"Baldwin, Bill - The Helmsman 01 - The Helmsman" - читать интересную книгу автора (Baldwin Bill)

!!!!Like all other surfaces of Truculent's hull, her stern was also a triangular slab of hullmetal.
From his studies at the Academy, Brim knew this one measured 97 irals along the edge with its
inverted apex only 21 irals below. Pierced by four circular 3.5-iral openings, the surface was
otherwise featureless. Each of the openings (outlets for the ship's Drive crystals) was presently
sealed from Gimmas Haefdon's elements by a system of circular shutters.
!!!!Both ventral decks were also virtually featureless, except 144-mmi disruptor turrets mounted
fore and aft along each centerline. Those on the port surface were designated "B" (forward) and
"Z" (aft); those starboard, "C" and "Y". On each side of her bridge wings, "T.83" appeared in
square Avalonian glyphs.
!!!!Wistfully, Brim pondered her size. Even with her powerful sort of beauty, she still lacked the
sense of hauteur he associated with big capital ships like the ones based just over the horizon.
"Pick and shovel" were words that came readily to mind. Smiling wryly, he allowed as to how
he was fortunate indeed just to have a berth on her at all. Not many Carescrians ever made it
out of the mines.
!!!!As he stared through the hissing snow, a hatch opened in the deckhouse just opposite an
arched gangway to the waterside jetty. Presently, a huge starman lumbered through, watched
his breath congeal to steam, and pulled a too-short Fleet Cloak closer to his neck. Reaching
inside the hatch, he removed a broom.
!!!!"Shut the xaxtdamned hatch, Barbousse!" a voice echoed through the cold air.
!!!!"Aye, aye, ma'am!" The clang of hullmetal rang out as the hatch slammed closed. Shrugging,
the oversized seaman triggered his broom and began clearing snow-precisely in time for Brim
and his traveling case to meet him at the end of the gangway. The man piled considerable snow
over Brim's booted feet before he recognized something was amiss. He looked up with a
startled expression.
!!!!Brim smiled. On this first contact with his first ship, he was determined nothing would-or
could-go wrong. "Morning, Barbousse," he said with all the equanimity he could muster.
!!!!In sudden confusion, Barbousse dropped the whining broom as his hand jerked to
spasmodically salute. The device promptly spat clouds of snow over Brim's face and cape, then
rolled backward toward the tumbling water of the basin, burbling evil satisfaction. By reflex,
each bent at the same time to check its travel-and nearly knocked the other from his feet. At the
last possible millitick, Brim grabbed the throbbing machine from the edge of sure destruction
and switched it off, letting it spit snow and particles of rock into the water. He handed it
carefully to the seaman while be brushed debris from the front of his cloak and desperately bit
his lip to contain his amusement.
!!!!"Oh. . . ah, sorry, sir," Barbousse stumbled mournfully.
!!!!Brim forced himself under control. 'Think nothing of it, Barbousse," he said with his last
shred of dignity. He spat gritty stone crumbs into the water, then stepped left toward the
gangway. At that very moment, Barbousse attempted to remove himself from the path by
stepping right. In midstep, Brim deftly switched to his right-as Barbousse dived left. Once
more, Brim jogged right, blocked again by the wretched Barbousse, who now wore a frantic
look in his eyes.
!!!!"FREEZE, Mister!" Brim commanded, stopping himself short in the trampled snow. "And
don't drop the broom!" Barbousse froze in apparent rigor mortis, began to topple toward the
water, caught himself again, and came to an uneasy rest. Calmly as possible, Brim walked past
and onto the gangway, only to stop once more in his tracks. Carefully, he turned to check on
Barbousse-he was still standing before the gangway, broom in hand at parade rest. "Carry on,"
he ordered smartly, then hurried up the steep incline toward the ship.
!!!!Stepping over a high sill, he drew the hatch closed and breathed deeply of starship odors: the
too-fresh redolence of ozone and rank stench of electronics mixed with odors of hot metal and
scorched sealants. Food. Bodies. And on every starship in the Fleet, an unmistakable scent of