"HARRISON, Harry - 04 - The Stainless Steel Rat Wants You(V1.0)" - читать интересную книгу автора (Harrison Harry)

"You've already told us the whole deal, Dad," James said. "And could you make that a strawberry shortcake?"

"I know you all know all about what has happened and where we are going, but just what we will do when we get there is yet to be determined."

"I'm sure you will tell us in due time, dear. And isn't it a little early in the day for champagne?"

I punched busily at the catering controls and fought to organize my thoughts. All chiefs and no indians in this outfit. I must be firm.

"Now hear this. Order of the day. We blast off in exactly fifteen minutes. We will proceed with all due dispatch to the position in space determined by the spacewarp leech. We will emerge from spacewarp for exactly one point five seconds which will be enough time to make instrument readings of the surrounding volume of space. We will then automatically return to our last position and analyze our findings. We will then act upon them. Understood?"

"You're so masterful," Angelina murmured, then sipped at her champagne. There was no way of telling from her tone of voice just what she had meant by this remark. I ignored it.

"Then forward. Bolivar, I see by your school record that you had good marks in navigation . . ."

"I had to. We were chained to the desks without food until we passed the test."

"Details, details--that is all behind you now. Set up a course to our target area and let me review it before you actuate. James, you will program the computer to take the readings we will need upon arrival and get us out of there in the second and a half we will have."

"And what shall I do, my love?"

"Open the other bottle, my sweet, and we will look on with pride while our offspring work."

And work they did, with no complaints, and each did a fine job. There were no games now. This was reality and survival and they threw themselves into it with gusto. I checked and rechecked the results but could find no faults.

"A gold star for both of you. Take a double portion of cake each."

"It rots the teeth, Dad. We would like some champagne instead."

"Of course. In time for a toast. Here's to success."

We clinked glasses and sipped and I leaned across and pressed the flight button. We were off. Like all voyages there was absolutely nothing to do once the computer had been programmed. The twins prowled the ship with tech manuals until they had learned every detail of her operation. Angelina and I found far more interesting things to do and the days tiptoed by on little golden feet. Until the alarm pinged and we were ready for the last spacewarp. Once again we assembled in the control room.

"Dad, did you know we have two patrol boats aboard?" Bolivar asked.

"I did, and fine little craft they are. Get ready for the quick look as planned. After we suit up in combat armor."

"Why?" James asked.

"Because you have been ordered to do so," Angelina said and there was a steel edge to her voice. "Plus a moment's rational thought would have given you the answer without asking."

Thus reinforced, I felt my authority was firm and said no more while we all suited up. The combat suits, armored and armed spacesuits, would keep us alive if anything nasty was waiting at the other end.

Nothing was. We arrived, all of the instruments buzzed and clicked--and we were back to our starting point a hundred fight years' distant. I made everyone stay armored up in case we had been followed, but we had not been. After a half an hour we climbed out of the suits and ran the results of our investigations.

"Nothing really close," Angelina said, scanning the printout. "But there is a star system just two light years' distant."

"Then that's our next target," I said. "The plan is this. We are going to stay right here a nice distance from whatever is out there. But we'll send in a spyeye to chart the system, look for inhabited planets, scout them as well, and send back continuous reports to a satellite receiver in orbit nearby. Ile satellite will be programmed to return here the instant anything happens to the spyeye. All right?"

"Can I program the spyeye?" Bolivar asked, speaking an instant ahead of his brother. Volunteers! My heart warmed and I gave them their assignments. With. minutes the machines were launched and, once they in were on their way, we sat down to dinner. We were just about finished with the meal when the satellite announced its return .