"Lee Edgar - Return to Andromeda" - читать интересную книгу автора (Edgar Lee)

swift.тАЩ
тАШThere is no hope, Gwynatha?тАЩ
тАШNone, Your Majesty. The only hope of continuing our race is now completely in the hands of the
Earthman.тАЩ
тАШWere we right to trust him with our life seeds?тАЩ asked the dark-haired woman.
тАШI believe so, Jannil,тАЩ said Queen Lyniera. тАШHe will do everything he can to see that all will not be in vain.тАЩ
тАШBut so much, and entrusted to just one man.тАЩ
тАШWe had little choice under the circumstances. It was fortunate he happened to arrive when he did and
offered to help us as did the other Terrans who came before him.тАЩ
тАШPerhaps Earthman Duncan will die before he is able to establish our race on his home planet.тАЩ
тАШThat is indeed possible. However, I feel he will do all he can. He is carrying our future and knows it.тАЩ
тАШThe technology we gave him, will he use it wisely?тАЩ
тАШHe must, if he is to survive.тАЩ She turned to a grey-haired man. тАШDid you send our final signal of greeting?тАЩ
тАШI did, Your Majesty. If Earthman Duncan has survived the return journey to Terra, I calculate that he will
have received it this morning.тАЩ
The Queen bowed her head in sadness. тАШThen we can do no more.тАЩ
тАШWe must simply wait for the end?тАЩ
тАШI fear so, my friends. Go to your homes now and spend your last few days with your families. Nothing can
save us now.тАЩ




RETURN TO ANDROMEDA
Alan Thompson, Director of the Europa Space Corporation, smiled as he watched the two young women
saying goodbye to their father. One of the daughters he had known for almost a year. The other, younger girl,
he had only just met for the first time. Both had long, golden hair and each wore pale blue overalls with
crimson collars which identified currently-serving mission personnel.
тАШTake care, both of you,тАЩ their father was saying. He was a tall man who looked in his mid fifties and with
fair hair turning to grey at the temples. тАШI fear your voyage could hold real danger.тАЩ
тАШWe have our husbands to protect us,тАЩ said Lyn, glancing at the similarly-dressed menfolk. тАШThey will let no
harm befall us.тАЩ
He smiled warmly. тАШI hope so, my dears.тАЩ
The Director coughed. тАШTime is running out, Jim.тАЩ
тАШYou are right, Alan. The General will waste no time in getting his revenge for what my girls have done to foil
his plans for war.тАЩ
The Director shook hands with the older sister. тАШI shall miss your happy, smiling face around here, Cassi.тАЩ
The twenty-year-old woman smiled back with a twinkle in her eye. тАШAnd I you.тАЩ She looked around at the
transparent walls of the giant Russian-built space station. тАШI shall miss Orion as well. Look after her for me.тАЩ
тАШI will.тАЩ He took the hand of the younger girl. тАШGoodbye, Lyn. One day, you and I will get to know each other
better.тАЩ
тАШIf my husband lets me come back,тАЩ she said, looking up at him with a smile.
тАШHe will. Steve has very strict instructions on the matter.тАЩ
With a final wave, the two girls stepped into the airlock, difficult to tell apart in the poor light despite the
one-year difference in their ages. The great airlock door slowly closed and the green light above it turned red
after a moment.
тАШWill they make it in time, Jim?тАЩ asked the Director as they watched the umbilical tube detach from
Wayfarer One. It hung motionless before slowly contracting towards the space station.
Admiral Duncan shook his head. тАШI doubt it. It took me thirty-eight years to get back from the Andromeda
Spiral in Wayfarer Two. They will be very lucky to complete the journey in time to be of any real help.тАЩ