"Marina Fitch - Sarah at the Tide Pool" - читать интересную книгу автора (Fitch Marina)

тАЬStrangers in my lab always make me nervous.тАЭ

The man stood. He stroked the base of the STM settled on the counter next
to the aquarium. тАЬDr. Huron, IтАЩm hardly a stranger тАФ well, not to the company.тАЭ
Heextendeda hand. тАЬJason Whitcomb. IтАЩm also with MediChem.тАЭ

She shook his hand, then pulled her own away.

тАЬYouтАЩre developing an artificial skin,тАЭ he said.

She leaned against the far counter, pressing against it as if she could embed
herself into the pine cabinets. тАЬAn organic skin, to replace damaged skin,тАЭ she said.

тАЬAnd a temporary one people can apply instead of sunscreen,тАЭ Jason
Whitcomb said. He pursed his lips. тАЬYou know, IтАЩve found that a lot of researchers
have a personal motive behind their work. What about you? What would this skin
allow you to do that, say, a sunscreen wouldnтАЩt? Swim?тАЭ

Sarah studied him; she didnтАЩt trust him, not with knowledge as personal as her
motherтАЩs cancer. тАЬSwim, yes. And I, uh, I miss visiting the tide pools at ThievesтАЩ
Point.тАЭ

тАЬThievesтАЩ Point.?тАЭ

тАЬI used to go there a lot as a child. I still go there once in awhile when I need
to think or when IтАЩm stressed.тАЭ

He nodded, eyebrows raised. тАЬI understand your research is coming along
very well.тАЭ

Sarah reached behind to steady herself. Her fingers tightened on the lip of the
steel sink. тАЬMy project is classified.тАЭ

тАЬI have top security clearance.тАЭ

тАЬYou havenтАЩt proved that, your clearance.тАЭ

He smiled; a broad grin further flattened his nose and narrowed his gray eyes.
тАЬNo, I guess I havenтАЩt,тАЭ he said. He unclipped his badge and handed it to her. She
scrutinized it, then handed it back.

тАЬWhy so many nudibranchs?тАЭ he said.
 тАЬI like them. Each species is different. Each has its own defense.тАЭ

тАЬYou like that.тАЭ

тАЬEverything should have a defense,тАЭ Sarah said softly.

STILL AND quiet, Sarah watches the tide pool. Her knees are a little unsteady; she
places a hand carefully on the rock, avoiding the sharp edges of the mussels and