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

polish. He chuckled as he made his way along the short companionway-everything military
smelled of polish. Before him, a petty officer glared at her hovering display. Her desk plate
read, "Kristoba Maldive, Quartermaster."
!!!!"All right, Barbousse," Maldive growled without looking up. "What now?"
!!!!"Well," Brim said, "you might start by signing me in...."
!!!!Maldive wrinkled a large, thin nose and continued to stare into the display. "Sign you what?"
she demanded, fingers flying on a nearby control panel. Hues and patterns in the globe shifted
subtly (Brim politely avoided reading any of them). "What in Universe do you mean by th-?"
she continued, then stopped in midword when her narrow-set eyes strayed as far as Brim's
cloak-and the sublieutenant's insignia on the left shoulder. "Oh, Universe,' she grimaced
quietly. "Sorry, sir, I never expected anyone out so early." She stared down at the desk. "We
don't often get a chance to sleep so long. And the skimniers-"
!!!!"It's all right," Brim interrupted. "I walked."
!!!!Maldive looked up again. "Yes, sir," she said with an embarrassed smile. "I see you
certainly did." She inserted Brim's card in a reader, then peered at the display. More soft hues
and patterns filled the globe. "Everything seems in order, sir," she said. From her desk she
hefted an old-fashioned book-elegantly bound in polished red fabric with gold trim. Truculent's
emblem of a charging bull, Hilaago (deadly predator from the planet Ju'ggo-3 in the Blim
Commonwealth), was engraved in its front cover. "Sign here, sir," she grunted, opening the
heavy book on the desk top facing Brim. "We'll have you aboard in no time at all."
!!!!Brim bent to the book and signed full fingerprints of both hands. "Wel1," he asked with a
smile, "how was that?"
!!!!"I'd bet you're in, sir," the Quartermaster said, returning the smile. "Can you find your way
to the wardroom? It's on the same deck level. We'll need a few cycles to make up your cabin."
!!!!"I'll find it," Brim said with more confidence than he actually felt. He'd been at pains to learn
the starship's layout in the Academy library back on Avalon, but now everything looked
unfamiliar and confusing.
!!!!"We'll come for you there when your cabin's ready," Maldive promised. "And you can leave
that traveling case with me, too."
!!!!Brim nodded thanks and shook his head. What a difference the tiny device on his left
shoulder made! Having someone else look after his luggage was a far cry from life on the ore
carriers at home. Of course, there he would have been counted fortunate indeed to have any
baggage at all-aside from what he wore on his back or could carry in a pocket.
!!!!Along the companionway, he paused at a gleaming metal plate set with old-fashioned rivets.
"I.F.S. TRUCULENT," it read, "JOB 21358 ELEANDOR BESTIENNE YARD 228/51988."
The plaque might have been polished every metacycle on the metacycle from its looks-and by
persons who cared considerably for the ship. A fine portent, he decided; and gave it a few good
strokes of his own with a sleeve. He smiled. Something like that might even bring good luck.
!!!!Finding the wardroom proved easier than he expected-he was lost only twice. He opened the
door almost bashfully-officers' country had been strictly off limits as recently as six days ago.
With sincere relief, he discovered it was unoccupied, and stepped over the high sill. A large
picture of Emperor Greyffin IV, "Grand Galactic Emperor, Prince of the Reggio Star Cluster,
and Rightful Protector of the Heavens," adorned the forward bulkhead (identical poses stared
beatifically from every available wall in the Empire). Battered recliners lolled here and there
along a narrow deck dominated by a massive carved table with ten matching chairs. Eight
places were set at the table; two additional chairs faced only polished wood.
!!!!Beyond the table, a window opened through the aft bulkhead into a tiny, dark pantry. From
within this space, two incredibly rheumy eyes peered at him from atop a thin nose which ended
in a bushy white mustache. This time, it was Brim's turn for surprise. He jumped. "Er, good
morning," he said.