"Alan Dean Foster - Flinx 11 - Running from the Deity" - читать интересную книгу автора (Foster Alan Dean)

the passionate company he had kept there. тАЬIf youтАЩre trying to astonish me with revelation, you need to
choose a less recurrent subject.тАЭ

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 Running




Ignoring the cynicism, the Teacher continued. тАЬYou are not the only one who suffers from stress, Philip
Lynx.тАЭ

Frowning, he rolled over on the supportive lounge. тАЬDonтАЩt tell me that youтАЩre having mental problems.
ThatтАЩs supposed to be my area of expertise.тАЭ

тАЬMechanicals, however sophisticated, are fortunately immune to such intermittent cognitive plagues. My
current situation involves stress of a purely physical nature. That does not render it any less serious or in
need of attention. Quite the contrary.тАЭ

Mildly alarmed now, Flinx sat up straight and set his cold drink aside. тАЬYou know how I hate
understatement. Tell me straight: whatтАЩs wrong?тАЭ

тАЬWe have done a great deal of traveling together, Flinx. In all that time I have endeavored to protect and
care for you to the best of my abilities, according to the programming installed within myself by my
builders.тАЭ

тАЬAnd an admirable job youтАЩve done of it, too.тАЭ Flinx waited uncertainly for whatever was coming.

тАЬWe have crossed and recrossed vast sections of space. Because of a singular adaptation of KK-drive
technology exclusive to my drive system, I have been able to set down on worlds and moons that would
otherwise require visitation in the usual manner, via suborbital shuttle. On your behalf, I have run and I
have fought.

тАЬNow internal sensors have detected a disquieting deterioration in certain portions of my makeup. These
need to be repaired. I am afraid that continuing on our present course and search without attending to
these needs could result in structural failure, eventually of a catastrophic nature.тАЭ

Flinx knew whereof the ship spoke. KK-drive starships did not fall slowly to pieces, did not wear away
like ancient ships of the sea. Bits and parts did not flake off the exterior, exposing gaps and cracks, and
still remain functional. Boats traveling on liquid oceans could sustain themselves with such damage and
continue to function. So could vehicles traveling on land. But a starship had to be maintained whole and
intact, or disintegrate entirely. Tortured metaphors notwithstanding, there was no middle ground in
space, to which the doomed crew of the famously lost Curryon could no doubt attest.

He took a deep breath. тАЬWhat do you recommend?тАЭ

тАЬWe can reverse course and return to the Commonwealth, where repair facilities are widely available
and where I judge it should be possible to effect them without arousing overmuch unwanted attention.тАЭ