"Zach Hughes - Mother Lode" - читать интересную книгу автора (Hughes Zach)

On the Mother Lode one cabin had been converted into a control room for
mining equipment attached to the ship's squarish hull. The remaining
cabin was equipped with a terminal to give access to the ship's library.

She returned to the bridge, turned on the computer terminal, punched
information up idly, saw that the Lode was stocked with a rather
magnificent library of books and visuals.

"My boy," she told Mop, who had jumped up onto the bed, "I think Mr.
John was planning to be in space for a long time. Now the question is,
why?"

Mop cocked his head as if to echo her question.

"Why would he name the ship the Mother Lode? That's a mining term.
My father? Going mining?" She shook her head, turned off the terminal,
continued her search. In the engine room the huge blink generator was a
solid bulk. Even in repose it emanated a force that lifted the short hairs on
her neck. The gym contained the usual exercise equipment. The galley was
stocked with enough concentrates to feed a dozen men for a year. She
went back to the control bridge and reactivated the computer. She was
checking files when Denton Gale returned.
 "Ah, so you decided to get acquainted, after all," he said.

She shrugged. "Denton, why did my dad buy this ship?"

"He didn't say and I didn't ask."

"Come on. You worked with him. He must have given you some hint."

"Only her name."

She nodded. "That has occurred to me, but I can't really see John
Kenner going off into deep space to prospect for gold."

He laughed. "He was a nice fellow."

"Yep," she said, and suddenly she missed him like crazy. She turned
back to the computer. "Not many files."

"Nope. The star charts and navigation tables are in the root directory.
Internal operations and monitors, ditto. Library is in a separate sub-file."

"I saw that. There's nothing personal listed in the directories. Nothing
that my dad put in himself."

"No."

"You've looked?"