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

I stiffened, the words stung. тАЬYour friend, Airy, is wrong. When I served on the JFKтАФ тАЭ
тАЬBefore I was born, right?тАЭ
тАЬYes~ My associate and I thought we had found some fossils of a smart animal. Maybe
smarter than a chimp. But the Theologians proved me wrong.тАЭ I stooped to look him directly in
the eye. тАШThere is only one God and one intelligent species, just like they teach you in biology
class. ItтАЩs very important you remember that. Be sure to tell Airy I said so.тАЭ This conversation
would require more attention, between planets. Now I had to get planetside, and soon. I toggled
the flight hangar and asked for a landing pod.
тАЬSorry, maтАЩ am,тАЭ Flight Chief Nolan answered. тАШThe physical science department already
has all my one-passenger pods out. Most everyone else is finished by now. Are all your people
loners today?тАЭ
тАЬNo, itтАЩs just a big watery planet with widely spaced outcrops of dry land.тАЭ
тАЬYouтАЩve got to settle for a four-pod. IтАЩve one left.тАЭ I waited, hoping for another answer;
NolanтАЩs chuckling filled the silence. тАЬDr. Sehkar, theyтАЩre not that much bigger, but if you want,
IтАЩll round up a pilot for you.тАЭ
тАЬNo, thanks, Chief. You do realize what happens whenever I have extra room?тАЭ
A hearty laugh answered me. тАЬYes, maтАЩam. Just try to contain yourself this time and leave
some rocks for the next survey team.тАЭ He paused briefly. тАЬHmm. YouтАЩd better hurry, Doctor. XO
just made a request for a four-pod for some last minute underwater bug hunting. The next
smallest is a ten-podтАФтАЭ
I interrupted him. тАЬIтАЩm on my way. I want that four-pod. DonтАЩt you dare give it to
Exobiology!тАЭ I was up, grabbing my field pack and rushing out of my office, with Angshu in
tow, before the echo of the hangar chiefтАЩs voice faded.
We were immediately assaulted by the noise of the crowded corridors. The buzz of tense
conversationтАФ even some argumentsтАФand hurried footfalls bounced off the brightly painted
walls of the T.C. Chamberlin. The sounds hugged me like a scratchy wool sweater. The only time
more people moved about was the day before the ship set orbit. Then there was an air of an-
ticipation and excitement. Now people simply rushed from labs and offices, comparing survey
results and hastily finishing their preliminary planetary reports. I dodged a distracted crewman
and in the process bumped into old man Greg Greely from Astrophysics.
тАЬSorry,тАЭ I mumbled.
тАЬItтАЩs always a pleasure seeing you and your handsome son. Hi, Angshu.тАЭ
тАЬHi, Dr. Greg. See my rock!тАЭ
тАЬAnd a nice meteoroid it is.тАЭ
тАЬCan I look through your telescope again, Dr. Greg?тАЭ
тАЬOf course, anytime. Praise be, Angshu, youтАЩve grown since I last saw you. Can it only
have been a week?тАЭ He patted the boyтАЩs head, then looked at me. тАЬDr. Sehkar, perhaps we three
can have dinner again soon?тАЭ
тАЬAfter we leave orbit,тАЭ I answered. тАЬIтАЩll make dinner and then you men can go look
through your telescope. LetтАЩs plan later. Now IтАЩm going planetside one more time.тАЭ
тАЬOh? ThatтАЩ 11 get Ops excited,тАЭ he stated dryly. тАЬWhy so late?тАЭ
тАЬLater,тАЭ I dismissed his many unspoken questions. His hand on my arm stopped me.
тАЬWill this upset the Theology Council?тАЭ His words were soft and meant only for my ears.
I hesitated, remembering MattтАЩs voice. тАЬI donтАЩt think so. Just an outcrop my tech canтАЩt
explain away.тАЭ
тАЬGood.тАЭ
I grabbed my sonтАЩs hand again as Greely moved away. Angshu and I hurried through the
crowded hall. It took barely a minute to get him settled in school; half-destroying my office still
had him intimidatedтАФa small blessingтАФthen I made for the hangar access tube.
тАЬDr. Sehkar!тАЭ