"Edward L. Ferman - Best From F&SF, 23rd Edition" - читать интересную книгу автора (Ferman Edward L)

"Look at it this way, Matt. No matter how we stretch our supplies, they won't take us through the
next four years. We either find a way of getting what we need from what's around us, or we all die. And
if we find a way to do it, then what does it matter how many of us there are? At the most, this will push
our deadline a few weeks or a month closer, the day we have to be self-supporting."
"I hadn't thought of it that way," Crawford admitted.
"But that's not important. The important thing is what you said from the first, and I'm surprised you
didn't see it. If we're a colony, we expand. By definition. Historian, what happened to colonies that failed
to expand?"
"Don't rub it in."
"They died out I know that much. People, we're not intrepid space explorers anymore. We're not the
career men and women we set out to be. Like it or not, and I suggest we start liking it, we're pioneers
trying to live in a hostile environment. The odds are very much against us, and we're not going to be here
forever, but like Matt said, we'd better plan as if we were. Comment?"
There was none, until Song spoke up thoughtfully.
"I think a baby around here would be fun. Two should be twice as much fun. I think I'll start. Come
on, Matty."
"Hold on, honey," Lang said dryly. "If you conceive now, I'll be forced to order you to abort. We
have the chemicals for it, you know."
"That's discrimination."
"Maybe so. But just because we're colonists doesn't mean we have to behave like rabbits. A
pregnant woman will have to be removed from the work force at the end of her term, and we can only
afford one at a time. After Lucy has hers, then come ask me again. But watch Lucy carefully, dear. Have
you really thought what it's going to take? Have you tried to visualize her getting into her pressure suit in
six or seven months?"
From their expressions, it was plain that neither Song nor McKillian had thought of it
"Right," Lang went on. "It'll be literal confinement for her, right here in the Poddy. Unless we can rig
something for her, which X seriously doubt. Still want to go through with it, Lucy?"
"Can I have a while to think it over?"
"Sure. You have about two months. After that, the chemicals aren't safe."
"I'd advise you to do it," Crawford said. "I know my opinion means nothing after shooting my mouth
off. I know I'm a fine one to talk; I won't be cooped up in here. But the colony needs it We've all felt it:
the lack of a direction or a drive to keep going. I think we'd get it back if you went through with this."
McKillian tapped her teeth thoughtfully with the tip of a finger.
"You're right," she said. "Your opinion doesn't mean anything." She slapped his knee delightedly
when she saw him blush. "I think it's yours, by the way. And I think m go ahead and have it"
The penthouse seemed to have gone to Lang and Crawford as an unasked-for prerogative. It just
became a habit, since they seemed to have developed a bond between them and none of the other three
complained. Neither of the other women seemed to be suffering in any way. So Lang left it at that. What
went on between the three of them was of no concern to her as long as it stayed happy.
Lang was leaning back in Crawford's arms, trying to decide if she wanted to make love again, when
a gunshot rang out in the Podkayne.
She had given a lot of thought to the last emergency, which she still saw as partly a result of her lag in
responding. This time she was through the door almost before the reverberations had died down, leaving
Crawford to nurse the leg she had stepped on in her haste.
She was in time to see McKillian and Ralston hurrying into the lab at the back of the ship. There was
a red light flashing, but she quickly saw it was not the worst it could be; the pressure light still glowed
green. It was the smoke detector. The smoke was coming from the lab.
She took a deep breath and plunged in, only to collide with Ralston as he came out, dragging Song.
Except for a dazed expression and a few cuts, Song seemed to be all right. Crawford and McKillian
joined them as they lay her on the bunk.