"Michael Flynn - Wreck of The Rivers of Stars" - читать интересную книгу автора (Flynn Michael)

But that was only because Bhatterji nearly always said what was on his mind, while Gorgas let it remain
there until it was ready to be said. Consequently, each judged the other irresolute, though for opposite
reasons. In this judgment, both were nearly correct, but only nearly.

тАЬYou need to concentrate on Number Three,тАЭ Gorgas told the engineer. тАЬThat requires the least work.тАЭ

That sentence was only the final one in a long string of intricately interwoven sentences. Unfortunately,
as it was the only one spoken aloud, it was the only one that Bhatterji heard. GorgasтАЩs thoughts were like
icebergs, only the tips of them showed, which was why many in the crew thought him cold.

тАЬIтАЩm sorry,тАЭ Bhatterji responded, тАЬat which university did you study fusion engineering? IтАЩve forgotten.тАЭ

Bhatterji being elliptical, Gorgas often thought, was like the Russian army in 1914 performing a
maneuver. It was never well executed, but it astonished one to see it tried at all. тАЬYou have only five
days,тАЭ Gorgas pointed out, revealing another facet of his iceberg thinking.

The engineer was no innumerate and could now guess at the hidden dimensions. He understood where
the limit came from because he had performed the same calculations himself. If three engines were
available, the ship must begin deceleration in five days or she would be going too fast to enter Jupiter
orbit. If all four engines were on lineтАжтАЬItтАЩs nineteen days to the balk line,тАЭ he said. With only two
engines, it was already far too late.

Gorgas pursed his lips a moment and, closing his eyes, reviewed the various options and possibilities he
had considered. The path ahead was a winding one, with many branches, through a dark forest, and most
of those paths did not lead to where he wished to take the ship. тАЬThere are not enough spares to repair
both engines. There is a lithium-grade valve that you can use in place of the damaged Ayesaki, butтАжтАЭ

тАЬThe repairs are straightforward,тАЭ Bhatterji insisted. тАЬIf the ship has the parts in stock, thatтАЩs fine. If not,

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IтАЩll fab them from raws.тАЭ He spread his hands, as if to say тАЬend of story.тАЭ

тАЬBut there are no spare grids,тАЭ Gorgas began.

Bhatterji rolled mental eyes. тАЬI can draw wire down from hobartium rod and spot weld the geodesics.тАЭ

тАЬAnd the command logics?тАЭ

тАЬOh,тАЭ said the engineer, deliberately boastful, тАЬIтАЩll cannibalize some of the damaged components and
frankenstein four of the five I need.тАЭ

Gorgas raised an eyebrow. тАЬYou have an action plan?тАЭ

The engineer cocked his head. тАЬYes. I plan to act.тАЭ

тАЬA little prior analysis might be useful,тАЭ Gorgas suggested. He wouldnтАЩt mind BhatterjiтАЩs impulsiveness
quite so much if there were some evidence of thought behind it. But isthoughtful impulsiveness an
oxymoron or a Zen-like insight? A smile passed briefly over his lips.