"Kay Kenyon - Maximum Ice" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kenyon Kay)

emergency hatch." The surveil-lance systems showed nothing, but Janos was taking no chances.

The forward hatch opened just long enough for five crew to dart out, then clanged shut, leaving behind a
patch of cold air. The second unit rushed aft. Amid the flurry of deploy-ment, Zoya retreated to the
galley, where she opened the comm node to hear what was transpiring in the cockpit. The view screen
showed crew moving up on the tentтАФno sign of the man in rags.

Then, as the sun crested the hills, Zoya could just make out a figure approaching, but still some one
hundred meters away. Someone was gliding over the ground toward the shipтАФmov-ing fast enough that
he might be flying or skating. Meanwhile, the crew were spreading out, surrounding the tent.

On comm, she heard Margit say, "Someone approaching from the west, sir."

"Lay down perimeter fire," Janos said.

"Yes, sir."

"No," Zoya hissed into the comm node.

Ship's guns clattered, barely muffled by the hull.

Leaning into the node, she said, "Janos, it's just one person." But no one was listening. She tore into the
corridor and ran to the outside hatch, guarded by a wan youngster who looked to be all of twenty years
old.

"Open it," she barked. He started to protest, but in the end he was no match for her. Then she was on
the access ramp, running into a stew of dust and screams. Piquant air rushed to her nostrils, and the sky
loomed above her in monstrous bless-ing. The fray had kicked up a flurry of dust that the morning sun
infused with blind light.

As the dust settled over the scene, Zoya saw that the new arrival was standing on a sled, and was raising
a huge weapon that looked like a harpoon gun, aiming it at the tent.

Crew members were turning in every direction, watching for attack. Several fired at the man in the sled,
but they had to face into the blinding dawn, and missed.
In the next instant, the tent collapsed, leaving one person standing inside, a swaying human tent post. The
newcomer fired his gun and sent a spear full into the body of the tent-draped figure. Then he lowered his
weapon and stared at what he had done.

"No one shoot," Zoya shouted as she ran up to the sled. The crew hesitated for a moment, with Ship
Mother in the line of fire. But the stranger had lowered his weapon; he was giving upтАФor he had
accomplished what he set out to do.

Nevertheless, several crew moved in and dragged the sled man from his perch, wrestling him to the
ground and seizing his harpoon. Other crew were still keeping watch, squinting at the territory, watching
for movement. But far into the distance, there was nothing but flat, white desert.

Now Janos was approaching from the shuttle, all outrage.

She thought he might grab her forcibly. She used her most calming voice: "Let us talk first. You can