"Martin H. Greenberg & Larry Segriff - Far Frontiers [ss]" - читать интересную книгу автора (Greenberg Martin H)

ItтАЩs also why, for the past twenty years or so, IтАЩve been so disappointed in our space program.
But space isnтАЩt the only frontier left open to us. It may not even truly be the final frontier.
Some of my favorites include cities on the ocean floor, virtual reality, and perhaps the greatest
frontier of all: death itself.
Come with us now as we invite some of todayтАЩs top writers to take us on a personal tour
of their own favorite frontiers.




TRACES
 by Kathleen M. Massie-Ferch




Kathleen M. Massie-Ferch was born and raised in Wisconsin. SheтАЩs there still, with a
wonderful husband, two Scottie dogs, several telescopes, numerous rocks, and more books than
she cares to count. She worked her way through college, earning degrees in astronomy, physics,
and geology-geophysics. For the past twenty years she has worked for the University of
Wisconsin as a research geologist. Massie-Ferch has made short fiction sales to a variety of
places, such as Marian Zimmer BradleyтАЩs Fantasy Magazine, Sword and Sorceress, Warrior
Princesses, and New Altars. She has coedited two historical fantasy anthologies for DAW Books;
An-dent Enchantresses and Warrior Enchantresses.


тАЬWhich one?тАЭ I asked, but it was obvious which TV sample he wantedтАФmy office wasnтАЩt
that big.
His dark eyes were wide with excitement.
"That pretty blue rock.тАЭ Angshu pointed to the Seven-inch-long assemblage of crystals.
The five-year-oldтАЩs dark and wild curls reinforced the determined set of his jaw.
тАЬOf course.тАЭ My arms strained under his weight, I had to set him down. тАЬYouтАЩre heavy,
even in three-quarters G.тАЭ I picked up the aggregate of beautiful blue crystals and pointed out
several prominent marks. тАЬSee the lines that cross each side? Kyamte crystals break easily along
these cleavage planes. I think your class will find this other rock much more interesting.тАЭ I set the
kyanite back on its padded resting place, despite AngshuтАЩs outstretched hand, and reached toward
the dark brown rock from lower on the shelves. The intercomтАЩs chime resounded through my
office.
My private code. Blast. Three swift steps brought me to my desk. Toggling the answer
button silenced the incessant chime. тАЬGeology section,тАЭ I said.
тАЬDr. Sehkar?тАЭ
тАЬMatt! Are you back already?тАЭ I glanced back around at Angshu, who watched the
kyanite crystal as if itтАЩd leap into his eager grasp.
тАЬNo, maтАЩani. WeтАЩre still on the surface.тАЭ MattтАЩs labored breathing echoed off his EVA
helmet and into the open comm link. His voice suddenly sounded older than his twenty-two
years. тАЬIтАЩm still checking out this outcrop for you, but itтАЩsтАФwell, the lava tubes arenтАЩt all that
remarkable after all. The lava flows are in fact older than the cyanobacteria colonies offshore, as
you suspected. But the beach is interesting. I think you should see it.тАЭ
I suppressed a groan. Angshu tried to grab for the kyaniteтАФwell beyond his reach. I
snapped my fingers. He stopped, although he refused to look at me. тАЬMatt, IтАЩve got that prelim