"Anthology - Hotel Andromeda (Short Stories)" - читать интересную книгу автора (ANTHOLOGIES)

swirls, and amber-colored eyes. wearing a blue uniform with
the logo of the Hotel Andromeda set in golden glowstitch
against the right shoulder.

Proudly, Lekvich Tor shot his glowstitched cuffs. He
looked fine, even if he did say so himself. It was his first
night on full duty at the Hotel Andromeda concierge desk and
he couldn't quite believe that he was actually working for
such a wonderful place. He, Lekvich Tor, fifth son of Velia
Tor, bom and raised on the fringes of the galaxy on the col-
ony world of Vladimir's Folly, beginning his career at the

2 Karen Haber

biggest orbital hotel complex in the sector. Not just a hotel, he
reminded himself, but a space terminal and stopping point for
every liner passing through the area! He took one last approv-
ing look at himself, then turned and hurried to his new post
in the main lobby of the hotel-

The grand lobby of the Hotel Andromeda was a huge cir-
cular affair, well lit and alive with people, noise, and move-
ment. Its circumference was lined by curving service desks
above which hung holosigns indicating their different func-
tions: reception, cashier, messages, concierge. Robot dollies
hovered inches above the deep blue carpeting, ferrying bag-
gage to and from the hotel's main portals. Public announce-
ments in every known language in the galaxy resounded from
multiple speakers.

The din would have overwhelmed a smaller space but
somehow the great arcing gold-flecked dome of the lobby
managed to contain and reduce the noise until it was a con-
stant buzz, unobtrusive but electrifying.

Enormous viewing bays were set into the north and south
poles of me lobby, providing tantalizing glimpses of distant
stars, nebulas, and passing asteroids. The constant flow of
space traffic could be seen as well: liners docking, modules
uncoupling and chugging toward the hotel terminal while oth-
ers returned to their mother ships. There was an endless
changing show taking place just outside those windows and
many guests had assembled in the viewing lounges to take a
better, more leisurely look.

Lekvich Tor forced his eyes away from outer space and
gazed around the lobby in ever greater excitement The vast
hanging chandeliers with their yellow glow globes moving up
and down! The people hurrying to and fro in every manner of
dress imaginable! The sense of urgency, of important business