"Lee Edgar - The Andromeda Trial" - читать интересную книгу автора (Edgar Lee)

тАШBy the time any of you lot qualify,тАЩ she said slowly and evenly: тАШThe whole
procedure will be automatic. Once they attain geosynchronous orbit, shuttles will be
guided in by tractor beam and on-board computers will control the retros to bring the
speed down from thirty thousand to eleven thousand kilometres per hour.тАЩ
A buzz broke out until someone had the courage to ask: тАШThen why are we here?тАЩ
тАШYou are here because the Europa Corporation has the foresight to realise that space
exploration does not stop at the moon. It was rather hoped that some of you might
qualify before Wayfarer Three is finished and become part of her crew. At this rate, I
shall be taking her to Antares on my own.тАЩ
There was a silence for a while until Janine spoke. тАШYou flew in Wayfarer One, didnтАЩt
you, Miss?тАЩ
Cassi relaxed and smiled at the girl who was short and skinny and, in her jeans and
tee-shirt, looked no more than fourteen years old. тАШYes, I did. As a matter of fact, I
was born on board Wayfarer Two on the way back from Andromeda.тАЩ
The two of them were still looking at each other when the buzzer went; ending their
session. Cassi smiled again. This girl, the youngest of the group, was by far the
brightest. However, she did have a hang-up about working with others. In a group, she
retired deep into the darkest recess of her shell.
 Without turning her head, Cassi called out; тАШNeil!тАЩ
The untidy youth ambled over. тАШYou rang?тАЩ
тАШSix-thirty tomorrow morning - in the gym.тАЩ
He grinned. тАШNeed a good seeing to?тАЩ
She straightened to her full five-foot-six and looked him almost straight in the eye.
тАШYouтАЩd have to catch me first.тАЩ
тАШWhat about my mates?тАЩ
Cassi smiled. тАШThe more the merrier.тАЩ
Janine slowly got to her feet as Neil departed. тАШYou donтАЩt mean it, do you, Miss?тАЩ
тАШMean what?тАЩ
тАШAbout meeting him in the gym.тАЩ
тАШWhy donтАЩt you come, too?тАЩ
The young girl looked horrified. тАШBut they have been talking about you all month
since the course began. Neil said heтАЩd love to...тАЩ
тАШGive me a good seeing to?тАЩ
She nodded. тАШSomething like that.тАЩ
тАШAnd you think heтАЩd really try and do it? Some lads are all mouth, you know.тАЩ
Janine shook her head furiously. тАШNo, he means it. I...тАЩ
Cassi frowned. тАШIs there something I ought to know? Has he...?тАЩ
тАШOh, no, Miss. He..тАЩ
тАШHe tried though, didnтАЩt he?тАЩ
The younger girl looked down at the floor. тАШI feel so ashamed.тАЩ
Cassi lifted JanineтАЩs chin with the tip of her long index finger. тАШBeing a virgin is
not a disease. ItтАЩs highly sensible in this day and age.тАШ
The younger girl swallowed. тАШHow did you know?тАЩ
Cassi smiled. тАШI asked Dr Carrero. You are the only member of the group who hasnтАЩt
asked to be HIV tested. That suggests that you are capable of behaving yourself and
have nothing to fear from STDs.тАЩ
The young girl beamed. тАШYou approve?тАЩ
Cassi nodded. тАШI approve. See you bright and early in the morning.тАЩ

CASSI changed out of her flight-suit in the changing room and locked the classroom