"Anderson, Poul - 1964 Nicholas Van Rijn 02 - Trader to the Stars 1.1" - читать интересную книгу автора (Anderson Poul)

might be a more hopeful scheme?"
"Well. . ." Torrance pondered a while, blackly.
The steward came in with a fresh tankard. Van Rijn
snatched it.
"I think you're right, sir," said Torrance. "I'll go
and-"
"Virginal!" bellowed Van Rijn.
Torrance jumped. "What?"
"Virginal! That's the word I was looking for. The first
beer of the day, you idiot!"

The cabin door chimed. Torrance groaned. He'd been
hoping for some sleep, at least, after more hours on deck
than he cared to number. But when the ship prowled
through darkness, seeking another ship which might or
might not he out there, and the hunters drew closer. . .
"Come in."
Jeri Kofoed entered. Torrance gaped, sprang to his feet,
and bowed. "Freelady! What-what-what a surprise! Is
there anything I can do?"
"Please." She laid a hand on his. Her gown was of
shimmerite and shameless in cut, because Van Rijn had-
n't provided any .other sort, but the look she gave Tor-
rance had nothing to do with that. "I had to come, Lodge-
master. If you've any pity at all, you'll listen to me."
He waved her to a chair, offered cigarettes, and struck
one for himself. The smoke, drawn deep into his lungs,
calmed him a little. He sat down on the opposite side of
the table. "If I can be of help to you, Freelady Kofoed,
you know I'm happy to oblige. Vh . . . Freeman Van
Rijn . . ."
"He's asleep. Not that he has any claims on me. I haven't
signed a contract or any such thing." Her irritation gave
way to a wry smile. "Oh, admitted, we're all his inferiors,
in fact as well as in status. I'm not contravening his wishes,
not really. It's just that he won't answer my questions,
and if I don't find out what's going on I'll have to
start screaming."
Torrance weighed a number of factors. A private expla-
nation, in more detail than the crew had required, might
indeed be best for her. "As you wish, Freelady," he said,
and related what had happened to the converter. "We can't
fix it ourselves," he concluded. "If we continued traveling
at high quasi-speed, we'd bum it out before we arrived;
and then, without power, we'd soon die. If we proceed
slowly enough to preserve it, we'd need half a year to
reach Valhalla, which is more time than we have supplies
for. Though the Adderkops would doubtless track us down
within a week or two."
She shivered. "Why? I don't understand." She stared