"Benford G - Furious Gulf" - читать интересную книгу автора (Benford Gregory)

Toby knew his father's pinched-face, hedgehog mood, and decided to
cut through it directly.--There's near a dozen more crew on sick report.--
Killeen's lips thinned but he said nothing. Toby hesitated, then summoned
up his courage.--Dad, we're starving! Those gardens we lost,
they're not gonna grow again. Face it!--

2
Gregory Benford


Abruptly Killeen whirled, adroitly sliding his magnetic boots in zero
gravity.--I am facing it! We just don't know any more techtricks. Even the
specialists, the green-thumbers, they can't get those ship gardens sprouting
again. No help there. So I'm thinking, got that?-

Toby stepped back involuntarily; Killeen's flinty anger was quick and
daunting. He took a breath and said hesitantly, --Shouldn't... can't we
╖.. do something different?--

Killeen scowled.--Like what?--

--Approach some of those?--Toby pointed tentatively.

Far ahead of Argo floated faint metallic dabs of light. Not clouds or
luminous dust. Artificial.

--We don't know what they are. Could be mechwork. Probably is.

Mechs have built plenty near True Center.--Killeen shrugged.
--Maybe they're human, Dad.--

--Doubtful. It's been a fearsome long time since humans lived in
space.--

--That's just what history says. We won't know till we look for
ourselves. We're raiders by heritage, Dad! The Family's itching to get out
of the ship, stretch their legs.--

Killeen gazed thoughtfully toward the blaze of Galactic Center.--One
thing you learn as Cap'n is not to stick your nose into a beehive just to
smell the honey. Those things'Il probably be hostile, even if they aren't
mech. Ever'thing else here seems to be.-

Toby let the remark ride. It had been over a year, but still Killeen had
not recovered from the death of his woman, Shibo. He kept up his duties as
Cap'n but was often withdrawn, pensive, moody. That might have been
acceptable for a crewman, but not for a Cap'n. The price in morale was
getting too high.

Still, Toby thought, Killeen was probably right. They were cruising