Arcturus didn t recall any of the units
currently in combat. He didn t even bother to get the teams that placed the
psi emitters off-planet. He left them there.  Sacrifices must be made, he
said, and he said it in that calm, pleased voice as if he were ordering
coffee.
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Mike thought of the team that landed at Atkin s Square, and hoped that
Kerrigan was too upset to pick up his suppositions. Instead he said,  All
right. He told you this. And then what happened?
 And then word came up from the bridge about a fight between Jim and Duke.
Kerrigan s face was a storm cloud again.  And he dismissed me. Just told me I
had to go, just like that. And I . . . I lost my temper with him.
 There s been a lot of that going around. And for good reason.
 Mike, there was no rationale for him to do this. I thought it was a bluff, or
that Tarsonis was already infected, or that there was a master plan. It was
just that Arcturus has a hammer, and when you have a hammer, every problem
seems to be a nail.
Mike remembered Mengsk making the same quote earlier. It seemed like half a
lifetime ago.
 It s okay, Mike said, reaching up to hold her by the shoulders. She did not
turn away.
 And Mike  her voice was a whisper  when I got mad at him, I
looked.
I mean I really looked into him.
Michael waited for her to continue, but she just shook her head. When she
spoke, it was in a low hiss.
She spat,  That bastard.
Mike said,  Look, I sent Jim down to his quarters and told him to keep his
friends around him. I think you qualify.
Kerrigan looked up at Mike, and for the briefest moment she looked unsure.
Then a wry smile tugged at the corners of her lips and she said,  No, I don t
think so. I m so upset right now . . . Jim would just make me feel . . . She
let out a long breath and shook her head.  I need to be alone for a little
while. I
need to know that I can still rely on myself. To make sure I know that I can
do what needs to be done.
Despite this, I m still a good soldier, and I have a job to finish. Maybe some
good will come out of this.
Okay?
Mike disagreed, but he said,  It s okay.
Kerrigan grinned.  Even if I weren t a telepath, I d know you re lying. Mengsk
is right about that. You want to save everyone from themselves. I want you to
know that it s . . . appreciated.
 You watch out.
 I can take care of myself. Kerrigan managed a sure, wide-lipped smile.  I m
no one s martyr. Hell, some days I even believe that. Just tell Jim . . . She
paused and shook her head again.
 What? Mike asked, expecting her next words.
 Nothing, she said at last.  Tell him to just watch out, too, okay? For me.
And she was gone, heading down to the dropship bays. Mike watched her stride
down the hall, shedding unease and unsureness like a butterfly leaving its
chrysalis behind.
Mike just wished that his stomach didn t hurt so much, and he was sure that it
would be a long time before he saw her in the flesh again.
Mike took the lift up to the observation deck. Arcturus Mengsk was there, his
hands behind his back, watching the screen of Tarsonis fill up with red
triangles. They were nearly a blur on the screen itself, broken by the hot
yellow marks of Confederate troops.
Mike noticed that the chessboard had been thrown across the room, and the
pieces were scattered about. Kerrigan had definitely lost her temper.
Mengsk turned away from the map, his salt-and-pepper beard now looking more
white than black.  Ah, the third of my brilliant rebels, he said.  I was
wondering when you were going to turn up. Actually, I
expected you to be the first one to march in here with demands and insults,
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not the good lieutenant. You must have really gotten to her.
 I didn t do anything, said Mike,  but stand by her while you consigned
another planet to its death.
 One death is a tragedy, a million deaths is a statistic. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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